Schools in St. Helens
66 schools in 6 towns: how they were inspected, the best by phase, where places ran out, and the dates to apply.
St. Helens at a glance
- Schools
- 66 54 state primary, 9 state secondary, 2 sixth-form or college and 1 private. DfE Get Information about Schools, 17 October 2026.
- Good or Outstanding
- 85% 40 of the 47 state schools whose latest Ofsted inspection gave a grade. 14 more have the new report card, which gives no single grade. Ofsted, latest inspections.
- Oversubscribed in 2026
- 19 Of 61 state schools with DfE figures for 2026: more first preferences than places at entry (Reception or Year 7). DfE, school applications and offers, 2026.
- Offer distances held
- 37% How far the last place reached on offer day: held for 23 of 63 state schools that take an intake. St. Helens's published offer-day figures.
The best schools in St. Helens
Primary
| Place in St. Helens | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Mary's Catholic Primary School | Nr Wigan | 1st (1/53) |
| 2 | St Peter's CofE Primary School | Newton-le-Willows | Top 4% (2/53) |
| 3 | St Aidan's CofE Primary School Billinge | Wigan | Top 6% (3/53) |
| 4 | St John Vianney Catholic Primary School | St Helens | Top 8% (4/53) |
| 5 | Eaves Primary School | St Helens | Top 10% (5/53) |
| 6 | St Bartholomew's Catholic Primary School | Prescot | Top 12% (6/53) |
| 7 | St Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Primary School | St Helens | Top 14% (7/53) |
| 8 | Eccleston Lane Ends Primary School | Prescot | Top 16% (8/53) |
| 9 | St Mary & St Thomas CofE Primary School | St Helens | Top 17% (9/53) |
| 10 | St Julie's Catholic Primary School | St Helens | Top 19% (10/53) |
Ranked on 2025 KS2 results: the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. The same rank as the full St. Helens primary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 2 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Secondary (GCSE)
| Place in St. Helens | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rainhill High School | Prescot | 1st (1/8) |
| 2 | Rainford High School | St Helens | Top 25% (2/8) |
| 3 | The Sutton Academy | St Helens | Top 38% (3/8) |
| 4 | St Augustine of Canterbury Catholic Academy | St. Helens | Top 50% (4/8) |
| 5 | Hope Academy | Newton-le-Willows | (5/8) |
| 6 | De La Salle School | St. Helens | (6/8) |
| 7 | Outwood Academy Haydock | St. Helens | (7/8) |
| 8 | Cowley International College | St Helens | (8/8) |
Ranked on 2026 GCSE results: Attainment 8, the average grade across eight GCSEs. The same rank as the full St. Helens secondary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 4 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Towns
- Merseyside 1 school · best schools
- Newton-le-Willows 7 schools · best schools
- Nr Wigan 1 school · best schools
- Prescot 6 schools · best schools
- Wigan 4 schools
Getting in
Starting Reception in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 September 2026 | Reception applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | St. Helens council |
| 15 January 2027 | Primary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | St. Helens council |
| 16 April 2027 | Primary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | St. Helens council |
Starting secondary school (Year 7) in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 September 2026 | Year 7 applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | St. Helens council |
| 31 October 2026 | Secondary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | St. Helens council |
| 1 March 2027 | Secondary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | St. Helens council |
Every St. Helens admission date · After offer day in St. Helens: replies, waiting lists and appeals
We hold no catchment maps for St. Helens. Many schools here admit by distance; the catchment finder says which maps cover a postcode.
Offer-day distances (how far the last place reached) are held for 23 of 63 state schools (37%). Could we get in? sets your distance beside them.
Private schools, fees and childcare
Private school fees in St. Helens: we hold checked fees for 1 of 1 private schools.
Childcare costs, town by town. Nurseries in St. Helens by Ofsted rating.
Every school in St. Helens
Your children and your home, with the schools, the distances and the dates that are yours.Open your plan
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Sources are named beside each figure. How we know · All sources.