Private schools in Merseyside (2026)

16 fee-paying schools, listed by A level results where the school publishes them, then by name.

Schools

fee-paying

Boarding

take boarders

Publish A levels

16 to 18 results

Typical day fee

£4,473

a term before VAT (North West, ISC 2026)

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School	Ages	A level	Pupils	Fee income per pupil	Inspection
Birkenhead School Birkenhead · Co-ed · Day	3–19	B	892	£14,500	ISI report
Merchant Taylors' Schools Crosby (Sefton) · Co-ed · Day	4–19	B-	844	£16,200	ISI report
St. Mary's College Crosby (Sefton) · Co-ed · Day · Roman Catholic	0–18	C+	818	£13,900	ISI report
Auckland College Liverpool · Co-ed · Day	3–16	—	362	—	ISI report
Avalon School West Kirby · Co-ed · Day	2–11	—	104	£11,200	ISI report
Carleton House Preparatory School Liverpool · Co-ed · Day · Roman Catholic	3–11	—	178	£11,100	ISI report
Christian Fellowship School Liverpool · Co-ed · Day · Christian	4–16	—	175	£5,500	ISI report
ES Independent School Liverpool · Co-ed · Day	11–19	—	43	—	Ofsted report
Nazene Danielle School of Performing Arts Liverpool · Co-ed · Day	6–16	—	24	—	Ofsted report
NexGen Academy Liverpool · Co-ed · Day	14–16	—	45	—	Ofsted report
Progress Schools - Hamilton Square Birkenhead · Co-ed · Day	11–16	—	35	—	Ofsted report
Progress Schools - Liverpool Liverpool · Co-ed · Day	11–16	—	13	—	Ofsted report
Progress Schools - Wirral Birkenhead · Co-ed · Day	11–16	—	14	—	Ofsted report
Prudentia Education Liverpool · Co-ed · Day	12–16	—	39	—	Ofsted report
The Belvedere Preparatory School Liverpool · Co-ed · Day	3–11	—	115	—	ISI report
Tower College Prescot · Co-ed · Day	2–16	—	279	£16,000	ISI report

Not a ranking. Fee-paying schools do not sit the same tests as state schools: many take IGCSEs, which the government's GCSE tables leave out, so we list them by their average A level grade where they report it (Department for Education 16 to 18 results) and then by name. Many fee-paying schools do not report A levels, so a dash does not mean poor results. Fee income per pupil is the school's income from fees in its latest Charity Commission accounts divided by its pupils: a guide to cost, not the fee list, and only shown where the charity runs that one school. Inspections: Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) or Ofsted.

Questions

What are the best private schools in Merseyside?

By average A level grade: Birkenhead School (B), Merchant Taylors' Schools (B-), St. Mary's College (C+). Not every school publishes A levels, so look at inspection reports and visit too.

How many private schools are there in Merseyside?

16 mainstream fee-paying schools, all day schools.

How much do private schools in Merseyside cost?

As a guide, the Independent Schools Council's 2026 census puts the average day school fee in North West at £4,473 a term (about £16,100 a year with VAT) and the average boarding fee at £13,572 a term, before VAT. Individual schools charge more or less than this, and more for older pupils: each school's website gives its fee list.

Private schools in Merseyside (2026)

Questions

What are the best private schools in Merseyside?

How many private schools are there in Merseyside?

How much do private schools in Merseyside cost?

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