Sefton schools shine as seven are shortlisted for prestigious Educate Awards 2026

Seven schools and colleges across Sefton have been shortlisted for the prestigious Educate Awards 2026, with local schools recognised for achievements ranging from the arts and community partnerships to inspirational teaching and specialist education.

The Educate Awards, now celebrating their 15th year, recognise outstanding achievements across education throughout the North West, bringing together nurseries, schools, colleges and multi academy trusts from Merseyside, Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

Sefton has a strong presence on this year’s shortlist, with several schools nominated across a range of categories.

Formby High School has been shortlisted for the Lord Frank Field Community Partnership Award.

Kings Meadow Primary School has been named as a finalist for Most Inspirational Primary School.

Maghull High School has secured an impressive three nominations. The school is shortlisted for Outstanding Arts in Secondary School and the Lord Frank Field Community Partnership Award, while Bethany Low from Maghull High has also been shortlisted for Teacher of the Year.

Netherton Moss Primary School has been shortlisted for Outstanding Arts in Primary School.

Sacred Heart Catholic Academy is among the finalists for Outstanding Arts in Secondary School.

St Mary’s College Preparatory School has been shortlisted for School Library of the Year.

Presfield High School and Specialist College has been recognised in the Most Inspirational Specialist School category.

Sefton finalists

The Sefton schools and individuals shortlisted are:

School Library of the Year

St Mary’s College Preparatory School

Outstanding Arts in Primary School

Netherton Moss Primary School

Outstanding Arts in Secondary School

Maghull High School

Sacred Heart Catholic Academy

Lord Frank Field Community Partnership Award

Formby High School

Maghull High School

Teacher of the Year

Bethany Low, Maghull High School

Most Inspirational Specialist School

Presfield High School and Specialist College

Most Inspirational Primary School

Kings Meadow Primary School

The finalists will discover whether they have won when the Educate Awards ceremony takes place on Friday 13 November at Liverpool Cathedral.

The 2026 awards feature 21 categories recognising achievements across many different areas of education, including communications, community partnerships, careers, STEM, the arts, sport, SEND provision, mental health and wellbeing.

Individual teachers and support staff are also recognised for the contribution they make to pupils, schools and their wider communities.

The shortlist was officially revealed on Wednesday 16 September through the Educate Awards social media channels.

Kim O’Brien, founder of the Educate Awards, congratulated the Sefton finalists and said the judging panel had once again been impressed by the standard of entries and the work taking place across the region.

She said: “Congratulations to the Sefton schools and college who have been shortlisted for this year’s Educate Awards.”

“Once again, our esteemed panel of judges have been blown away by the quality of this year’s entries, and more importantly, the incredible and inspirational work taking place across the region.”

Kim added: “Selecting the shortlist has been no mean feat for our judges and we are now looking forward to celebrating with all finalists as we prepare to roll out our iconic red carpet in November for an awards ceremony befitting our fifteenth anniversary.”

The awards ceremony will include live performances from schools across the region, a three course gala dinner and the presentation of the 2026 awards.

Full Educate Awards 2026 shortlist

Most Impactful Communications Award

Carmel College, St Helens

St John Bosco Arts College, Liverpool

Winstanley College, Wigan

Outstanding Commitment to the Environment & Sustainability

Bidston Avenue Primary School, Wirral

Cheshire College South & West, Cheshire West

Cowley International College, St Helens

Myerscough College, Liverpool

Careers & Enterprise Award

Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School, Liverpool

Lakeside School, Liverpool

Ormiston Chadwick Academy, Widnes

St Cuthbert’s Catholic Academy, St Helens

The Academy of St Francis of Assisi, Liverpool

Outstanding SEND Provision in Mainstream School

Anfield Road Primary School, Liverpool

Cardinal Langley RC High School, Rochdale

Croxteth Community Primary School, Liverpool

St James’ Catholic High School, Stockport

School Library of the Year

St Gregory’s RC High School, Warrington

St Hilda’s CE High School, Liverpool

St Mary’s College Preparatory School, Sefton

The Ellesmere Port Church of England College, Cheshire West

Outstanding Commitment to STEM

Lakes College, Cumberland

Rainford High, St Helens

St Francis Xavier’s Catholic Academy, Liverpool

The Barlow RC High School, Manchester

Outstanding Arts in Primary School

Croxteth Community Primary School, Liverpool

Fairfield Primary School, Cumberland

Netherton Moss Primary School, Sefton

Outstanding Arts in Secondary School

Maghull High School, Sefton

Sacred Heart Catholic Academy, Sefton

St Mary’s Catholic College, Wirral

West Kirby Grammar School, Wirral

Lord Frank Field Community Partnership Award

Essa Primary Academy, Bolton

Formby High School, Sefton

Maghull High School, Sefton

Myerscough College, Liverpool

Mental Health & Wellbeing Award

Fairfield Primary School, Cumberland

The Barlow RC High School, Manchester

The Manchester College, Manchester

Outstanding Commitment to Sport in Primary School

Bidston Avenue Primary School, Wirral

Roby Park Primary School, Knowsley

Rushbrook Primary Academy, Manchester

Outstanding Commitment to Sport in Secondary School

Archbishop Blanch School, Liverpool

Cardinal Langley RC High School, Rochdale

Highfurlong School, Blackpool

Teacher of the Year

Amy Green, St Augustine’s Church of England Primary School, Salford

Bethany Low, Maghull High School, Sefton

Lily Clark, Ridgeway High School, Wirral

Nicola Follin, St Mary’s Catholic Infant and Junior Academy, St Helens

School Support Star of the year

Carol Robinson, Middlefield Community Primary School, Liverpool

Helen Farrell, Cardinal Langley RC High School, Rochdale

Lauren McCulloch, Northcote Community Primary School, Liverpool

Lynsey Disley, Notre Dame Catholic Academy, Liverpool

Sharon Heller, Abbot’s Lea School, Liverpool

Most Inspirational Multi Academy Trust

Endeavour Learning Trust, Chorley

Oak Trees Multi Academy Trust, Wirral

QUEST Trust, Wigan

Rainbow Education Multi Academy Trust, Liverpool

St Joseph Catholic Multi Academy Trust, Liverpool

Most Inspirational Specialist School

Alt Bridge School, Knowsley

Green Fold School, Bolton

Lakeside School, Liverpool

Presfield High School and Specialist College, Sefton

Most Inspirational Sixth Form & College

Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School, Liverpool

Myerscough College, Preston

The Manchester College, Manchester

Most Inspirational Secondary School

Middlewich High School, Cheshire East

Tarleton Academy, Preston

The Birkenhead Park School, Wirral

Most Inspirational Primary School

Barton Clough Primary School, Trafford

Chantlers Primary School, Bury

Kings Meadow Primary School, Sefton

Ss Peter and Paul Catholic Primary School, Wirral

Most Inspirational Nursery

Northcote Community Primary School, Liverpool

Orchards Nursery School, Bolton

Play Pals Nursery, Wigan

WOW Recognition Award

Byrchall High School, Wigan

Clare Mount Specialist Sports College, Wirral

LET Education Trust, Blackburn

Associate sponsors of the Educate Awards 2026 include All About Futures, Angel Solutions,

Apprenticeships at Liverpool Hope University, Carpe Diem Education Consultants UK, CER Education, CPMM Media Group, Frank Field Education Trust, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Careers Hub, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool School Sports Partnership, Portakabin, Satis Education and SENDSCOPE.