Private schools in the North West
The North West has 180 independent schools listed on SchoolFinder, across 5 areas. Day fees range from about £651 to £42,000 a year. Browse by area below, or see every school in the region ranked by its latest A-level and GCSE results.
180
Schools
£1–42k
Day fees
54
Top rated
19
Offer boarding
Browse private schools in the North West by area
Every private school in the North West, ranked
1
The Manchester Grammar School
Manchester· Senior· Boys· £15k/yr
69% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2019)
2
Withington Girls' School
Manchester· Senior· Girls· £20k/yr
52.2% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2022)
3
The Queen's School
Chester· All-Through· Girls· £21k/yr
45.5% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2017)
4
The King's School In Macclesfield
Macclesfield· All-Through· Co-ed· £14k/yr
45.3% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2022)
5
Manchester High School for Girls
Manchester· All-Through· Girls· £18k/yr
40.5% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2019)
6
The King's School
Chester· All-Through· Co-ed· £20k/yr
38.3% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2018)
7
St Bede's College
—· All-Through· Co-ed· £17k/yr
37.1% A*–B
ISI Good (2019)
8
Austin Friars
Carlisle· All-Through· Co-ed· £26k/yr
36.7% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2022)
9
The Grange School
Northwich· All-Through· Co-ed· £14k/yr
36% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2019)
10
Bolton School Boys' Division
Bolton· Senior· Boys· £14k/yr
34% A*–B
Not yet inspected
11
AKS Lytham
Lytham St Annes· All-Through· Co-ed· £13k/yr
32.4% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2022)
12
Stockport Grammar School
Stockport· All-Through· Co-ed· £13k/yr
30% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2019)
13
Hulme Grammar School
Oldham· All-Through· Co-ed· £15k/yr
27.9% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2019)
14
Merchant Taylors' Boys' School
Liverpool· Senior· Boys· £19k/yr
27.1% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2022)
15
Birkenhead School
Prenton· All-Through· Co-ed· £13k/yr
25.8% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2021)
16
Stonyhurst College
—· All-Through· Co-ed· Boarding· £32k/yr
24.4% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2023)
17
Scarisbrick Hall School
—· All-Through· Co-ed· £13k/yr
21.4% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2022)
18
Bury Grammar Schools
Bury· All-Through· Co-ed· £13k/yr
20.9% A*–B
Not yet inspected
19
Rossall School
Fleetwood· All-Through· Co-ed· Boarding· £23k/yr
20.4% A*–B
ISI Good (2019)
20
Bolton School Girls' Division
Bolton· Senior· Girls· £14k/yr
18.9% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2023)
21
Cheadle Hulme School
Cheadle· All-Through· Co-ed· £16k/yr
18.8% A*–B
Not yet inspected
22
Westholme School
Blackburn· All-Through· Co-ed· £19k/yr
18% A*–B
ISI Good (2019)
23
Alderley Edge School for Girls
Alderley Edge· All-Through· Girls· £19k/yr
16.7% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2021)
24
Chetham's School of Music
—· Senior· Co-ed· Boarding· £42k/yr
14.3% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2020)
25
Darul Uloom Al Arabiya Al Islamiya
Nr. Bury· Senior· Boys· Boarding
14.3% A*–B
Ofsted Good (2022)
26
St. Mary's College
Liverpool· All-Through· Co-ed· £18k/yr
14.3% A*–B
ISI Good (2025)
27
Kirkham Grammar School
Preston· All-Through· Co-ed· Boarding· £19k/yr
14.1% A*–B
Not yet inspected
28
Bridgewater School
Manchester· All-Through· Co-ed· £13k/yr
13.3% A*–B
ISI Good (2022)
29
Abbey Gate College
Chester· All-Through· Co-ed· £20k/yr
12.8% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2022)
30
Sedbergh School
Sedbergh· Senior· Co-ed· Boarding
12% A*–B
Not yet inspected
31
Lime House School
Carlisle· Senior· Co-ed· Boarding· £17k/yr
10% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2020)
32
Abbey College Manchester
—· Senior· Co-ed· Boarding· £16k/yr
8% A*–B
ISI Excellent (2023)
33
Jamiatul-Ilm Wal-Huda UK School
Blackburn· Senior· Boys· Boarding
0% A*–B
Ofsted Good (2023)
34
Abbotsford Preparatory School
M41 5PR· Prep· Co-ed· £11k/yr
ISI Met all standards (2025)
35
Abrar Academy
Preston· Senior· Boys· Boarding· £8k/yr
ISI Excellent (2021)
36
Afifah School
Manchester· All-Through· Co-ed· £5k/yr
Ofsted Good (2024)
37
Ahavas Torah Boys Academy
Manchester· Senior· Boys· £6k/yr
Ofsted Inadequate (2023)
38
Al Islah Girls' High School
BLACKBURN· Senior· Girls· £2k/yr
Ofsted Good (2021)
39
Al Jamiah Al Islamiyyah
Bolton· Senior· Boys· Boarding· £1k/yr
Ofsted Requires improvement (2022)
40
Al-Huda Primary School
Bolton· Prep· Co-ed
Ofsted Good (2024)
41
Al-Ikhlaas Primary School
Nelson· Prep· Co-ed· £5k/yr
Ofsted Good (2021)
42
Altrincham Preparatory School
Altrincham· Prep· Boys· £13k/yr
ISI Excellent (2023)
43
Ashbridge Independent School
Preston· Prep· Co-ed· £11k/yr
ISI Excellent (2022)
44
Ashlea House School
Manchester· Senior· Boys
Ofsted Good (2023)
45
Assess Education
Liverpool· Senior· Co-ed· £14k/yr
Ofsted Inadequate (2023)
46
Ateres Elisheva
—· Prep· Girls· £6k/yr
Ofsted Good (2023)
47
Auckland College
Liverpool· All-Through· Co-ed
Ofsted Good (2024)
48
Austen House
Rossendale· Senior· Co-ed
Ofsted Good (2022)
49
Avalon School
Wirral· Prep· Co-ed· £11k/yr
ISI Excellent (2022)
50
Beech Hall School
Macclesfield· All-Through· Co-ed· £19k/yr
ISI Good (2018)
51
Beech House School
Rochdale· All-Through· Co-ed· £10k/yr
ISI Good (2024)
52
Beis Hatalmud School
Salford· Senior· Boys· £6k/yr
Ofsted Requires improvement (2023)
53
Beis Malka Girls school
Salford· All-Through· Girls· £6k/yr
Ofsted Requires improvement (2024)
54
Beis Rochel Mcr Girls school ltd
—· Prep· Girls· £6k/yr
Ofsted Good (2023)
55
Beis Ruchel Girls School
—· Senior· Girls· £6k/yr
Ofsted Requires improvement (2023)
56
Beis Ruchel Girls School
Manchester· Prep· Girls· £6k/yr
Ofsted Inadequate (2024)
57
BFC School
Blackpool· Senior· Co-ed
Ofsted Requires improvement (2022)
58
Bnos Margulis Viznitz Girls' School
—· Prep· Girls· £6k/yr
Ofsted Good (2023)
59
Bnos Yisroel School Manchester
Salford· All-Through· Girls· £6k/yr
Ofsted Requires improvement (2024)
60
Bolton Islamic Girls School
Bolton· Senior· Girls· £6k/yr
Ofsted Good (2021)
61
Bolton School Infant & Nursery School
—· Pre-Prep· Co-ed· £12k/yr
Ofsted Good (2023)
62
Bowdon Preparatory School for Girls
Altrincham· Prep· Girls· £13k/yr
ISI Excellent (2022)
63
Brabyns Preparatory School
Stockport· Prep· Co-ed· £11k/yr
Not yet inspected
64
Branwood Preparatory School
Manchester· Prep· Co-ed· £11k/yr
Not yet inspected
65
Carleton House Preparatory School
—· Prep· Co-ed· £10k/yr
ISI Excellent (2022)
66
Casterton, Sedbergh Preparatory School
—· Prep· Co-ed· Boarding· £20k/yr
ISI Excellent (2022)
67
Christian Fellowship School
Liverpool· All-Through· Co-ed· £8k/yr
Not yet inspected
68
Clarendon Cottage Preparatory School
Salford· Prep· Co-ed· £10k/yr
ISI Excellent (2023)
69
Clevelands Prep School
Bolton· Prep· Co-ed· £11k/yr
Not yet inspected
70
Cornerstone Academy
Cheshire· Prep· Co-ed
Ofsted Good (2022)
71
Covenant Christian School
Stockport· All-Through· Co-ed· £6k/yr
Ofsted Good (2024)
72
Cransley School
Northwich· All-Through· Co-ed· £19k/yr
ISI Good (2019)
73
Dar Ul Madinah
—· Prep· Co-ed· £5k/yr
Ofsted Good (2022)
74
Darul Hadis Latifiah Northwest
Oldham· Senior· Boys· £5k/yr
Ofsted Good (2024)
75
Edenfield Girls' High School
—· Senior· Girls· £10k/yr
Ofsted Good (2020)
76
Edstart
—· Senior· Co-ed
Ofsted Good (2023)
77
Elizabeth House School
—· Senior· Boys· £11k/yr
Ofsted Good (2023)
78
Ellen House Secondary
Oldham· Senior· Boys· £14k/yr
Not yet inspected
79
ES Independent School
Merseyside· Senior· Co-ed· £11k/yr
Ofsted Good (2023)
80
Etz Chaim Boys School
—· Senior· Boys· £7k/yr
Ofsted Good (2021)
81
Farrowdale House School
Oldham· Prep· Co-ed· £7k/yr
Not yet inspected
82
Forest Park Preparatory School
Sale· Prep· Co-ed· £10k/yr
ISI Excellent (2019)
83
Forest School
Altrincham· Prep· Co-ed· £10k/yr
ISI Excellent (2018)
84
Greater Manchester Independent School
Manchester· Senior· Co-ed· £14k/yr
Ofsted Requires improvement (2020)
85
Green Meadow Independent Primary School
Warrington· Prep· Co-ed· £7k/yr
Ofsted Good (2020)
86
Greenbank Preparatory School
Cheadle· Prep· Co-ed· £11k/yr
Not yet inspected
87
Hale Preparatory School
Altrincham· Prep· Co-ed· £11k/yr
ISI Excellent (2023)
88
Harpurhey Alternative Provision School
Manchester· Senior· Co-ed
Ofsted Inadequate (2023)
89
Highfield Priory School
Preston· Prep· Co-ed· £11k/yr
ISI Excellent (2019)
90
Hope School
Preston· Senior· Co-ed
Ofsted Good (2020)
91
Hulme Hall Grammar School
Cheadle· All-Through· Co-ed· £17k/yr
ISI Excellent (2022)
92
Hunter Hall School
Penrith· Prep· Co-ed· £11k/yr
ISI Excellent (2022)
93
Imam Muhammad Zakariya School
Preston· Prep· Co-ed
Ofsted Good (2024)
94
Islamiyah School
Blackburn· Senior· Girls· £5k/yr
Not yet inspected
95
Jamea Al Kauthar
Lancaster· Senior· Girls· Boarding
Ofsted Good (2022)
96
Jefferson House
Winsford· Senior· Boys
Ofsted Outstanding (2024)
97
Kassim Darwish Grammar School for Boys
Manchester· Senior· Boys· £8k/yr
ISI Excellent (2020)
98
Kerem Shloime
Salford· Prep· Boys· £6k/yr
Ofsted Inadequate (2023)
99
King of Kings
Salford· All-Through· Co-ed· £5k/yr
Ofsted Requires improvement (2024)
100
Lady Barn House School
Cheadle· Prep· Co-ed· £13k/yr
ISI Excellent (2021)
101
Lancashire Alternative Provision
Blackpool· Senior· Co-ed
Ofsted Good (2023)
102
Lancaster Independent School for Alternative Learning (Lisal)
Lancaster· Prep· Co-ed· £10k/yr
Ofsted Good (2023)
103
Lincoln House School
Burnley· Senior· Boys
Ofsted Good (2022)
104
Lord's School
Bolton· Senior· Co-ed· £8k/yr
Ofsted Inadequate (2024)
105
Madrasatul Imam Muhammad Zakariya
Bolton· Senior· Girls· £5k/yr
Ofsted Good (2024)
106
Manchester Islamic Grammar School for Girls
Manchester· Senior· Girls· £5k/yr
Not yet inspected
107
Manchester Junior Girls' School
Salford· Prep· Girls
Ofsted Good (2023)
108
Manchester Muslim Preparatory School
Manchester· Prep· Co-ed· £7k/yr
Not yet inspected
109
Manchester Senior Girls School
Salford· Senior· Girls
Ofsted Requires improvement (2024)
110
Manchester Vocational and Learning Academy
Manchester· Senior· Co-ed· £11k/yr
Ofsted Good (2020)
111
Markazul Uloom
Blackburn· Senior· Boys· £5k/yr
Ofsted Inadequate (2024)
112
Me'or High School
Salford· Senior· Girls· £8k/yr
Ofsted Good (2022)
113
Mechinoh School
Salford· Senior· Boys· £6k/yr
Ofsted Inadequate (2024)
114
Merchant Taylors' Girls' School
Liverpool· All-Through· Girls· £19k/yr
ISI Excellent (2022)
115
Moor Allerton Preparatory School
Manchester· Prep· Co-ed· £13k/yr
Not yet inspected
116
Moorfield Learning Centre
—· All-Through· Co-ed
Ofsted Good (2022)
117
Moorland School Limited
Clitheroe· All-Through· Co-ed· Boarding· £13k/yr
ISI Sound (2017)
118
Music Stuff
Manchester· Senior· Co-ed
Ofsted Inadequate (2023)
119
Nazene Danielle School of Performing Arts
Liverpool· Senior· Co-ed· £9k/yr
Ofsted Good (2023)
120
NexGen Academy
Liverpool· Senior· Co-ed· £11k/yr
Ofsted Good (2022)
121
Noorul Uloom
—· Senior· Girls· £5k/yr
Ofsted Good (2024)
122
Norbury Court School
—· Senior· Boys· £17k/yr
Ofsted Good (2021)
123
North West Hospital School
Cheadle· Senior· Co-ed
Ofsted Good (2024)
124
Nuqtah Primary School
Rochdale· Prep· Co-ed· £5k/yr
Not yet inspected
125
Oakhill School
Clitheroe· All-Through· Co-ed· £10k/yr
ISI Excellent (2021)
126
Oholei Yosef Yitzchok Lubavitch Schools
Salford· All-Through· Girls· £6k/yr
ISI Excellent (2023)
127
Olive High
—· Senior· Girls· £6k/yr
Ofsted Good (2022)
128
Olive High Boys
Burnley· Senior· Boys· £6k/yr
Not yet inspected
129
OneSchool Global Northwich
Northwich· Senior· Co-ed· £11k/yr
Not yet inspected
130
Oneschool Global Uk Lancaster Campus
Lancaster· Senior· Co-ed· £11k/yr
Not yet inspected
131
OYY Lubavitch Boys School
Salford· All-Through· Boys· £6k/yr
Ofsted Requires improvement (2023)
132
Penarth Group School
Cheshire· Senior· Co-ed· £17k/yr
Ofsted Good (2023)
133
Pownall Hall School
Wilmslow· Prep· Co-ed· £12k/yr
Not yet inspected
134
Prenton Preparatory School
Prenton· Prep· Co-ed· £10k/yr
ISI Excellent (2022)
135
Prestwich Preparatory School
Manchester· Prep· Co-ed· £10k/yr
Ofsted Inadequate (2023)
136
Progress Schools - Gorton
—· Senior· Co-ed
Ofsted Requires improvement (2024)
137
Progress Schools - Hamilton Square
—· Senior· Co-ed
Ofsted Inadequate (2024)
138
Progress Schools - Stockport
—· Senior· Co-ed
Ofsted Requires improvement (2024)
139
Progress Schools - Toxteth
—· Senior· Co-ed
Ofsted Inadequate (2022)
140
Progress Schools - Wirral
—· Senior· Co-ed
Ofsted Good (2022)
141
Progress Schools Wigan
—· Senior· Co-ed
Ofsted Requires improvement (2024)
142
Prospect House
Carnforth· Senior· Co-ed· £14k/yr
ISI Excellent (2022)
143
Prudentia Education
Liverpool· Senior· Co-ed
Ofsted Good (2024)
144
Rawdhatul Ilm Wal Huda
Blackburn· Senior· Girls· Boarding· £5k/yr
Ofsted Good (2023)
145
Rawdhatul Uloom
Burnley· Prep· Co-ed· £5k/yr
Ofsted Good (2023)
146
Rawdhatul Uloom Islamic Primary School
Blackburn· Prep· Co-ed· £5k/yr
Ofsted Good (2023)
147
Rochdale Islamic Academy
—· Senior· Girls· £5k/yr
Ofsted Good (2021)
148
Rochdale Islamic Academy
Rochdale· Senior· Boys· £5k/yr
Ofsted Good (2022)
149
Rosa House School
Burnley· Senior· Girls
Ofsted Good (2022)
150
Safe Start School
Tameside· Senior· Co-ed
Ofsted Good (2022)
151
Sapience Girls Academy
Oldham· Senior· Girls· £8k/yr
Ofsted Good (2024)
152
Sol Christian Academy
—· All-Through· Co-ed· £8k/yr
Ofsted Good (2024)
153
Springfield House School
Preston· Senior· Co-ed
Ofsted Good (2022)
154
St Ambrose Prep School
Cheshire· Prep· Co-ed· £11k/yr
ISI Excellent (2019)
155
St Anne's College Grammar School
Lytham St Annes· All-Through· Co-ed· £11k/yr
Ofsted Requires improvement (2024)
156
St Bees School
—· Senior· Co-ed· Boarding· £23k/yr
ISI Standards not met (2026)
157
St Joseph's Park Hill School
Burnley· Prep· Co-ed· £8k/yr
ISI Excellent (2019)
158
St Pius X Preparatory School
Preston· Prep· Co-ed· £10k/yr
ISI Excellent (2022)
159
Stella Maris School
Stockport· Prep· Co-ed· £10k/yr
Ofsted Good (2020)
160
Talmud Torah Chinuch Norim School
Manchester· Prep· Boys· £6k/yr
Ofsted Requires improvement (2023)
161
Talmud Torah D'chassidie Belz
Salford· Pre-Prep· Boys· £5k/yr
Ofsted Good (2024)
162
Talmud Torah Yetev Lev
Salford· Prep· Boys· £6k/yr
Ofsted Requires improvement (2023)
163
Tashbar of Manchester
Salford· Prep· Boys· £6k/yr
Ofsted Requires improvement (2024)
164
Terra Nova School
Crewe· Prep· Co-ed· Boarding· £24k/yr
ISI Excellent (2022)
165
The Alternative School
Accrington· Senior· Co-ed
ISI Good (2021)
166
The Belvedere Preparatory School
Liverpool· Prep· Co-ed· £11k/yr
ISI Excellent (2019)
167
The Chadderton Preparatory School
Oldham· Prep· Co-ed· £10k/yr
Not yet inspected
168
The Firs School
—· Prep· Co-ed· £10k/yr
ISI Excellent (2022)
169
The Hammond
Chester· Senior· Co-ed· Boarding· £26k/yr
ISI Excellent (2021)
170
The Ryleys School
Alderley Edge· Prep· Co-ed· £15k/yr
ISI Excellent (2020)
171
Tiferes
Salford· All-Through· Girls· £6k/yr
Ofsted Good (2023)
172
Toras Emes
Salford· Prep· Boys· £6k/yr
Ofsted Requires improvement (2024)
173
Tower College
Prescot· All-Through· Co-ed· £14k/yr
ISI Excellent (2021)
174
Tower Learning Centre Independent School
—· Senior· Co-ed
Ofsted Good (2022)
175
Trinity School
Stalybridge· All-Through· Co-ed· £8k/yr
ISI Excellent (2021)
176
Turning Point Academy
—· Senior· Co-ed· £23k/yr
Ofsted Good (2024)
177
Westwood Boys School
—· Senior· Boys· £11k/yr
Ofsted Good (2023)
178
Westwood High
Oldham· All-Through· Girls· £10k/yr
Ofsted Good (2023)
179
Wilmslow Preparatory School
Wilmslow· Prep· Co-ed· £11k/yr
Not yet inspected
180
Windermere School
The Lake District· All-Through· Co-ed· Boarding· £20k/yr
ISI Excellent (2018)
Frequently asked questions
How many independent schools are there in the North West?
SchoolFinder lists 180 independent schools in the North West, including 19 that offer boarding.
What are the best private schools in the North West?
Strong performers in the North West include The Manchester Grammar School, Withington Girls' School, The Queen's School. Rankings here are based on published A-level and GCSE results, which reflect a school's intake as much as its teaching — the right school also depends on your child's stage, location and needs.
How much are private school fees in the North West?
Annual day fees across the North West range from roughly £651 to £42,000. Boarding fees are higher, and fees vary widely by area within a region. Many schools offer bursaries and scholarships.
Further reading
Explore nearby
Grammar schools in the North WestPrivate schools in Greater LondonPrivate schools in the South EastPrivate schools in the East of EnglandPrivate schools in the West MidlandsPrivate schools in the South WestPrivate schools in the East MidlandsPrivate schools in Yorkshire and The HumberPrivate schools in the North East