Grammar schools in Southport
There are no grammar schools in Southport.
Grammar schools are state secondaries that select by ability, usually through an 11+ test. Lancashire and Sefton have 4 of them, but none in Southport itself — so every state secondary in Southport admits without a selective test.
The nearest is Larne Grammar School, about 9.0 miles away in Mid and East Antrim. Most grammar schools accept out-of-area applicants, though distance is often a tie-breaker when a school is oversubscribed.
Grammar schools elsewhere in Lancashire and Sefton
Lancashire and Sefton have 4 grammar schools, but none in Southport itself.
- Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School — Rossendale
- Clitheroe Royal Grammar School — Clitheroe
- Lancaster Girls' Grammar School — Lancaster
- Lancaster Royal Grammar School — Lancaster
Nearest grammar schools to Southport
Straight-line distance from the centre of Southport — not a travel time.
| School | Area | Distance | Intake | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Larne Grammar School | LARNE | 9.0 miles | — | — |
| Ballyclare High School | BALLYCLARE | 16.1 miles | — | — |
| St Louis Grammar School | BALLYMENA | 17.2 miles | — | — |
| The Blue Coat School | Liverpool | 17.4 miles | Mixed | Good |
| Carrickfergus Grammar School | CARRICKFERGUS | 17.5 miles | — | — |
| St Anselm's College | Prenton | 17.6 miles | Boys | Good |
Published admissions priorities
These are extracts from school-specific arrangements for the entry years shown, in priority order. They are not the full policy or a prediction of an offer. Check the linked arrangement for test eligibility, deadlines and all remaining priorities.
The Blue Coat School — 2026 entry
- Up to 27 places: highest-scoring Free School Meals-eligible applicants who achieve the required entrance test score (published source)
- All other places: highest-scoring remaining applicants (published source)
St Anselm's College — 2026 entry
- Baptised Catholic Looked After and previously Looked After Boys (published source)
- Baptised Catholic boys living in the relevant area (Wirral, Cheshire West and Chester, and other areas within 10 miles of the College) (published source)
- All other Looked After and previously Looked After boys (published source)
Schools in Southport
Southport has 31 open schools. Browse all Southport schools with Ofsted ratings, catchment areas and admission criteria, or see them on the map.
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT