Schools in Merseyside

Merseyside is a metropolitan county comprising five local authorities: Liverpool, Wirral, Knowsley, Sefton and St Helens. Schools in this area may fall under any of these councils, each with its own admissions policy and catchment boundaries published in its annual admissions booklet.

Secondary school admissions across Merseyside follow the national timetable, with applications submitted to the home local authority in October for entry the following September. Several faith schools - particularly Roman Catholic schools - operate across borough boundaries and apply faith criteria that can supersede distance.

Families unsure which local authority manages their nearest school should search by postcode on each council's admissions pages or use the central DfE school finder. Catholic school applications often require a supplementary information form completed by a parish priest.