The Blue Coat School
School summary
Few state schools post results quite like The Blue Coat School, a selective grammar in Liverpool where academic achievement sits at the very top end. With around 1,248 pupils against a capacity of 1,300, this large school is close to full, a sign of its standing among local families. Entry is competitive: 243 places are offered at 11, assessed through the GL Assessment exam in English, Maths and Verbal Reasoning. The school admits pupils from across a diverse community, with a fifth speaking English as an additional language. Ofsted rated it Good overall in its most recent inspection, with behaviour judged Outstanding.
How hard is it to get in?
Very competitive · 3 of 5 on the Passmate scale. Demand comfortably exceeds the 243 Year 7 places each year - a clear pass, not a borderline one, is what wins a place.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Latest results
Attainment 8
79.5
National average 46.9
GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)
98%
National average 47%
GCSE grade 9-7
82%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
65%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
84%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- Ofsted overall
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour & attitudes
- Outstanding
- Last inspected
- 8 November 2022
Teaching & academics
The headline figures are striking. An average Attainment 8 score of 79.5 stands far above the national average of 46.9, and 98% of pupils gain grade 5 or above in English and Maths, against a national figure of 47%. Ofsted judged the quality of education Good across both the main school and sixth form, and the pupil-to-teacher ratio of 18.3 is typical for a large secondary.
Languages
Headteacher · Mr K Sexton
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 360
- Sixth-form Ofsted
- Good
Beyond the classroom
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 1708
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- No
- SEN support
- 7.93%
- EHC plans
- 0.24%
- English as additional language
- 20.2%
- Free school meals
- 13.4%
Mobile phone policy
Students should not have mobile phones out in lessons, on corridors or at social times, and they must be out of sight at all times. Phones used without permission are confiscated and the student is issued a 60-minute detention; repeated confiscations lead to parents being contacted and further disciplinary measures.
Schools nearby
Wirral Grammar School for Boys
Wirral, North West
Wirral Grammar School for Girls
Wirral, North West
St Anselm's College
Prenton, North West
Upton Hall School FCJ
Wirral, North West
Calday Grange Grammar School
Wirral, North West
West Kirby Grammar School
Wirral, North West
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A high-performing Liverpool grammar with exceptional GCSE outcomes and a reputation for excellent behaviour. Strong preparation for the GL-style 11+ is essential given how sought-after its places are.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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The Blue Coat School 11+: frequently asked questions
Passmate rating: benchmarked against every selective school in England using official admissions data. It measures demand for places, not school quality. Updated July 2026.
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.