58 schools, colleges and multi academy trusts make the Educate Awards 2025 shortlist

The Educate Awards has announced 58 schools, colleges and multi academy trusts from across the North West have made this year’s shortlist.

The shortlist will discover if they are winners on Friday, 14 November, at the glittering Educate Awards ceremony, hosted at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.

Now in its fourteenth year, the Educate Awards features 21 categories, shining a spotlight on every aspect of education, from sport and the arts to literacy, careers, and the environment.

The shortlist celebrates inspirational teachers, dedicated support staff and visionary leadership teams, who continue to make a lasting difference in their school communities.

In partnership with ASL Group, the Educate Awards is the biggest and most prestigious celebration of education in the North West. The event brings together schools, colleges and multi academy trusts from Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside to recognise their achievements in an unforgettable way.

The eagerly awaited shortlist was revealed on Tuesday, 30 September, via the Educate Awards’ social channels. 

Kim O’Brien, founder of the Educate Awards, said: “Congratulations to the region’s schools, colleges and multi academy trusts on being shortlisted for this year’s Educate Awards.

“Each year, we are blown away by the incredible work taking place across the region, and 2025 has been no exception. This year’s shortlist is a true reflection of the innovation and dedication shown by senior leadership teams, teachers and support staff.

Kim added: “The standard of entries has been outstanding, and we can’t wait to roll out the red carpet in November to celebrate the remarkable achievements of all our finalists.”

The Educate Awards promises a spectacular evening, featuring show-stopping live performances from schools across the region, a three-course gala dinner, and the highly anticipated awards ceremony itself.

Kim shared: “A huge thank you to our partner, ASL Group, and to our valued associate sponsors for supporting this year’s event. Their backing ensures we can continue to deliver a truly special celebration of education, and without them, the Educate Awards simply would not be possible.”

The associate sponsors include All About STEM, Angel Solutions, Apprenticeships at Liverpool Hope University, CER, CPMM Media Group, Frank Field Education Trust, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Careers Hub, LJMU, LSSP, Satis Education and SENDSCOPE.

The official 2025 shortlist:

Most Impactful Communications Award, sponsored by CPMM Media Group

Outstanding Commitment to the Environment & Sustainability

• Hope Academy, St Helens
• Prospect House Specialist Support Primary School, Manchester
• The Academy of St Nicholas, Liverpool

Careers & Enterprise Award, sponsored by Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Careers Hub

• Birkenhead Sixth Form College, Wirral
• Kew Woods Primary School, Sefton
• St Francis Xavier’s Catholic Academy, Liverpool
• Wirral Grammar School for Boys, Wirral

Outstanding SEND Provision in Mainstream School, sponsored by SENDSCOPE

• Marton Primary Academy & Nursery, Blackpool
• Our Lady and St Swithin’s Catholic Primary School, Liverpool
• Whitefield Primary School, Liverpool

School Library of the Year

• Our Lady of Compassion RC Primary School, Sefton
• St Hilda’s CE High School, Liverpool
• St Mary’s Catholic Junior Academy, St Helens

Outstanding Commitment to STEM, sponsored by All About STEM

• The Mosslands School, Wirral
• Whitefield Primary School, Liverpool
• Wright Robinson College, Manchester

Outstanding Arts in Primary School

• Banks Road Primary School, Liverpool
• Our Lady of Compassion RC Primary School, Sefton
• St Peter’s CE Primary School, Bolton

Outstanding Arts in Secondary School

• Meols Cop High School, Sefton
• Ormskirk School, West Lancashire
• St John Bosco Arts College, Liverpool
• West Kirby Grammar School, Wirral

Lord Frank Field Community Partnership Award sponsored by Frank Field Education Trust 

• Accrington St Christopher’s CE High School, Accrington
• Burnley High School, Burnley
• Maghull High School, Sefton
• Tottington High School, Bury

Mental Health & Wellbeing Award

• Chantlers Primary School, Bury
• Locking Stumps Community Primary School, Warrington
• Standish Community High School, Wigan

Outstanding Commitment to Sport in Primary School, sponsored by LSSP

• Cherry Tree Primary School, Bolton
• Netherton Moss Primary School, Sefton
• Rowan Tree Primary School, Wigan
• Rushbrook Primary Academy, Manchester

Outstanding Commitment to Sport in Secondary School

• Cardinal Langley RC High School, Rochdale
• Maghull High School, Sefton
• St James’ Catholic High School, Stockport

Leadership Team of the Year

• Archbishop Blanch School, Liverpool
• Ascent Autism Specialist College, St Helens
• Chantlers Primary School, Bury
• Churchtown Primary School, Sefton

Teacher of the Year, sponsored by CER

• Christina McArdle from St Damian’s RC Science College, Tameside
• Corie Higgins from Stockport Academy, Stockport
• Sam Harvey from Rainford High, St Helens
• Stuart Hide from Runshaw College, Leyland

School Support Star of the Year, sponsored by Apprenticeships at Liverpool Hope University

• Karen Elcombe from Our Lady of Compassion RC Primary School, Sefton
• Karla Taylor from SEE (Oldham) CIC, Oldham
• Kellie Tisdale from The Birkenhead Park School, Wirral
• Sam Cookson from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, Sefton

Most Inspirational Multi Academy Trust, sponsored by Satis Education

• BePART Educational Trust, Wirral
• Endeavour Learning Trust, Lancashire
• The People’s Learning Trust, Liverpool

Most Inspirational Specialist School

• Abbot’s Lea School, Liverpool
• Knowsley Central Primary School, Knowsley
• SEE (Oldham) CIC, Oldham
• The Pendlebury Centre, Stockport

Most Inspirational Sixth Form & College, sponsored by LJMU

• Ascent Autism Specialist College, St Helens
• Birkenhead Sixth Form College, Wirral
• Winstanley College, Wigan

Most Inspirational Secondary School

• Burnage Academy for Boys, Manchester
• Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School, Liverpool
• St Edward’s College, Liverpool

Most Inspirational Primary School, sponsored by Angel Solutions

• Churchtown Primary School, Sefton
• St Elizabeth’s Catholic Primary School, Sefton
• St Peter’s CE Primary School, Bolton

WOW Recognition Award, sponsored by ASL Group

• Green Fold School, Bolton
• Hillside High School, Sefton
• The Hollins, Accrington 

More information about the Educate Awards can be found here.