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Independent Schools in North West England

Browse 168 independent schools across Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and Merseyside….

Discover Schools in North West England

AKS Lytham

AKS Lytham

Lytham St Annes, Lancashire

Abbey Gate College

Abbey Gate College

Chester, Cheshire

Hale Preparatory School

Hale Preparatory School

Altrincham, Cheshire

Why are these schools featured?

Schools can choose to promote their profiles through Featured School placements. Featured schools appear in this section in addition to their standard profile listing.

Browse schools in North West England by County

Cheshire 34 schools Cumbria 8 schools Greater Manchester 19 schools Lancashire 81 schools Merseyside 19 schools Stockport 12 schools

Browse Schools by Type

Prep Schools 161 schools
Senior Schools 115 schools
Sixth Form Schools 82 schools
Day Schools 168 schools
Boarding Schools 17 schools
Pre-Prep Schools 111 schools
Girls' Schools 23 schools
Boys' Schools 21 schools
Co-educational Schools 124 schools

Continue Your Research

More ways to research and compare independent schools.

School Fees

Compare North West tuition fees, boarding costs and deposits.

School Open Days

Browse upcoming open days across North West.

Parent Guides

Read practical advice on choosing the right school.

Compare Schools

Compare schools side by side and build your shortlist.

Popular North West School Comparisons

Compare some of the most searched independent school combinations across North West, including boarding, prep, senior and fee comparisons.

Compare Schools by Fees

Review and compare school fees across North West.

Compare Boarding Prep Schools

Compare boarding prep schools across North West.

Compare Boarding Senior Schools

Compare boarding senior schools across North West.

Choosing a Private School in North West

The North West has one of England's strongest independent day school markets, alongside a number of highly regarded boarding schools. Families frequently compare schools across Greater Manchester, Cheshire, Lancashire, Merseyside and Cumbria, often considering schools within a wider commuting area rather than focusing solely on their nearest town.

The region offers everything from academically selective schools to all-through and specialist independent schools. Comparing admissions, school culture, fees, extracurricular opportunities and travel times can help identify the schools that best match your family's priorities.

School Scout helps families to search schools by county, town or postcode, compare schools side by side and build a shortlist before visiting prospective schools.

Explore Private Schools in Popular Towns Across North West

Browse independent schools in some of North West's most popular towns. Compare schools by location, fees, age and school type, explore nearby options, and build your shortlist.

Independent Schools in Hale Barns Independent Schools in Altrincham Independent Schools in Bowdon Independent Schools in Cheadle Hulme Independent Schools in Didsbury Independent Schools in Wilmslow Independent Schools in Knutsford Independent Schools in Liverpool Independent Schools in Lancaster

Explore Private Schools Near Popular Towns, Villages & Local Areas

Families often search for schools close to home rather than by county alone. Explore independent schools near popular towns, villages and local communities across North West, then compare schools, refine your search and build your shortlist with confidence.

Private Schools near Prestbury Private Schools near Mottram St Andrew Private Schools near Nether Alderley Private Schools near Goostrey Private Schools near Lymm Private Schools near Grappenhall Private Schools near Tarporley Private Schools near Holmes Chapel Private Schools near Formby Private Schools near Heswall Private Schools near Woolton Private Schools near Birkdale Private Schools near Grange-over-Sands Private Schools near Arnside Private Schools near Hest Bank Private Schools near Hale

Browse All Private Schools in North West England

Showing 1–51 of 168 schools

Name (A–Z)
Name (Z–A)
Fees (Low to High)
Fees (High to Low)
AKS Lytham

AKS Lytham

Lytham St Annes, Lancashire, FY8 1DT

Fees from

£4,416 / term

Range £4,416 - £6,248 (inc. VAT)

Co-Ed 0–19 792 Day
View Profile
Abbey College Manchester

Abbey College Manchester

Lancashire, M2 4WG

Fees from

£3,240 / term

Range £3,240 - £13,960 (inc. VAT)

Co-Ed 14–23 183 Day & Boarding
View Profile
Abbey Gate College

Abbey Gate College

Chester, Cheshire, CH3 6EN

Fees from

£4,306 / term

Range £4,306 - £6,265 (inc. VAT)

Co-Ed 4–18 464 Day
View Profile

Abbotsford Preparatory School

M41 5PR, Lancashire, M41 5PR

Fees from

£3,348 / term

Range £3,348 - £3,553 (inc. VAT)

Co-Ed 0–11 173 Day
View Profile

Abrar Academy

Preston, Lancashire, PR1 1NA

Fees from

£828 / term

Range £828 - £0 (inc. VAT)

Boys 11–21 73 Day & Boarding
View Profile

Altrincham Preparatory School

Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 2RR

Fees from

£3,638 / term

Range £3,638 - £7,675 (inc. VAT)

Boys 2–11 263 Day
View Profile

Ashbridge Independent School

Preston, Lancashire, PR4 4AQ

Fees from

£5,320 / term

Range £5,320 - £0 (inc. VAT)

Co-Ed 4–11 132 Day
View Profile

Ashlea House School

Manchester, Greater Manchester, M34 6ET

Boys 11–18 13 Day
View Profile
Austen House

Austen House

Rossendale, Lancashire, BB4 5TS

Co-Ed 11–18 1 Day
View Profile
Austin Friars

Austin Friars

Carlisle, Cumbria, CA3 9PB

Fees from

£3,480 / term

Range £3,480 - £7,650 (inc. VAT)

Co-Ed 3–18 323 Day
View Profile

Avalon School

Wirral, Merseyside, CH48 2HE

Fees from

£4,206 / term

Range £4,206 - £4,446 (inc. VAT)

Co-Ed 2–11 118 Day
View Profile
BFC School

BFC School

Blackpool, Lancashire, FY1 6JJ

Co-Ed 14–16 20 Day
View Profile

Beech Hall School

Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 2EG

Fees from

£4,612 / term

Range £4,612 - £6,628 (inc. VAT)

Co-Ed 4–19 225 Day
View Profile

Beech House School

Rochdale, Lancashire, OL11 4JQ

Fees from

£2,506 / term

Range £2,506 - £3,394 (inc. VAT)

Co-Ed 2–16 165 Day
View Profile

Beis Ruchel Girls School

Manchester, Lancashire, M7 4AE

Girls 2–11 210 Day
View Profile

Belvedere Preparatory School

Liverpool, Merseyside, L8 3TF

Fees from

£3,300 / term

Range £3,300 - £3,378 (inc. VAT)

Co-Ed 3–11 146 Day
View Profile

Birkenhead School

Prenton, Merseyside, CH43 2JD

Fees from

£5,572 / term

Range £5,572 - £6,110 (inc. VAT)

Co-Ed 0–19 955 Day
View Profile
Bolton School Boys' Division

Bolton School Boys' Division

Bolton, Lancashire, BL1 4PA

Fees from

£3,816 / term

Range £3,816 - £4,772 (inc. VAT)

Boys 7–18 1,124 Day
View Profile
Bolton School Girls' Division

Bolton School Girls' Division

Bolton, Lancashire, BL1 4PB

Fees from

£3,816 / term

Range £3,816 - £4,772 (inc. VAT)

Girls 7–18 1,035 Day
View Profile

Bowdon Preparatory School for Girls

Altrincham, Cheshire, WA14 2LT

Fees from

£3,974 / term

Range £3,974 - £4,075 (inc. VAT)

Girls 3–11 279 Day
View Profile

Frequently asked questions about private schools in North West England

How many private schools are there in North West?
School Scout includes profiles for 168 independent schools across North West, helping families search, compare and shortlist private schools across the region.
Which parts of North West have the most independent schools?
Independent schools are distributed across North West, with particularly strong concentrations in Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside. The best area for your family depends on journey time, school stage and the type of school being considered.
How should I compare North West schools?
Start with a realistic travel area, then compare schools by age range, admissions, gender, fees, size, curriculum and school culture. Use School Scout's comparison tool to review key information side by side.
https://schoolscout.uk/compare/
Are there boarding schools in North West?
North West includes both day and boarding schools, although the balance varies by county. Families can compare full, weekly and flexi boarding schools alongside day schools across the region.
https://schoolscout.uk/posts/boarding-vs-day-schools
Can I search for North West schools by postcode?
Yes. Search by postcode, area or school name, then refine the results using School Scout's filters.
Can I compare North West private school fees?
Yes. School profiles show available fee information and the School Fees hub helps families compare tuition, boarding and other published costs.
https://schoolscout.uk/compare/schools-by-fees
Where can I find North West school open days?
Use School Scout's Open Days section to browse upcoming events and follow links to individual school profiles for further details.
https://schoolscout.uk/independent-school-open-days
What is the difference between a North West prep and senior school?
Prep schools usually educate younger pupils before senior school entry, while senior schools typically begin at age 11 or 13 and may continue through sixth form. Age ranges vary, so families should check each school profile.
/schools/independent/uk/england/north-west

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