Formby High School shortlisted for prestigious Educate Awards 2026

Formby High School has been named as a finalist in the prestigious Educate Awards 2026, as schools across Sefton receive recognition for their achievements in education.

The school has been shortlisted for the Lord Frank Field Community Partnership Award, placing Formby High among some of the North West’s leading schools and colleges ahead of this year’s awards ceremony.

Formby High recognised for community partnership work

Formby High School is one of four finalists in the Lord Frank Field Community Partnership Award category.

The full shortlist is:

Essa Primary Academy, Bolton

Formby High School, Sefton

Maghull High School, Sefton

Myerscough College, Liverpool

The category recognises schools and colleges for their work with communities and the partnerships they have developed beyond the classroom.

Formby High is among seven schools and colleges from across Sefton to feature on this year’s shortlist, with local finalists recognised across categories including the arts, teaching, school libraries, specialist education and inspirational schools.

Maghull High School has secured three nominations. The school is shortlisted for Outstanding Arts in Secondary School and the Lord Frank Field Community Partnership Award, while Bethany Low from Maghull High has also been shortlisted for Teacher of the Year.

Netherton Moss Primary School is shortlisted for Outstanding Arts in Primary School, while Sacred Heart Catholic Academy is a finalist for Outstanding Arts in Secondary School.

St Mary’s College Preparatory School has been shortlisted for School Library of the Year.

Presfield High School and Specialist College is a finalist for Most Inspirational Specialist School, while Kings Meadow Primary School has been shortlisted for Most Inspirational Primary School.

Celebrating education across the North West

The Educate Awards are celebrating their 15th anniversary this year and recognise outstanding achievements across nurseries, schools, colleges and multi academy trusts throughout the North West.

The 2026 awards feature 21 categories covering areas including community partnerships, careers, STEM, the arts, sport, SEND provision, mental health and wellbeing.

Individual teachers and support staff are also recognised for the contribution they make to pupils, schools and their wider communities.

The shortlist was officially revealed on Wednesday 16 September.

Finalists heading to Liverpool Cathedral

The winners will be revealed at the Educate Awards ceremony at Liverpool Cathedral on Friday 13 November.

The event will bring together finalists from Merseyside, Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester and Lancashire and will include live performances from schools across the region, a three course gala dinner and the presentation of the 2026 awards.

Kim O’Brien, founder of the Educate Awards, congratulated the Sefton finalists and said the judging panel had once again been impressed by the standard of entries.

She said: “Congratulations to the Sefton schools and college who have been shortlisted for this year’s Educate Awards.”

“Once again, our esteemed panel of judges have been blown away by the quality of this year’s entries, and more importantly, the incredible and inspirational work taking place across the region.”

She added: “Selecting the shortlist has been no mean feat for our judges and we are now looking forward to celebrating with all finalists as we prepare to roll out our iconic red carpet in November for an awards ceremony befitting our fifteenth anniversary.”

Educate Awards 2026 sponsors

Associate sponsors for this year’s awards include All About Futures, Angel Solutions, Apprenticeships at Liverpool Hope University, Carpe Diem Education Consultants UK, CER Education, CPMM Media Group, Frank Field Education Trust, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Careers Hub, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool School Sports Partnership, Portakabin, Satis Education and SENDSCOPE.

Congratulations to Formby High School and all of the Sefton finalists ahead of the awards ceremony in November.