Private Schools / Lancashire
Private Schools in Lancashire
There are 60 independent (private) schools in Lancashire. Compare fees, ISI and Ofsted inspection ratings, boarding options and entry requirements side by side.
60 private schools in Lancashire
Olive High
BURNLEY · Senior · Girls
Olive High Boys
Burnley · Senior · Boys
Al Islah Girls' High School
BLACKBURN · Senior · Girls
BFC School
Blackpool · Senior · Mixed
Darul Hadis Latifiah Northwest
Oldham · Senior · Boys
Hope School
Preston · Senior · Mixed
Jamea Al Kauthar
Lancaster · Senior · Girls
Jamiatul-Ilm Wal-Huda UK School
Blackburn · Senior · Boys
Lancaster Independent School for Alternative Learning (Lisal)
Lancaster · Prep · Mixed
Lincoln House School
Burnley · Senior · Boys
Madrasatul Imam Muhammad Zakariya
Bolton · Senior · Girls
Manchester Junior Girls' School
Salford · Prep · Girls
Rawdhatul Ilm Wal Huda
Blackburn · Senior · Girls
Rawdhatul Uloom Islamic Primary School
Blackburn · Prep · Mixed
Rosa House School
Burnley · Senior · Girls
Springfield House School
Preston · Senior · Mixed
Turning Point Academy
Ormskirk · All-through · Mixed
Bnos Yisroel School Manchester
Salford · All-through · Girls
Harpurhey Alternative Provision School
Manchester · Senior · Mixed
Talmud Torah Yetev Lev
Salford · Prep · Boys
Abbotsford Preparatory School
Manchester · Prep · Mixed
Abrar Academy
Preston · Senior · Boys
AKS Lytham
Lytham St Annes · All-through · Mixed
Al-Ikhlaas Primary School
Nelson · Prep · Mixed
Al Jamiah Al Islamiyyah
Bolton · Senior · Boys
Ashbridge Independent School
Preston · Prep · Mixed
Beech House School
Rochdale · All-through · Mixed
Beis Hatalmud School
Salford · Senior · Boys
Beis Ruchel Girls School
Manchester · Prep · Girls
Bolton School Boys' Division
Bolton · All-through · Boys
Bolton School Girls' Division
Bolton · All-through · Girls
Branwood Preparatory School
Manchester · Prep · Mixed
Bury Grammar Schools
Bury · All-through · Mixed
Edenfield Girls' High School
Nelson · Senior · Girls
Farrowdale House School
Oldham · Prep · Mixed
Highfield Priory School
Preston · Prep · Mixed
Hulme Grammar School
Oldham · All-through · Mixed
Imam Muhammad Zakariya School
Preston · Prep · Mixed
Islamiyah School
Blackburn · Senior · Girls
Kassim Darwish Grammar School for Boys
Manchester · Senior · Boys
Kirkham Grammar School
Preston · All-through · Mixed
Lancashire Alternative Provision
Blackpool · Senior · Mixed
Lord's School
Bolton · Senior · Mixed
Markazul Uloom
Blackburn · Senior · Boys
Mechinoh School
Salford · Senior · Boys
Moor Allerton Preparatory School
Manchester · Prep · Mixed
Moorland School Limited
Clitheroe · Prep · Mixed
Oakhill School
Clitheroe · All-through · Mixed
Oholei Yosef Yitzchok Lubavitch Schools
Salford · All-through · Girls
Oneschool Global Uk Lancaster Campus
Lancaster · All-through · Mixed
Rawdhatul Uloom
Burnley · Prep · Mixed
Rossall School
Fleetwood · All-through · Mixed
Scarisbrick Hall School
Ormskirk · All-through · Mixed
St Anne's College Grammar School
Lytham St Annes · All-through · Mixed
Stonyhurst College
Clitheroe · All-through · Mixed
St Pius X Preparatory School
Preston · Prep · Mixed
Tashbar of Manchester
Salford · Independent · Boys
The Alternative School
Accrington · All-through · Mixed
The Manchester Grammar School
Manchester · All-through · Boys
Westholme School
Blackburn · All-through · Mixed
About private schools in Lancashire
Private (independent) schools in Lancashire charge fees and set their own admissions criteria, curriculum and term dates. They are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) or Ofsted rather than following the state framework, and many offer smaller class sizes, specialist facilities and a broad co-curricular programme. Fees vary by age group and by whether the school offers day or boarding places, so request an up-to-date fee schedule directly from each school - and factor in that since January 2025 school fees are subject to VAT, which has affected headline prices across the sector.
When comparing independent schools in Lancashire, consider the key entry points - commonly at 4, 7, 11 and 13 - and what each school requires at assessment, whether that is an 11-plus entrance exam, 13-plus common entrance or the school's own test. Bursaries and scholarships in areas such as academic achievement, music and sport can reduce fees significantly, so ask each school for its current financial support policy and application deadlines. ISI inspection reports, GCSE and A-level results and the destinations of leavers give a fuller picture of a school than fees alone.
Choosing a school in Lancashire
Whether or not Lancashire has schools of a particular type, the same fundamentals help you compare your options. Ofsted judgements - Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate - summarise the quality of education, behaviour, personal development and leadership. A rating is a useful starting point, but bear in mind that some schools have not been inspected for several years and that a single word cannot capture everything about a school.
For secondary schools, Progress 8 is often more revealing than raw results. It measures how much pupils improve between the end of primary school and their GCSEs, so a school serving a less advantaged community can still post strong progress. Attainment 8 shows average achievement across eight GCSEs, and the percentage of pupils reaching grade 5 or above in English and maths is a useful benchmark. For 16-18 study, look at A-Level and applied-course results and where students go next.
Beyond the data, look at how places are allocated when a school is oversubscribed and whether your address is likely to secure one, the range of subjects and activities on offer, the sixth-form provision if you are planning ahead, and travel and transport. Above all, visit. An open day tells you more about a school's atmosphere, pastoral care and whether it will suit your child than any league table can.
Frequently asked questions
How many private schools are there in Lancashire?
There are 60 private schools in Lancashire listed on School Signal, of which 17 are rated Outstanding or Good by Ofsted.
Which private school in Lancashire has the best Ofsted rating?
Olive High is among the highest rated private schools in Lancashire, judged Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection.
How much do private schools in Lancashire cost?
Fees vary by school, age group and whether the place is day or boarding, and since January 2025 independent school fees are subject to VAT. Our private school fees page for Lancashire lists each school's published fees, with the academic year and whether VAT is included. Many schools in Lancashire offer means-tested bursaries and merit-based scholarships in areas such as academics, music and sport, which can reduce costs significantly. Ask each school for its current fee schedule and financial support information as early as possible in your search.