St. Helens Education Sector: Overview and Opportunities

St Helens borough offers a diverse and supportive education landscape, creating excellent opportunities for teaching professionals, support staff, and school leaders at every stage of their careers. As one of the five metropolitan boroughs within Merseyside, St Helens serves a mix of urban and suburban communities - each with unique needs and strengths.

This page provides an overview of the education sector in St Helens, highlighting local schools, teaching opportunities, and professional development options. Whether you’re exploring St Helens education jobs, considering a move into leadership, or seeking teaching assistant jobs in St Helens, this guide will help you understand what makes the area distinctive.

Early Years Education

St Helens places a strong focus on early intervention and school readiness, with provision across:

  • Dedicated nurseries and pre-schools

  • Free nursery classes in many primary schools for children aged 3-4

  • Private early years settings and childcare providers

  • Children’s centres offering integrated family support

Educators in this stage work within the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, helping children develop key social, emotional, and learning foundations. Popular settings include Rainhill Community Nursery and early years units in primary schools such as Bleak Hill Primary School.

Primary Education

St Helens is home to more than 60 primary schools, including community schools, Catholic and Church of England schools, academies, and free schools. Areas served include Billinge, Eccleston, Haydock, Newton-le-Willows, Rainhill, Sutton, and Thatto Heath.

Examples include:

  • Eccleston Lane Ends Primary School - known for its strong pastoral support.

  • St Julie’s Catholic Primary School - part of a close-knit Catholic community network.

  • Bleak Hill Primary School - Ofsted Outstanding and celebrated for innovative teaching.

Primary education follows the National Curriculum, covering Key Stage 1 (Years 1-2) and Key Stage 2 (Years 3-6), with SATs assessments at the end of Year 6.

Secondary Education

The borough’s secondary sector comprises approximately 20 schools that serve students aged 11 to 16 years old. These include comprehensive schools, faith schools, academies, and co-educational settings.

Notable secondary schools include:

  • Rainford High School - with a strong academic record and sixth form provision

  • Cowley International College - offering a broad curriculum and inclusive ethos

  • St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School - providing faith-based education in a co-educational setting

Secondary education follows Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) and Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11), leading to GCSEs and post-16 pathways.

Post-16 Education

Post-16 provision in St Helens is delivered through sixth forms, colleges, and vocational training centres. St Helens College is a key provider, offering A-levels, BTECs, T-levels, apprenticeships, and adult learning programmes. Partnerships with Liverpool and Edge Hill universities also create strong routes for teacher training and ongoing professional development.

Special Educational Needs Provision

St Helens is committed to inclusive education, guided by its SEND Strategy Visible, Valued and Included (2024-2027). Provision includes:

  • Dedicated special schools like Lansbury Bridge School and Mill Green School

  • Specialist resource bases within mainstream schools

  • Alternative provision and outreach services supporting children with additional needs

These create meaningful opportunities for professionals specialising in SEND roles, from SENCOs to teaching assistants and therapists.

Types of Roles and Recruitment

St Helens offers a variety of roles for those seeking school jobs in St Helens, including:

  • Teaching jobs St Helens - across all subjects and key stages

  • Teaching assistant jobs St Helens - supporting classroom practice and targeted interventions

  • Subject specialist roles (e.g., maths, science, modern languages)

  • Leadership positions in departments and senior teams

  • Early career teacher roles and placements

Recruitment takes place through:

  • St Helens Council’s education vacancies

  • The national Teaching Vacancies website

  • TES and specialist education recruitment agencies

  • School and academy trust websites

Professional Development and Training

Thrive Group supports educators in St Helens through specialist training programmes focused on leadership, mental health, and inclusion. Popular courses include:

Why Build Your Career in St Helens?

St Helens offers:

  • A diverse range of schools and communities

  • Opportunities to work in both urban and semi-rural settings

  • Affordable housing and excellent transport links to Liverpool and Manchester

  • Supportive networks and collaboration between schools

  • A growing focus on innovation and inclusive education

Next Steps

Looking for your next opportunity in education? Whether you’re exploring teaching jobs St Helens, teaching assistant jobs St Helens, or other St Helens education jobs, Thrive Group can help you take the next step.

Get in touch with us to discuss your career goals and training options.