Best schools in England (2025)
The top five of 21,750 schools in each category, with links to the full top 100. Rankings use the Success Index (England), built only from official English data.
England has 21,750 schools educating 8,571,827 students in 2025: 11,320 academy, 8,859 local authority, 1,571 independent.
The median Pupils on roll across England is 262. Number of pupils in the latest school census.
Best primary schools in England
Primary, infant, junior and all-through schools teaching Key Stages 1 and 2.
Nancy Reuben Primary School
London, London · Local authority primary · Ages 2–11
231 students
Oatlands Infant School
Harrogate, Yorkshire and the Humber · Academy primary · Ages 4–7
269 students
Polehampton Church of England Infant and Nursery School
Reading, South East · Academy primary · Ages 4–7
148 students
Upminster Infant School
Upminster, London · Academy primary · Ages 5–7
265 students
Beoley First School
Redditch, West Midlands · Academy primary · Ages 4–9
104 students
Best secondary schools in England
Secondary and all-through schools teaching Key Stages 3 and 4.
Wimbledon High School GDST
London, London · Independent all-through · Ages 4–19
1,085 students
Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet
Barnet, London · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,321 students
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
Chelmsford, East of England · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,153 students
Colchester Royal Grammar School
Colchester, East of England · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,073 students
The Henrietta Barnett School
London, London · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
812 students
Best state schools in England
Academies, free schools and local-authority maintained schools.
Nancy Reuben Primary School
London, London · Local authority primary · Ages 2–11
231 students
Oatlands Infant School
Harrogate, Yorkshire and the Humber · Academy primary · Ages 4–7
269 students
Polehampton Church of England Infant and Nursery School
Reading, South East · Academy primary · Ages 4–7
148 students
Upminster Infant School
Upminster, London · Academy primary · Ages 5–7
265 students
Beoley First School
Redditch, West Midlands · Academy primary · Ages 4–9
104 students
Best academies & free schools in England
State-funded schools run by academy trusts.
Oatlands Infant School
Harrogate, Yorkshire and the Humber · Academy primary · Ages 4–7
269 students
Polehampton Church of England Infant and Nursery School
Reading, South East · Academy primary · Ages 4–7
148 students
Upminster Infant School
Upminster, London · Academy primary · Ages 5–7
265 students
Beoley First School
Redditch, West Midlands · Academy primary · Ages 4–9
104 students
Broomley First School
Stocksfield, North East · Academy primary · Ages 5–9
99 students
Best independent schools in England
Fee-paying schools, scored only where they publish results in the performance tables.
Wimbledon High School GDST
London, London · Independent all-through · Ages 4–19
1,085 students
The Perse School
Cambridge, East of England · Independent all-through · Ages 3–18
1,774 students
Cheltenham Ladies' College
Cheltenham, South West · Independent secondary · Ages 11–18
814 students
The Harrodian School
London, London · Independent all-through · Ages 4–18
1,034 students
Cardiff Sixth Form College, Cambridge
Cambridge, East of England · Independent secondary · Ages 14–19
100 students
Best grammar schools in England
State schools with selective admissions.
Wimbledon High School GDST
London, London · Independent all-through · Ages 4–19
1,085 students
Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet
Barnet, London · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,321 students
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
Chelmsford, East of England · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,153 students
Colchester Royal Grammar School
Colchester, East of England · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,073 students
The Henrietta Barnett School
London, London · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
812 students
Best girls' schools in England
Single-sex girls' schools.
Wimbledon High School GDST
London, London · Independent all-through · Ages 4–19
1,085 students
The Henrietta Barnett School
London, London · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
812 students
Tonbridge Grammar School
Tonbridge, South East · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,150 students
The Tiffin Girls' School
Kingston upon Thames, London · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,267 students
Chelmsford County High School for Girls
Chelmsford, East of England · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,275 students
Best boys' schools in England
Single-sex boys' schools.
Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet
Barnet, London · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,321 students
Colchester Royal Grammar School
Colchester, East of England · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,073 students
St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School
Orpington, London · Local authority secondary · Ages 11–18
1,084 students
Wilson's School
Wallington, London · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,327 students
Reading School
Reading, South East · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,138 students
Best secondary schools by attainment 8 in England
Secondary schools ranked by Attainment 8, the average GCSE points per pupil across eight subjects.
The Henrietta Barnett School
London, London · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
812 students
Wilson's School
Wallington, London · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,327 students
Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet
Barnet, London · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,321 students
The Tiffin Girls' School
Kingston upon Thames, London · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
1,267 students
Kendrick School
Reading, South East · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
939 students
Best primary schools by ks2 results in England
Primary schools ranked by the percentage of Year 6 pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.
South Farnham School
Farnham, South East · Academy primary · Ages 4–11
845 students
The Minster School
Southwell, East Midlands · Academy secondary · Ages 7–18
1,616 students
Lowbrook Academy
Maidenhead, South East · Academy primary · Ages 5–11
327 students
The Raleigh School
Leatherhead, South East · Academy primary · Ages 4–11
434 students
Christow Primary School
Exeter, South West · Academy primary · Ages 2–11
100 students
Best sixth forms by a level results in England
Schools ranked by average A level points per entry.
St Paul's Girls' School
London, London · Independent all-through · Ages 10–19
833 students
North London Collegiate School
Middlesex, London · Independent all-through · Ages 4–18
1,130 students
St Paul's School
London, London · Independent all-through · Ages 7–18
1,504 students
The National Mathematics and Science College
Westwood Way, West Midlands · Independent secondary · Ages 15–20
159 students
Westminster School
London, London · Independent secondary · Ages 12–19
780 students
Best largest schools in England
Schools with the most pupils on roll.
Lycee Francais Charles de Gaulle
London, London · Independent all-through · Ages 2–19
3,420 students
Robert Clack School
Dagenham, London · Local authority all-through · Ages 3–18
3,231 students
Brampton Manor Academy
London, London · Academy secondary · Ages 11–18
2,987 students
Walton High
Milton Keynes, South East · Academy secondary · Ages 11–19
2,969 students
Loxford School
Ilford, London · Academy all-through · Ages 3–19
2,799 students
Rankings by region
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best primary school in England?
Nancy Reuben Primary School in London, London ranks first among primary schools in England with a Success Index (England) of 99.9 out of 100 (Pupils on roll: 231).
How are primary schools in England ranked?
Each school's Success Index (England) combines 9 factors: ks2: reading, writing & maths expected standard (35%), ks2: higher standard (20%), ks2: reading progress (10%), ks2: maths progress (10%), progress 8 (20%), attainment 8 (30%), grade 5+ in english & maths (15%), a level points per entry (10%), community advantage (fewer pupils on free school meals) (15%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type across England. Schools with fewer than 60 students are excluded from rankings.
Are these 2025 rankings official?
No. They are computed by Success Tutoring from official English data (DfE – Get Information About Schools; DfE – Compare school and college performance). Independent schools rarely appear in the performance tables, so most receive no attainment components and no score.