Sunday Times best schools: What are the best primary and secondary schools near me?
Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet, London, has been crowned the UK’s best-performing secondary state school in the prestigious annual Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026.
The grammar school’s success, which climbed somewhere to secure top spot, is based on its outstanding exam performance from summer 2025.
The guide, which rates schools based on the percentage of top GCSE and A-level grades achieved, also recognized Dame Alice Owen’s School in Potters Bar as the leading comprehensive school and St Paul’s School in London as the leading private institution.
The Sunday Times guide also ranks the best-performing state, comprehensive, independent and primary schools in every part of England, as well as the best schools in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
North East
– St Leonard’s RC School in Durham, the state’s top secondary school and comprehensive
– St Charles’ RC Primary School in Newcastle, first grade
– Royal Grammar School in Newcastle, senior independent secondary education
North
– Ripon Grammar School in Ripon, the highest state secondary school
– Tapton School in Sheffield, the most comprehensive
– Carlton Junior and Infant School in Dewsbury, first grade
– Queen Ethelburga’s College in York, independent upper secondary education
North West
– Altrincham Girls’ Grammar School in Altrincham, the top state secondary school
– Tauheedul Islam Girls High School and Sixth Form College in Blackburn, the most comprehensive
– Nicol Mere School in Wigan, top primary
– Withington Girls’ School in Manchester, independent upper secondary education
East Midlands
– King’s School in Grantham is the state’s top secondary school
– St Mary’s RC High School in Chesterfield, the most comprehensive
– Redhill Primary School in Derby, the best primary school
– Nottingham High School, independent upper secondary school in Nottingham
West Midlands
– King Edward VI School, Stratford in Stratford-upon-Avon, the highest state secondary education
– St Paul’s Girls’ School at Edgbaston in Birmingham, the most comprehensive
– Lift Lea Forest in Birmingham is first class
– King Edward VI Girls’ High School, Birmingham, Birmingham, independent high school
East Anglia
– Colchester Royal Grammar School in Colchester, the top county secondary school
– Impington Village College in Impington, the most comprehensive
– St Thomas More’s RC Primary School in Colchester, first grade
– Perse School in Cambridge, a top independent secondary school
South West
– Pate’s Grammar School in Cheltenham, the state’s top secondary school
– Ralph Allen School in Bath, the most comprehensive
– Mawnan CofE Primary School in Falmouth, the best primary school
– Cheltenham Ladies’ College in Cheltenham, senior independent
South East
– Reading School in Reading, the top state secondary school
– Dame Alice Owen’s School at Potters Bar, the most comprehensive
– Lowbrook Academy in Maidenhead, first grade
– Brighton College in Brighton, independent upper secondary education
London
– Queen Elizabeth School in Barnet, the state’s top secondary school
– West London Free School, the most comprehensive
-Thomas Jones Primary School in Kensington and Chelsea, primary winner
– St Paul’s School, London, independent upper secondary education
Northern Ireland
– Strathearn School in Belfast, the state’s top secondary school
Wales
– Cowbridge School in Cowbridge, upper state secondary education
– Cardiff Sixth Form College in Cardiff, upper independent secondary education
Scotland
– Jordanhill School in Glasgow, best state secondary education for Highers
– St Mary’s School of Music in Edinburgh, the best independent school for higher education
– St Leonards School in St Andrews, best independent secondary school for A levels and GCSEs
