The prestigious Sunday Times Parent Power Guide for 2026 has unveiled its definitive rankings of the United Kingdom's top-performing schools, with a north London grammar school securing the national crown. Queen Elizabeth's School in Barnet, London, has been named the UK's leading secondary state school in the highly anticipated annual guide, climbing one place to claim the top spot.
National Champions and Regional Leaders
The guide, published on Friday 5 December 2025, assesses schools based on their academic performance in the summer 2025 exam series. It focuses on the percentage of top GCSE and A-level grades achieved by pupils. Alongside the overall national winner, the publication also identifies the premier institutions in each category across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
In the national categories, Dame Alice Owen's School in Potters Bar was recognised as the leading comprehensive school, while St Paul's School in London took the title of top private secondary institution.
A Region-by-Region Breakdown of Excellence
The Sunday Times guide provides a detailed geographical analysis, highlighting the highest-achieving schools in every part of the country. The rankings separate schools into state secondary, comprehensive, primary, and secondary independent categories for each English region.
In the North East, St Leonard's RC School in Durham was named top state secondary and comprehensive school. St Charles' RC Primary School in Newcastle led for primaries, while the Royal Grammar School in Newcastle was top independent secondary.
In the North, Ripon Grammar School in Ripon was top state secondary, with Tapton School in Sheffield leading for comprehensives. Carlton Junior and Infant School in Dewsbury was the region's best primary, and Queen Ethelburga's College in York the top secondary independent.
The North West saw Altrincham Grammar School for Girls in Altrincham top the state secondary list. Tauheedul Islam Girls' High School and Sixth Form College in Blackburn was the leading comprehensive, Nicol Mere School in Wigan the top primary, and Withington Girls' School in Manchester the best secondary independent.
In the East Midlands, The King's School in Grantham led for state secondary, St Mary's RC High School in Chesterfield for comprehensive, Redhill Primary School in Derby for primary, and Nottingham High School for secondary independent.
The West Midlands rankings were topped by King Edward VI School in Stratford-upon-Avon (state secondary), St Paul's School for Girls in Edgbaston, Birmingham (comprehensive), Lift Lea Forest in Birmingham (primary), and King Edward VI High School for Girls in Birmingham (secondary independent).
East Anglia's best were Colchester Royal Grammar School (state secondary), Impington Village College (comprehensive), St Thomas More's RC Primary School in Colchester (primary), and The Perse School in Cambridge (independent secondary).
In the South West, Pate's Grammar School in Cheltenham was top state secondary, Ralph Allen School in Bath top comprehensive, Mawnan CofE Primary School in Falmouth top primary, and Cheltenham Ladies' College top secondary independent.
The South East saw Reading School in Reading lead for state secondary, Dame Alice Owen's School in Potters Bar for comprehensive, Lowbrook Academy in Maidenhead for primary, and Brighton College for secondary independent.
London, home to the national champion, also saw West London Free School named top comprehensive, Thomas Jones Primary School in Kensington and Chelsea top primary, and St Paul's School top secondary independent.
Nations of the UK: Top Performers
The guide also extends its analysis to the devolved nations, identifying the leading schools in Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
In Northern Ireland, Strathearn School in Belfast was named the top state secondary.
In Wales, Cowbridge School in Cowbridge was top state secondary, and Cardiff Sixth Form College in Cardiff was the leading secondary independent school.
The Scottish rankings, which account for different exam systems, saw Jordanhill School in Glasgow named top state secondary for Highers. St Mary's Music School in Edinburgh was top independent for Highers, and St Leonards School in St Andrews was the leading secondary independent for A-level and GCSEs.
A Benchmark for Academic Achievement
The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide has long been considered a crucial resource for parents navigating school choices. Its 2026 edition provides a comprehensive snapshot of academic excellence based on the most recent public exam data. The regional breakdowns are particularly valuable, offering families a clear view of the highest-performing institutions in their local area, from primary level through to sixth form.
The success of schools like Queen Elizabeth's in Barnet underscores the continued high standards within the UK's selective state system, while the recognition of top comprehensives and independents across the regions highlights pockets of excellence in every type of educational setting.
