The latest definitive guide to academic excellence in British education has been released, naming the country's highest-achieving secondary and primary schools. The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026 has published its rankings, calculated on the proportion of top GCSE and A-Level grades achieved by pupils in the summer 2025 exams.
National Champions and Regional Leaders
Topping the table for all state schools nationally is Queen Elizabeth's School in Barnet, a grammar which climbed one place to seize the premier position. Meanwhile, Dame Alice Owen's School in Potters Bar has been crowned the number one comprehensive school for both the South East and the entire United Kingdom. In a further accolade, the West London Free School was named Comprehensive School of the Year 2026.
The capital's institutions demonstrated remarkable strength, securing half of the top 20 places for comprehensives. London schools also claimed 12 spots among the leading state primaries, with Thomas Jones Primary School in London making a spectacular leap from joint 43rd last year to become the top primary.
For subject-specific excellence, Wilson's School in Wallington, south London, was identified as the best state school for GCSE performance. In the private sector, St Paul's School in London took the country's top spot.
A Landscape of Challenge and Dedication
Helen Davies, editor of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide, acknowledged the difficult environment schools are navigating. She highlighted budget pressures, rising student mental health concerns, and special educational needs provision as significant tests. However, she was keen to celebrate the "dedication of teachers who are finding ever more innovative and impactful ways to enrich their students."
The guide also provides a detailed regional breakdown, allowing parents to identify the highest-performing schools in their area across state, comprehensive, and private categories.
Regional Top Performers Across the UK
The rankings spotlight leading institutions in every corner of the nation. Here are the top-performing schools by region for 2026:
North East: St Leonard’s RC School in Durham (top state secondary/comprehensive); St Charles’ RC Primary School in Newcastle (top primary); Royal Grammar School in Newcastle (top secondary independent).
North: Ripon Grammar School in Ripon (top state secondary); Tapton School in Sheffield (top comprehensive); Carlton Junior and Infant School in Dewsbury (top primary); Queen Ethelburga’s College in York (top secondary independent).
North West: Altrincham Grammar School for Girls in Altrincham (top state secondary); Tauheedul Islam Girls’ High School in Blackburn (top comprehensive); Nicol Mere School in Wigan (top primary); Withington Girls’ School in Manchester (top secondary independent).
East Midlands: The King’s School in Grantham (top state secondary); St Mary’s RC High School in Chesterfield (top comprehensive); Redhill Primary School in Derby (top primary); Nottingham High School (top secondary independent).
West Midlands: King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon (top state secondary); St Paul’s School for Girls, Edgbaston (top comprehensive); Lift Lea Forest in Birmingham (top primary); King Edward VI High School for Girls, Birmingham (top secondary independent).
East Anglia: Colchester Royal Grammar School (top state secondary); Impington Village College (top comprehensive); St Thomas More’s RC Primary School in Colchester (top primary); The Perse School in Cambridge (top independent secondary).
South West: Pate’s Grammar School in Cheltenham (top state secondary); Ralph Allen School in Bath (top comprehensive); Mawnan CofE Primary School in Falmouth (top primary); Cheltenham Ladies’ College (top secondary independent).
South East: Reading School (top state secondary); Dame Alice Owen’s School in Potters Bar (top comprehensive); Lowbrook Academy in Maidenhead (top primary); Brighton College (top secondary independent).
London: Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet (top state secondary); West London Free School (top comprehensive); Thomas Jones Primary School (top primary); St Paul’s School (top secondary independent).
The guide also covers the devolved nations, with Strathearn School in Belfast leading in Northern Ireland, Cowbridge School topping the state sector in Wales, and Jordanhill School in Glasgow named Scotland's top state secondary for Highers.
