Top 100 Schools by GCSE
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2021 LEAGUE TABLES
Our League Tables show the highest performing independent schools in the UK based on the percentage of top grades awarded to students in 2021.
This year, students did not sit public examinations and grades were awarded by schools according to strictly controlled internal assessment criteria. Simply put, the grades were awarded by teachers. The latest grades based on actual examination results were awarded in 2019, of which we hold almost complete records which are available exclusively to our clients.
Whilst we are confident that the grades awarded in 2021 are a reflection of student achievement it is important to note that, in the case of a number of schools, the percentage of top grades varies considerably from the results obtained in previous years.
For further information and advice on applying to a UK private school please contact us by calling +44 1622 813870 or complete an Enquiry Form.
2021 Results
# | A + A* % | Name | Day/Board | Boy/Girl | Day £ | Board £ |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 99.80 | St Paul's Girls' School | Day | Girls | 29,880 | |
2 | 99.60 | Wycombe Abbey School | Boarding | Girls | 33,150 | 44,100 |
3 | 99.50 | Haberdashers' Boys' School - Elstree | Day | Boys | 22,659 | |
4 | 99.20 | Godolphin & Latymer School | Day | Girls | ||
5 | 99.00 | Putney High School | Day | Girls | 21,639 | |
= | 99.00 | James Allen's Girls' School | Day | Girls | 21,135 | |
7 | 98.20 | Withington Girls School | Day | Girls | 14,622 | |
8 | 98.00 | Brighton College | Both | Co-ed | 27,840 | 56,760 |
9 | 97.90 | St Paul's School | Both | Boys | 27,486 | 41,364 |
10 | 97.80 | Hampton School | Day | Boys | 22,890 | |
11 | 97.50 | Haberdashers' Girls' School - Elstree | Day | Girls | 21,636 | |
12 | 97.00 | Alleyn's School, Dulwich | Day | Co-ed | 22,860 | |
13 | 96.80 | Bancroft's School | Day | Co-ed | 20,748 | |
14 | 96.30 | University College School | Day | Boys (Co-ed 6th form) | 23,379 | |
15 | 96.10 | Cheltenham Ladies' College | Both | Girls | 31,950 | 46,950 |
16 | 96.00 | King Edward VI High School for Girls | Day | Girls | ||
= | 96.00 | Highgate School | Day | Co-ed | 23,520 | |
= | 96.00 | Lady Eleanor Holles School | Day | Girls | 22,716 | |
= | 96.00 | Tonbridge School | Both | Boys | 35,067 | 46,740 |
20 | 95.10 | Manchester High School for Girls | Day | Girls | ||
21 | 95.00 | St Mary's School - Ascot | Both | Girls | ||
22 | 94.90 | St Helen and St Katharine | Day | Girls | 19,335 | |
23 | 94.70 | Winchester College | Boarding | Boys | 33,990 | 45,936 |
24 | 94.40 | Trinity School - Croydon | Day | Boys (Co-ed 6th form) | 20,437 | |
25 | 94.20 | Latymer Upper School | Day | Co-ed | 22,530 | |
26 | 94.10 | Merchant Taylors' School | Day | Boys | 23,600 | |
27 | 94.00 | Perse Upper School | Day | Co-ed | 19,443 | |
28 | 93.90 | St Albans High School for Girls | Day | Girls | 20,745 | |
29 | 93.80 | Sevenoaks School | Both | Co-ed | 30,348 | 46,566 |
30 | 93.70 | Wellington College | Both | Co-ed | 32,940 | 45,090 |
31 | 93.30 | Surbiton High School | Day | Girls | 20,070 | |
32 | 93.00 | Radley College | Boarding | Boys | 44,550 | |
= | 93.00 | Whitgift School | Both | Boys | 22,269 | 43,629 |
= | 93.00 | St Helen's - Northwood | Day | Girls | 19,971 | |
= | 93.00 | Palmers Green High School | Day | Girls | ||
= | 93.00 | Concord College | Both | Co-ed | 16,200 | 48,900 |
37 | 92.20 | Hurstpierpoint College | Day | Co-ed | 26,400 | |
38 | 92.00 | Caterham School | Both | Co-ed | 21,870 | 44,835 |
39 | 91.70 | Rugby School | Both | Co-ed | ||
40 | 91.10 | Francis Holland School - Regent's Park | Day | Girls | 22,890 | |
= | 91.10 | Abingdon School | Both | Boys | 22,350 | 45,600 |
42 | 91.00 | King's High Warwick | Day | Girls | 15,126 | |
= | 91.00 | Ardingly College | Both | Co-ed | 26,985 | 40,560 |
= | 91.00 | Francis Holland School - Sloane Square | Day | Girls | 23,250 | |
= | 91.00 | St Albans School | Day | Boys (Co-ed 6th form) | 21,282 | |
= | 91.00 | St Catherine's School, Bramley | Both | Girls | ||
47 | 90.90 | Canford School | Both | Co-ed | 32,085 | 42,147 |
48 | 90.30 | Kingston Grammar School | Day | Co-ed | 22,185 | |
49 | 90.00 | Chigwell School | Both | Co-ed | 20,835 | 35,985 |
= | 90.00 | Nottingham Girls' High School | Day | Girls | 14,979 | |
51 | 89.50 | St Swithun's School | Both | Girls | 29,880 | 38,340 |
= | 89.50 | Benenden School | Boarding | Girls | 32,649 | 43,503 |
53 | 89.30 | King Edward's School - Birmingham | Day | Boys | 15,525 | |
54 | 89.00 | Tormead School | Day | Girls | ||
= | 89.00 | Sir William Perkins's School | Day | Girls | 18,738 | |
= | 89.00 | The Abbey School - Reading | Day | Girls | 19,830 | |
= | 89.00 | Downe House School | Both | Girls | 32,880 | 44,220 |
= | 89.00 | Kirkham Grammar School | Both | Co-ed | 13,197 | 25,743 |
= | 89.00 | City of London Freemen's School - Senior | Both | Co-ed | 22,923 | 39,552 |
60 | 88.00 | Loughborough High School | Day | Girls | 14,970 | |
61 | 87.00 | Queen's College - London | Day | Girls | 22,035 | |
= | 87.00 | Stephen Perse Foundation | Day | Co-ed (Diamond model 11 - 16) | 18,744 | 44,385 |
= | 87.00 | Sutton High School GDST | Day | Girls | 19,071 | |
= | 87.00 | Mayfield School | Both | Girls | 25,125 | 38,925 |
= | 87.00 | Oundle School | Both | Co-ed | 27,075 | 42,270 |
= | 87.00 | Walthamstow Hall Senior School | Day | Girls | 22,065 | |
67 | 86.80 | Croydon High School GDST | Day | Girls | 18,693 | |
68 | 86.60 | Streatham & Clapham High School GDST | Day | Girls | 19,719 | |
69 | 86.00 | Ibstock Place School | Day | Co-ed | 23,820 | |
= | 86.00 | The Queen's School - Chester | Day | Girls | 14,910 | |
= | 86.00 | Howell's School Llandaff GDST | Day | Girls (Co-ed 6th form) | 15,525 | |
72 | 85.80 | Uppingham School | Both | Co-ed | 26,406 | 41,955 |
73 | 85.30 | Headington School | Both | Girls | 21,480 | 43,245 |
74 | 85.00 | St John's College - Cardiff | Day | Co-ed | 14,850 | |
= | 85.00 | Forest School - London | Day | Co-ed | 22,425 | |
76 | 84.40 | Reading Blue Coat School | Day | Boys (Co-ed 6th form) | 18,915 | |
77 | 84.00 | Haileybury | Both | Co-ed | 29,760 | 40,740 |
= | 84.00 | Sheffield High School GDST | Day | Girls | 14,271 | |
= | 84.00 | Park School for Girls | Day | Girls (Co-ed 4 - 11) | ||
= | 84.00 | Sherborne Girls | Both | Girls | 26,676 | 41,682 |
81 | 83.30 | Old Palace of John Whitgift School | Day | Girls | 17,500 | |
= | 83.30 | St James Senior Girls' School | Day | Girls | ||
83 | 83.00 | Charterhouse School | Both | Co-ed | 36,546 | 44,220 |
84 | 82.40 | King's School - Chester | Day | Co-ed | 14,748 | |
85 | 82.00 | Redmaids' High School | Day | Girls | 16,185 | |
86 | 81.50 | King Edward VI School | Day | Co-ed | 18,645 | |
87 | 81.20 | Nottingham High School | Day | Co-ed | 16,608 | |
88 | 81.00 | Leicester High School for Girls | Day | Girls | 13,515 | |
= | 81.00 | Fettes College | Both | Co-ed | ||
= | 81.00 | Blackheath High School | Day | Girls | 18,531 | |
= | 81.00 | The Grammar School at Leeds | Day | Co-ed | 15,471 | |
= | 81.00 | Northampton High School | Day | Girls | ||
93 | 80.20 | Maynard School | Day | Girls | ||
94 | 80.10 | Woldingham School | Both | Girls | 26,115 | 43,830 |
= | 80.10 | Queen's Gate - Kensington | Day | Girls | 23,580 | |
96 | 80.00 | Bromley High School GDST | Day | Girls | 19,125 | |
= | 80.00 | Sydenham High School GDST | Day | Girls | 18,732 | |
= | 80.00 | Portsmouth High School | Day | Girls | 15,387 | |
= | 80.00 | St Gabriel's School | Day | Girls (Co-ed 3 - 7) | 19,707 | |
= | 80.00 | Northwood College for Girls | Day | Girls | 19,641 |
Please click on a school name for more information
This table lists the Top 100 independent schools in the UK based on 2019 GCSE and IGCSE results. Rankings are based on the percentage of GCSE/IGCSE entries awarded 9-7 or A* and A grades.To qualify for inclusion there must be a minimum of 20 students in the cohort.
Click on the name of a school for more details. The table can be reordered by Name, Ranking, Day or Boarding Fees etc by clicking on the arrows at the top of each column.
Notes
- We make every effort to obtain results for every independent school, but there are sometimes a few gaps in our data, because the information is not freely available or because a school will not supply it. In most cases this applies to schools that would not appear in the top quartile of the table.
- Sometimes grades improve as a result of appeals or remarks and we may update the data periodically, as long it does not distort the results of schools which have not given us their remarks. We encourage all schools to supply corrections or additions by contacting us at info@educationadvisers.co.uk.
- Exam results are not the only criteria by which to judge a school. Schools in this Top 100 table are very selective on their admissions. Be aware that your child may not necessarily thrive in a high pressure academic environment. Please contact us for advice on choosing the right school.
- We make a substantial investment of time and effort in preparing these tables, and all copyright and database rights in the tables belong to us. Please respect this by not reproducing the tables or the information within them, in whole or in part, without our consent. If you wish to reproduce any of our tables or the information within them then please contact us for details.