Parents of primary school leavers heading off to secondary school face a series of tough choices, which can have a big impact on their child’s education going forward.
The cost of many elite private schools rules them as an option for a lot of families. But there are also many excellent, no-fees state schools across England, including selective grammar schools in many areas that children can apply for a spot at
The School Guide - an online evaluation resource for parents - has created a ranking of state secondary school’s across England, giving them a special ‘star rating’ out of five. This rating takes into account a number of different academic achievement metrics, including the percentage of students who sat their GCSE exams who achieved at least five of them (including English and Maths), as well as the school’s A Level point score - the average score of all students who took A Levels that year.
But it’s not just grades that determine whether a school is a good place to learn. Ofsted inspection ratings are also a factor in calculating a school’s star rating - which means inspectors found the quality of education provided, student behaviour and attitudes, school leadership and management, and student safeguarding all to be excellent. It also includes student progress scores, to show how much progress pupils made between the end of Key Stage 2 through to Key Stages 3 and 5.
School Guide says it uses only the latest, official government data when calculating school’s scores, but an abundance of schools across the country still managed to score a coveted five out of five stars.
Here were the 15 super schools across England that landed at the very top of its 2024 league table:
13. Dr Challoner's Grammar School
Dr Challoner’s is a selective grammar school for boys with a coeducational Sixth Form in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. According to School Guide’s data, 99% of its pupils achieved 5 or more GCSEs. Its A level Point Score was 46.9 - equivalent to an A-. It is rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. | Google
14. Tonbridge Grammar School
This is a selective girls’ grammar school in Tonbridge, Kent. According to School Guide’s data, 99% of its pupils achieved 5 or more GCSEs. Its A level Point Score was 43.2 - equivalent to an B+. It is rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. | Google
15. St Michael's Catholic Grammar School
St Michael’s is a Catholic girls’ grammar school in North Finchley, Greater London. Its sixth form is coeducational. According to School Guide’s data, 100% of its pupils achieved 5 or more GCSEs. Its A level Point Score was 45.1 - equivalent to an A-. It is rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. | Google