School Results
England · GCSE 2026 results

Top 100 Independent Schools
in England

Compare independent schools across England using published exam results. Review entries and grade rates alongside each school’s available subject results and history as you build your shortlist.

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100 schools shown119 eligible independent schoolsRanked by Grade 7+ entry rateMinimum 100 Entries

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The full shortlist

GCSE Top 100 Independent Schools

2025/26 · Ordered by Grade 7+, then Grade 8+, then Grade 9, highest first.

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Independent schools are shown as Selective here because they set their own admissions criteria; this site convention does not confirm academic entrance tests. School sectors and other admissions labels follow the GIAS register snapshot of 18 October 2026, not necessarily the exam year. Non-Selective refers to the main school intake and does not rule out partial selection or sixth-form entry requirements. Classification sources.

Top 100 GCSE independent schools in our England dataset, 2026
RankSchoolAdmissionsSchool sectorAreaEntriesGrade 7+Grade 8+Grade 9
1 The Perse SchoolSelectiveIndependentCambridgeshire 1,95994.6%83.7%58.8%
2 St Helen and St KatharineSelectiveIndependentOxfordshire 83889.3%73.3%44.2%
3 Cheltenham Ladies' CollegeSelectiveIndependentGloucestershire 1,20987.1%71.2%45.8%
4 Francis Holland SchoolSelectiveIndependentWestminster 46481.7%62.8%32.4%
5 The Harrodian SchoolSelectiveIndependentRichmond upon Thames 88178.4%56.6%30.7%
6 Headington School OxfordSelectiveIndependentOxfordshire 1,37977.4%60.0%36.9%
7 Northwood College for Girls GDSTSelectiveIndependentHillingdon 72775.8%50.3%25.8%
8 The Marist SchoolSelectiveIndependentWindsor and Maidenhead 31966.9%41.2%17.6%
9 St Mary's SchoolSelectiveIndependentCambridgeshire 57666.0%43.2%20.7%
10 North Bridge House Senior Canonbury SchoolSelectiveIndependentIslington 37363.5%42.4%21.7%
11 Mayfield SchoolSelectiveIndependentEast Sussex 61462.9%44.3%25.3%
12 Twycross House SchoolSelectiveIndependentLeicestershire 43362.6%43.7%21.5%
13 Nottingham Girls' High School GDSTSelectiveIndependentNottingham 58061.8%40.8%19.0%
14 Ipswich SchoolSelectiveIndependentSuffolk 1,07661.6%40.3%21.8%
15 Manchester Islamic Grammar School for GirlsSelectiveIndependentManchester 43359.8%38.4%16.7%
16 Al-Ashraf Secondary School for GirlsSelectiveIndependentGloucestershire 12658.7%44.2%23.9%
17 Kew HouseSelectiveIndependentHounslow 67658.6%37.4%17.3%
18 Salesian CollegeSelectiveIndependentHampshire 94657.3%36.2%17.1%
19 Farnborough HillSelectiveIndependentHampshire 77657.2%39.9%19.2%
20 Claremont Fan Court SchoolSelectiveIndependentSurrey 1,09656.6%32.4%12.4%
21 New Hall SchoolSelectiveIndependentEssex 1,08756.1%34.2%13.9%
22 Brighton Girls GDSTSelectiveIndependentBrighton and Hove 47255.8%35.6%15.9%
23 Colchester Prep & High SchoolSelectiveIndependentEssex 25755.5%32.1%10.6%
24 Jamiatul Ummah SchoolSelectiveIndependentTower Hamlets 23954.8%27.0%9.3%
25 Royal Masonic School for GirlsSelectiveIndependentHertfordshire 78854.3%34.1%15.4%
26 Notre Dame SchoolSelectiveIndependentSurrey 65154.0%32.2%12.9%
27 CranmoreSelectiveIndependentSurrey 49053.6%33.8%12.1%
28 Rawdhatul Ilm Wal HudaSelectiveIndependentBlackburn with Darwen 19853.2%36.5%15.8%
29 Normanhurst SchoolSelectiveIndependentWaltham Forest 28853.0%29.3%10.0%
30 Crosfields SchoolSelectiveIndependentWokingham 40052.3%34.3%15.7%
31 Thomas's CollegeSelectiveIndependentRichmond upon Thames 28452.2%32.3%11.8%
32 Al-Burhan Grammar SchoolSelectiveIndependentBirmingham 19352.2%30.1%10.2%
33 Jaamiatul Imaam Muhammad ZakariaSelectiveIndependentBradford 31350.9%31.7%10.9%
34 Beth Jacob Grammar School for GirlsSelectiveIndependentBarnet 52250.6%28.9%9.3%
35 St Nicholas' SchoolSelectiveIndependentHampshire 32250.0%28.4%11.4%
36 The Imam Muhammad Adam Institute SchoolSelectiveIndependentLeicester 26849.7%33.8%16.6%
37 West Buckland SchoolSelectiveIndependentDevon 55849.4%29.5%10.8%
38 Ateres Girls High SchoolSelectiveIndependentGateshead 29649.0%31.9%9.4%
39 Tiferes High SchoolSelectiveIndependentBarnet 12048.5%32.1%10.4%
40 Islamia School for Girls'SelectiveIndependentBrent 16848.4%29.6%13.8%
41 North London Grammar SchoolSelectiveIndependentBarnet 27148.4%32.5%15.9%
42 The Peterborough SchoolSelectiveIndependentPeterborough 33248.1%30.3%14.5%
43 Heritage AcademySelectiveIndependentBirmingham 14347.6%17.5%7.7%
44 Sancton Wood SchoolSelectiveIndependentCambridgeshire 39546.8%30.2%10.6%
45 Edenfield Girls' High SchoolSelectiveIndependentLancashire 11846.3%26.9%11.9%
46 St Margaret's SchoolSelectiveIndependentHertfordshire 66446.2%31.7%12.6%
47 St James Senior Boys' SchoolSelectiveIndependentSurrey 56246.1%29.1%11.2%
48 Al-Madani Independent Grammar SchoolSelectiveIndependentSlough 14645.9%21.2%10.3%
49 Shrewsbury High SchoolSelectiveIndependentShropshire 34445.7%29.0%11.2%
50 St John's Preparatory and Senior SchoolSelectiveIndependentEnfield 37145.1%24.5%13.5%
51 Stafford Grammar SchoolSelectiveIndependentStaffordshire 42044.6%25.7%7.6%
52 Downsend SchoolSelectiveIndependentSurrey 65844.4%23.3%10.1%
53 Thornton CollegeSelectiveIndependentBuckinghamshire 33444.3%24.2%7.6%
54 St Mary's School for GirlsSelectiveIndependentEssex 41144.3%28.8%12.3%
55 Quinton House SchoolSelectiveIndependentWest Northamptonshire 40743.5%30.6%17.8%
56 Ipswich High SchoolSelectiveIndependentSuffolk 46042.7%23.9%8.9%
57 Huddersfield Grammar SchoolSelectiveIndependentKirklees 50542.6%24.1%10.5%
58 Sherfield SchoolSelectiveIndependentHampshire 43342.5%23.6%8.5%
59 Quwwat Ul Islam Girls' SchoolSelectiveIndependentNewham 13742.5%25.5%10.5%
60 Alleyns Hampstead Senior SchoolSelectiveIndependentCamden 75042.3%26.0%10.8%
61 Westbourne SchoolSelectiveIndependentSheffield 47142.1%26.2%12.0%
62 Abbot's Hill SchoolSelectiveIndependentHertfordshire 41541.5%20.1%5.1%
63 Trent CollegeSelectiveIndependentDerbyshire 98141.0%23.8%10.2%
64 Darul Uloom Dawatul ImaanSelectiveIndependentBradford 11740.6%25.6%6.8%
65 Christian Fellowship SchoolSelectiveIndependentLiverpool 15640.3%20.1%6.0%
66 London Islamic SchoolSelectiveIndependentTower Hamlets 20439.7%23.3%6.8%
67 Red House SchoolSelectiveIndependentStockton-on-Tees 37639.2%21.1%7.9%
68 Talbot Heath SchoolSelectiveIndependentBournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 49439.1%23.1%10.1%
69 Ashville CollegeSelectiveIndependentNorth Yorkshire 56539.0%18.5%9.4%
70 Babington House SchoolSelectiveIndependentBromley 33439.0%21.5%6.0%
71 St Christopher SchoolSelectiveIndependentHertfordshire 57938.6%20.4%7.5%
72 St. Mary's CollegeSelectiveIndependentSefton 53938.4%25.3%11.9%
73 Long Close SchoolSelectiveIndependentSlough 18238.1%23.3%10.6%
74 Jameah AcademySelectiveIndependentLeicester 17538.1%22.3%7.6%
75 Afifah SchoolSelectiveIndependentTrafford 16638.0%24.6%10.7%
76 Brondesbury College LondonSelectiveIndependentBrent 28237.9%20.3%7.2%
77 Al-Khair SchoolSelectiveIndependentCroydon 21537.9%15.9%3.1%
78 ArtsEd Day School & Sixth FormSelectiveIndependentHounslow 21937.3%21.8%7.1%
79 Cransley SchoolSelectiveIndependentCheshire West and Chester 24137.2%23.5%10.1%
80 Abbey Gate CollegeSelectiveIndependentCheshire West and Chester 49536.7%21.5%11.8%
81 Hydesville Tower SchoolSelectiveIndependentWalsall 24536.5%20.5%6.8%
82 Oswestry SchoolSelectiveIndependentShropshire 43536.3%22.2%7.7%
83 Al Risalah Secondary SchoolSelectiveIndependentWandsworth 17736.2%22.6%8.5%
84 Gad's Hill SchoolSelectiveIndependentKent 33034.4%19.9%9.8%
85 Westwood HighSelectiveIndependentOldham 39133.6%16.4%6.4%
86 The King's SchoolSelectiveIndependentHampshire 28633.3%19.5%9.2%
87 Sherrardswood SchoolSelectiveIndependentHertfordshire 40233.3%17.4%8.9%
88 Kassim Darwish Grammar School for BoysSelectiveIndependentManchester 21233.0%13.3%2.3%
89 Ayesha Siddiqa Girls SchoolSelectiveIndependentEaling 14132.6%22.2%7.6%
90 Noorul UloomSelectiveIndependentBlackburn with Darwen 15432.4%15.9%8.5%
91 The Webber Independent SchoolSelectiveIndependentMilton Keynes 31132.2%14.5%4.9%
92 Al-Khair Secondary GirlsSelectiveIndependentCroydon 20732.1%18.3%6.4%
93 Radnor House SevenoaksSelectiveIndependentKent 41631.5%15.9%3.3%
94 Priory SchoolSelectiveIndependentBirmingham 23231.3%16.1%4.8%
95 Ditcham Park SchoolSelectiveIndependentHampshire 47230.9%12.7%2.5%
96 Lewes Old Grammar SchoolSelectiveIndependentEast Sussex 1,04330.5%15.8%8.1%
97 Jamiatul-Ilm Wal-Huda UK SchoolSelectiveIndependentBlackburn with Darwen 42730.0%16.6%6.3%
98 Stover SchoolSelectiveIndependentDevon 56128.1%14.8%3.9%
99 Rida Girls High SchoolSelectiveIndependentKirklees 34327.7%13.1%3.2%
100 London East AcademySelectiveIndependentTower Hamlets 21227.3%13.2%2.9%

How we define independent schools

Mainstream schools registered by GIAS as Other independent school. Independent special schools, colleges and other specialist providers are outside this school list.

School type and status follow the official GIAS register snapshot of 18 October 2026, matched by URN. This is the register classification at that date, not necessarily the classification during the exam year.

Schools must be recorded as Open or Open, but proposed to close in that snapshot. Closed and proposed-to-open records are excluded. Missing or unknown classifications are not inferred from school names.

Classification sources and releases

Frequently asked questions

Which independent schools are included?

Schools must be recorded as Other independent school in the dated GIAS register, have an eligible result in the latest imported exam year and meet the published entry and coverage thresholds.

Does this measure every qualification an independent school offers?

No. The ranking uses the imported qualification dataset for this page. Results in other qualifications do not contribute to the displayed grade rates.

Are school fees or admissions assessed?

No. The table ranks published exam entry rates. Fees, financial assistance and admissions arrangements should be checked directly with each school.

How are these GCSE rankings calculated?

We use 2025/26 results and rank by Grade 7+, then Grade 8+, then Grade 9, using full precision. Schools need at least 100 known course entries, 90% published coverage, official Attainment 8 of at least 50 and official English & maths 5+ of at least 50%, no unknown entry totals and a calculable primary rate.

Which date is used for the school classification?

School type and status follow the official GIAS register snapshot of 18 October 2026, matched by URN. This is the register classification at that date, not necessarily the classification during the exam year.

What these rankings show

This table covers independent schools in our imported England dataset. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are not covered. This is a ranking of published exam entry rates, rather than an official school quality rating.

We use the latest imported GCSE year (2025/26). Eligible schools need at least 100 known course entries, 90% published coverage, official Attainment 8 of at least 50, official English & maths 5+ of at least 50%, no unknown entry totals and a calculable Grade 7+ rate. 683 schools in this category do not meet these criteria; their available results remain accessible through the school directory and local rankings.

Ordering uses Grade 7+, then Grade 8+, then Grade 9 at full precision. Identical results share a rank; school name and URN provide a stable order, including at the 100-school cutoff. Entries count courses, not individual pupils. GCSE rates count both grades of Combined Science. Subject mix, selection and cohort sizes affect results.

Read the full methodology · See source datasets and releases