The Top 2,000 Schools in Britain - Find the Best Schools Near you

LONDON, November 11, 2011 -

Top 10 state and independent schools in Britain revealed

The top 2,000 schools in Britain are revealed this Sunday when The Sunday Times publishes the 21st edition of its schools guide, Parent Power.

Using the latest results from public examinations and taking account of many of the marking appeals that have taken place since the summer, the Parent Power rankings of state and independent secondary schools are the last word on academic performance.

The Sunday Times Schools Guide is published online and in print with the newspaper this Sunday (November 13). The top 400 schools will be contained in a six-page section free with the newspaper with the top 2,000 schools contained in a fully-searchable database at:

www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/public/parentpower/article818425.ece?CMP=KNGvccp1-ParentPowerPR

As well as examination results from this summer for the top 500 secondary schools and more than 400 independent secondary schools, the comprehensive database contains results from as far back as 2005, allowing parents to track the performance of schools over several years. There are separate tables for A-level and GCSE, Highers and Standard Grade, the International Baccalaureate and the Pre-U examinations, making this the most comprehensive at-a-glance schools website in the country.

Searchable by postcode, town and local authority, parents can see instantly the schools close to where they live with the best outright examination performance. There are links from every school page to its inspection report, the school’s website, listings of property for sale or rent in the immediate area close to the school, and comprehensive contact details for each institution. Fee details are published for independent schools.

Much of the data from 2011 has not been published before. The government’s tables of 2011 examination performance are not released until January.

Primary and prep schools are ranked by their performance in Standard Assessment Tests taken by 11-year-olds in 2010, 2009 and 2008. For state schools, the proportion of children achieving the expected national standard of Key Stage Two, level 4 in both English and maths is used to rank schools, while for prep schools the benchmark is Key Stage Two, level 5.

The achievements of eight schools are recognised through The Sunday Times Schools of the Year awards. These awards recognise outstanding academic results in the past year or sustained improvement over several years.

This year’s winners are:

• Independent Secondary School of the Year - Brighton College
• State Secondary School of the Year - The Henrietta Barnett School, London
• Independent Preparatory School of the Year - The Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School, Elstree
• State Primary School of the Year - Hampden Gurney C of E Primary School, Westminster
• International Baccalaureate School of the Year - Hockerill Anglo-European College, Bishop’s Stortford
• Scottish Independent School of the Year - Hutchesons’ Grammar School, Glasgow
• Scottish State School of the Year - Bearsden Academy, Glasgow
• Northern Ireland Secondary School of the Year - Friends’ School, Lisburn

The top ranked secondary schools in Britain are listed in two tables - one state, one independent - below:

The top 10 state secondary schools in Britain

    2011        2010                                         A-Level  GCSE
    national    national
    rank        rank        School name Town                A*-B (%) A*/A (%)
                            The
                            Henrietta
                            Barnett
                            School,
                            Hampstead
                            Gardens     Barnet               98.4     90.0
    1           1
                            Queen
                            Elizabeth's
    2           2           School      Barnet               97.7     90.1
                            Wilson's
    3           13          School      Sutton               93.0     90.3
                            Tiffin
                            Girls
    4           7=          School      Kingston-upon-Thames 91.6     91.2
                            St Olave's
                            Grammar
    5           4           School      Orpington            93.5     87.0
                            Pate's
                            Grammar
    6           11          School      Cheltenham           91.8     90.3
                            The Latymer
    7           3           School      Enfield              91.7     90.3
                            Colchester
                            Royal
                            Grammar
    8           9           School      Colchester           96.0     78.2
                            Altrincham
                            Grammar
                            School for
    9           6           Girls       Altrincham           89.7     90.3
                            Tiffin
    10          12          School      Kingston-upon-Thames 90.9     82.8

The top 10 independent secondary schools in Britain

    2011                                                    A-Level  GCSE
    national     2010 national
    rank         rank            School name   Town        A*-B (%) A*/A (%)
                                 St Paul's
    1            4               Girls School  London       99.2     98.0
                                 Magdalen
                                 College
    2            2=              School        Oxford       98.2     99.5
                                 Wycombe Abbey
    3            1               School        High Wycombe 98.7     97.2
                                 North London
                                 Collegiate
    4            5               School        Edgware      98.7     96.8
                                 Westminster
    5            7               School        London       98.2     97.6
                                 St Paul's
    6            2=              School        London       98.3     96.6
                                 Withington
    7            10              Girls' School Manchester   97.2     97.1
                                 The
                                 Haberdashers'
                                 Aske's School
    8            8               for Girls     Elstree      97.1     95.8
                                 The Lady
                                 Eleanor
    9            16=             Holles School Hampton      97.8     93.8
                                 Royal Grammar
    10           22              School        Guildford    96.9     94.6

IF USING THIS INFORMATION, PLEASE CREDIT THE SUNDAY TIMES

Notes for editors

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For the top 10 state and independent schools in your area and for further information, please contact Dan McMillan on +44(0)20-7782-6190 / +44(0)7887-627716. Alastair McCall editor of The Sunday Times Parent Power is available for interview.