Grammar schools have once again dominated the latest secondary school league table published by The Telegraph, which ranks state-funded secondary schools across England based on a comprehensive set of performance indicators. Released to coincide with the start of the 2025/26 academic year, the table evaluates schools on ten criteria, including GCSE-derived Progress 8 and Attainment 8 scores, English Baccalaureate attainment, comparison to local authority averages, class sizes, truancy rates, and more. Each school receives a score out of 40, with ties broken by the proportion of pupils achieving a grade 5 or above in five key GCSE subjects.

At the top of the list is King Edward VI Grammar School in Chelmsford, Essex, which received a perfect score of 40 out of 40. The school’s 2023/24 GCSE results underscore its academic excellence, with 96% of pupils achieving grade 5 or above in at least five GCSE subjects. Impressively, 46% of all grades were awarded the highest grade 9, and 72% were at grades 8 or 9. Thirty-four students achieved at least ten grade 9s, highlighting the school’s exceptional level of academic attainment. Early GCSE entries by pupils in Years 9 and 10 also showed remarkable success, with 83% of grades at levels 8 or 9, according to the school’s official performance announcement.

Following closely in second place is St Michael’s Catholic Grammar School, a girls’ selective school in Barnet, London, which also earned the maximum 40 points. St Michael’s reported outstanding GCSE results for 2024, with 97.4% of grades at A to C and nearly 70% at A or A—an exceptional achievement given that the year group had expanded to 128 students. More than a third of all grades were awarded at the top level 9. Individual student achievements included multiple pupils securing six or more grade 9s, reinforcing the school’s reputation for high academic standards. Beyond GCSEs, its A-Level results were equally impressive, with 60% of grades at A* or A and a significant increase in students progressing to Russell Group universities, exceeding 80%. A notable number of pupils are pursuing highly competitive degree courses such as Engineering, Medicine, and placements at Oxford and Cambridge.

Among the top performers, it is noteworthy that the highest-ranked comprehensive school was High Storrs School, a secondary academy in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, placed third in the table. High Storrs also achieved a full 40-point score, demonstrating strong academic progress and attainment. In the 2023/24 academic year, just over half of its pupils (50.2%) attained grade 5 or above in at least five GCSE subjects—a figure well above the national average, considering that only around 18% of pupils nationally meet this benchmark. High Storrs' exceptional placement highlights the potential for non-selective schools to compete successfully with grammar schools in key academic measures.

The Telegraph’s ranking provides parents of current primary school leavers with a detailed and balanced resource for assessing secondary school options amid the competitive application process, which closes in October. By considering a holistic set of metrics beyond simple exam results, the guide aims to offer a more nuanced picture of school quality, including aspects like class sizes and attendance. The dominance of grammar schools at the top of the league remains clear, but the inclusion of a high-achieving comprehensive like High Storrs suggests there are strong, diverse schooling opportunities available across England’s education landscape.

Overall, the league table reflects continuing excellence in some of the country’s highest-performing state secondary schools, with grammar schools maintaining their status at the pinnacle. However, the strong showing by a comprehensive school indicates progress in broader educational attainment. Parents and students preparing for secondary school transition can view these results as an important indicator of schools that combine academic rigour with other factors contributing to pupil success.

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Source: Noah Wire Services