The UK state schools with grades as high as the top private schools – two even beat Eton

Loads of state schools in the UK got just as good grades as the top private schools this year. Yay for them. Two state schools are even better at GCSEs than Eton College is.

Last year, the 70 most academic private schools in the UK managed to get over 80 per cent of GCSE exams grades between 9 and 7 (or A* and A). These include some of the most famous and most expensive (read: most snobby) institutions in the UK, such as Westminster School, Wycombe Abbey and Winchester College. (Apparently the key to prestige is to begin the school’s name with a W?) Quite a few state schools also achieved this level of success. Slay.

Last year, 92.7 per cent of the GCSEs at Eton College were between 9 and 7. Two state schools in the UK actually get better GCSE results than this.

Yup, Eton College really looks like this
(Credit: Kazimierz Mendlik)

Unfortunately, the highest achieving state schools aren’t a very diverse group of schools. The vast majority are selective grammar schools, or are in the south of England, or both. None of the schools on this list are in Wales or in Northern Ireland. (Scottish students do different exams, so it’s hard to compare Scottish schools to the rest of the UK.)

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So, after consulting the Daily Mail’s guide to state schools, checking The Times‘s guide ranking of top schools, and grovelling extensively in the depths of school websites, we have compiled a list of UK state schools that get higher than 80 per cent of GCSE grades between 9 and 7, and so are at a similar level to the fanciest private schools. If we’ve missed a school you know got better grades than this in 2025 but hasn’t published their results yet, please write in so they can share in the glory x

19. Southend High School for Girls, Essex

80 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2025.

18. Tonbridge Grammar School, Kent

82 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2025.

17. Heckmondwike Grammar School, West Yorkshire

84 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2025.

16. The Latymer School, Greater London

84.5 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2025.

15. Reading School, Berkshire

Reading School looks like a mini castle
(Credit: ThreeHundred300)

85 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2024.

14. Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Greater Manchester

86 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2025.

=10. Chelmsford County High School for Girls, Essex 

87 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2025.

=10. Stratford Girls’ Grammar School, Warwickshire

87 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2024.

=10. Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Greater Manchester

87 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2024.

87 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2025.

9. King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls, Birmingham

88 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2024.

8. King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys, Birmingham

89.7 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2024.

7. The Blue Coat School, Greater Manchester

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A post shared by Blue Coat Sixth Form (@bcoldham6thform)

Nearly 90 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2025.

6. St Olave’s Grammar, Greater London

Nearly 90 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2025.

5. King Edward VI School, Warwickshire

Over 90 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2025.

4. Kendrick School, Berkshire

90 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2024.

3. Pate’s Grammar School, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

91.9 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2025.

2. Queen Elizabeth’s School, Greater London

95.4 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2025.

1. Henrietta Barnett School, Greater London

97 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2024.

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