GCSE Results Independent UK Schools

The quest for academic excellence is a hallmark of independent schools across the UK, and the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) results often serve as a measure of that excellence. When families, educators, and policymakers look to compare GCSE results, they often turn to the GCSE league tables that rank schools based on their performance. These tables, often updated annually with the latest exam data, provide a snapshot of how well schools are doing in preparing their students for these critical exams¹².

GCSE Results Independent Schools 2024

#	School	Top Grades (%)	Candidates	Fees	Location	Type	Region
1	Westminster School	98.59	128	£36,873	Westminster	Boarding	London
2	King's College School, Wimbledon	98.26	169	£28,080	Wimbledon	Day	London
3	Guildford High School	98.09	112	£22,308	Guildford	Day	South East England
4	Wycombe Abbey	96.97	98	£38,700	High Wycombe	Boarding	South East England
5	King Edward VI High School for Girls	95.1	95	£16,614	Birmingham	Day	West Midlands
6	City of London School For Girls	94.76	97	£25,206	The City	Day	London
7	Wimbledon High School GDST	94.3	112	£24,891	Wimbledon	Day	London
8	Brighton CollegeBrighton College Guardian Brighton College Guardian	94.2	237	£30,930	Brighton	Boarding	South East England
9	South Hampstead High School GDST	93.21	88	£24,474	Hampstead	Day	London
10	Withington Girls' School	93.06	84	£15,558	Manchester	Day	North West England
11	University College School, Hampstead	92.58	117	£26,811	Hampstead	Day	London
12	Putney High School GDST	91.76	104	£24,891	London	Day	London
13	Magdalen College School	91.53	104	£23,085	Oxford	Day	South East England
14	Bancroft's School	91.39	118	£24,990	Woodford Green	Day	London
15	Surbiton High School	91.31	140	£23,085	Kingston upon Thames	Day	London
16	Dulwich College	91.25	220	£26,421	London	Boarding	London
17	City of London School	91.2	175	£22,635	London	Day	London
18	St Mary's School Ascot	90.9	64	£35,700	Ascot	Boarding	South East England
19	Notting Hill and Ealing High School GDST	90.43	90	£23,895	Ealing	Day	London
20	Emanuel School	89.71	142	£24,789	London	Day	London
21	Reigate Grammar School	89.58	161	£22,995	Reigate	Day	South East England
22	The Abbey School	89.29	107	£22,725	Reading	Day	South East England
23	Concord College	89.09	89	£18,300	Shrewsbury	Boarding	West Midlands
24	Alleyn's School	87.71	155	£25,995	Dulwich	Day	London
25	St Albans School	87.26	133	£24,180	St Albans	Day	East of England
26	The Perse School	87.02	186	£22,350	Cambridge	Day	East of England
27	Eltham College	86.91	98	£23,787	Mottingham	Day	London
28	Oxford High School GDST	86.91	102	£20,196	Oxford	Day	South East England
29	Merchant Taylors' School	86.7	163	£26,766	Northwood	Day	London
30	Queen Ethelburga's College	86.13	65	£20,235	York	Boarding	Yorkshire & the Humber
31	Whitgift School	86.03	244	£26,005	South Croydon	Boarding	London
32	Nottingham High School	85.98	114	£18,825	Nottingham	Day	East Midlands
33	Trinity School	85.89	125	£24,500	Croydon	Day	London
34	City of London Freemen's School	85.82	115	£25,353	Ashtead	Boarding	South East England
35	Cheltenham Ladies' CollegeCheltenham Ladies College	85.77	130	£31,500	Cheltenham	Boarding	South West England
36	Royal Grammar School	85.59	146	£17,184	Newcastle upon Tyne	Day	North East England
37	King Edward's School, Birmingham	85.58	132	£17,046	Birmingham	Day	West Midlands
38	Royal Grammar School Guildford	85.46	143	£23,706	Guildford	Day	South East England
39	Caterham School	85.02	147	£23,685	Caterham	Boarding	South East England
40	Radley College	84.62	149	£51,150	Abingdon	Boarding	South East England
41	The Manchester Grammar School	84.27	225	£15,930	Manchester	Day	North West England
42	St Catherine's, Bramley	84.1	93	£22,395	Guildford	Boarding	South East England
43	King Edward's School	83.73	125	£17,805	Bath	Day	South West England
44	Wellington College	83.12	205	£38,100	Crowthorne	Boarding	South East England
45	Leicester High School for Girls	82.98	33	£15,183	Leicester	Day	East Midlands
46	Epsom College	82.07	193	£33,303	Epsom	Boarding	South East England
47	Cardiff Sixth Form CollegeCardiff Sixth Form College	81.8	64	£27,700	Cardiff	Day	Wales
48	St Helen's School	80.68	104	£22,218	Northwood	Day	London
49	Leicester Grammar School	80.37	119	£16,872	Leicester	Day	East Midlands
50	St John's School	79.43	141	£28,740	Leatherhead	Boarding	South East England
51	Colfe's School	79.16	110	£21,900	Lee	Day	London
52	Roedean School	78.86	138	£28,230	Brighton	Boarding	South East England
53	St John's College, Cardiff	78.26	68	£15,765	Cardiff	Day	Wales
54	Ipswich School	77.73	136	£20,985	Ipswich	Boarding	East of England
55	Forest School	77.57	165	£26,850	London	Day	London
56	St Dunstan's College	77.39	109	£22,896	Catford	Day	London
57	Loughborough High School	77.26	65	£17,430	Loughborough	Day	East Midlands
58	Chigwell School	77.07	99	£24,225	Chigwell	Boarding	London
59	Solihull School	77.02	173	£17,973	Solihull	Day	West Midlands
60	Sir William Perkins's School	76.98	97	£21,648	Chertsey	Day	South East England
61	Bristol Grammar School	74.98	146	£18,420	Bristol	Day	South West England
62	Ibstock Place School	74.91	113	£26,805	Roehampton	Day	London
63	Churcher's College	74.12	142	£19,950	Petersfield	Day	South East England
64	Oundle School	74.03	191	£31,425	Peterborough	Boarding	East Midlands
65	Walthamstow Hall	73.97	69	£25,002	Sevenoaks	Day	South East England
66	Sheffield High School for Girls	73.51	112	£15,960	Sheffield	Day	Yorkshire & the Humber
67	Redmaids' High School	72.71	107	£18,255	Bristol	Day	South West England
68	Canford School	72.6	126	£35,871	Wimborne	Boarding	South West England
69	Queen's College London	72.5	59	£25,725	London	Day	London
70	The King's School, Canterbury	72.13	175	£31,095	Canterbury	Boarding	South East England
71	Fettes College	71.97	103	£39,450	Edinburgh	Boarding	Scotland
72	Ardingly College	71.82	139	£29,463	Haywards Heath	Boarding	South East England
73	Palmers Green High School	71.6	29	£20,370	Winchmore Hill	Day	London
74	The Cathedral School Llandaff	71.47	71	£17,055	Cardiff	Day	Wales
75	The Grammar School at Leeds	71.18	193	£17,523	Leeds	Day	Yorkshire & the Humber
76	Westbourne School	70.93	79	£17,130	Penarth	Day	Wales
77	HaileyburyHaileybury School Guardian	70.7	164	£34,620	Hertford	Boarding	East of England
78	The Leys School	70.68	104	£29,040	Cambridge	Boarding	East of England
79	Bradford Grammar School	70.33	134	£15,684	Bradford	Day	Yorkshire & the Humber
80	St Michael's School	69.58	47	£15,225	Llanelli	Boarding	Wales
81	Norwich School	69.49	138	£21,273	Norwich	Day	East of England
82	The Maynard School	69.48	46	£17,700	Exeter	Day	South West England
83	Immanuel College	68.87	85	£23,859	Bushey	Day	East of England
84	Reading Blue Coat School	68.83	103	£21,285	Reading	Day	South East England
85	Birkenhead School	68.76	89	£14,685	Wirral	Day	North West England
86	Old Palace of John Whitgift School	67.97	73	£26,005	Croydon	Boarding	London
87	Bromley High School GDST	67.85	84	£22,107	Bromley	Day	London
88	St John's Preparatory and Senior School	67.47	40	£17,400	Potters Bar	Day	East of England
89	Burgess Hill Girls	67.45	58	£23,400	Burgess Hill	Boarding	South East England
90	Cheadle Hulme School	67.21	186	£15,177	Cheadle	Day	North West England
91	Durham High School for Girls	66.9	47	£16,950	Durham	Day	North East England
92	Exeter School	66.84	119	£17,535	Exeter	Day	South West England
93	St Benedict's School	66.56	123	£22,161	Ealing	Day	London
94	The Yehudi Menuhin School	66.27	12	£47,548	Cobham	Boarding	South East England
95	Abbey College Cambridge	66.15	52	£27,900	Cambridge	Boarding	East of England
96	Bedford School	65.47	155	£25,695	Bedford	Boarding	East of England
97	The Ladies' College	65.43	51	£14,715	Guernsey	Day	Channel Islands
98	The Grange School	65.07	127	£14,145	Northwich	Day	North West England
99	Howell's School, Llandaff GDST	64.65	72	£17,364	Cardiff	Day	Wales
100	Bedford Modern School	64.09	151	£17,751	Bedford	Day	East of England
101	Mayfield School	63.86	62	£29,250	Mayfield	Boarding	South East England
102	King Henry VIII School	63.46	90	£15,900	Coventry	Day	West Midlands
103	Derby High School	63.45	61	£16,575	Derby	Day	East Midlands
104	Queen's Gate School	62.96	75	£27,225	London	Day	London
105	Badminton School	62.74	73	£20,550	Bristol	Boarding	South West England
106	Stockport Grammar School	62.59	165	£14,985	Stockport	Day	North West England
107	Sutton High School GDST	62.24	84	£21,837	Sutton	Day	London
108	RGS Worcester	61.35	152	£18,324	Worcester	Day	West Midlands
109	Moreton Hall	61.26	48	£26,919	Oswestry	Boarding	West Midlands
110	Jersey College for Girls	61.18	110	£7,998	Jersey	Day	Channel Islands
111	Queen Elizabeth's Hospital	60.6	78	£18,240	Bristol	Day	South West England
112	Alton School	60.16	40	£19,065	Alton	Day	South East England
113	Wolverhampton Grammar School	60.11	98	£16,770	Wolverhampton	Day	West Midlands
114	Bolton School Girls' Division	59.92	128	£14,316	Bolton	Day	North West England
115	St Mary's School, Cambridge	59.09	82	£21,330	Cambridge	Boarding	East of England
116	Bablake School	58.97	114	£15,900	Coventry	Day	West Midlands
117	Farnborough Hill	58.65	90	£19,725	Farnborough	Day	South East England
118	The King's School in Macclesfield	58.61	138	£15,945	Macclesfield	Day	North West England
119	Brampton College	58.47	20	£25,875	Hendon	Day	London
120	Dame Allan's Senior Schools	58.47	154	£16,959	Newcastle upon Tyne	Day	North East England
121	St Gerard's School Trust	58.29	17	£14,840	Bangor	Day	Wales
122	Clifton High SchoolClifton College Guardian	58.08	66	£18,555	Bristol	Day	South West England
123	Norwich High School GDST	57.88	88	£17,922	Norwich	Day	East of England
124	St Columba's College	57.54	98	£21,855	St Albans	Day	East of England
125	Darul Uloom Islamic High School	57.53	23	£9,600	Birmingham	Day	West Midlands
126	Hymers College	56.81	105	£14,913	Hull	Day	Yorkshire & the Humber
127	Loughborough Grammar School	56.71	154	£17,460	Loughborough	Boarding	East Midlands
128	Queenswood	56.25	80	£29,520	Hatfield	Boarding	East of England
129	Leighton Park School	55.5	81	£29,910	Reading	Boarding	South East England
130	Hill House School	55.3	64	£16,887	Doncaster	Day	Yorkshire & the Humber
131	Cheltenham CollegeCheltenham College Guardian	55.09	142	£36,150	Cheltenham	Boarding	South West England
132	Ruthin School	54.86	42	£15,810	Ruthin	Boarding	Wales
133	Newcastle High School for Girls GDST	54.71	58	£15,051	Newcastle upon Tyne	Day	North East England
134	Kimbolton School	54.51	119	£21,105	Huntingdon	Boarding	East of England
135	St Leonards	53.87	84	£19,704	St Andrews	Boarding	Scotland
136	Tudor Hall School	53.54	61	£29,925	Banbury	Boarding	South East England
137	Claremont Fan Court School	52.86	118	£23,550	Esher	Day	South East England
138	Salesian College	52.82	109	£15,438	Farnborough	Day	South East England
139	Stafford Grammar School	52.37	59	£15,930	Stafford	Day	West Midlands
140	New Hall School	52.17	117	£24,507	Chelmsford	Boarding	East of England
141	Alderley Edge School for Girls	50.75	62	£16,716	Alderley Edge	Day	North West England
142	Royal Hospital School	50.48	120	£22,239	Ipswich	Boarding	East of England
143	Oakham School	49.75	172	£27,660	Oakham	Boarding	East Midlands
144	Durham Cathedral Schools Foundation	49.74	82	£18,693	Durham	Boarding	North East England
145	Hulme Grammar School	48.52	90	£14,211	Oldham	Day	North West England
146	AKS Lytham	48.37	73	£14,616	Lytham St Annes	Day	North West England
147	The Royal School Dungannon	47.65	103	£16,875	Dungannon	Boarding	Northern Ireland
148	West Buckland School	47.2	76	£20,640	Barnstaple	Boarding	South West England
149	St Margaret's School	47.07	65	£20,451	Bushey	Day	East of England
150	St Joseph's College	46.54	72	£15,117	Reading	Day	South East England
151	Tring Park School for the Performing Arts	46.45	45	£24,900	Tring	Boarding	East of England
152	St Edward's School	46.36	50	£21,300	Cheltenham	Day	South West England
153	Talbot Heath School	45.92	69	£18,504	Bournemouth	Boarding	South West England
154	St Gabriel's School	45.91	46	£22,869	Newbury	Day	South East England
155	Thames Christian School	45.7	29	£24,540	London	Day	London
156	The Mount School York	45.35	31	£22,248	York	Boarding	Yorkshire & the Humber
157	Stamford School	45.21	179	£21,800	Stamford	Boarding	East Midlands
158	d'Overbroeck's	45.12	43	£29,700	Oxford	Boarding	South East England
159	Downsend School	44.89	42	£23,787	Leatherhead	Day	South East England
160	Silcoates School	44.21	49	£17,829	Wakefield	Day	Yorkshire & the Humber
161	Lichfield Cathedral School	43.87	56	£17,640	Lichfield	Day	West Midlands
162	Claires Court	43.36	111	£20,745	Maidenhead	Day	South East England
163	Padworth College	42.98	19	£19,950	Reading	Boarding	South East England
164	Victoria College	42.87	100	£7,512	St Helier	Day	Channel Islands
165	Kensington Park School	42.58	47	£29,850	London	Boarding	London
166	Elizabeth College	42.08	75	£15,648	Guernsey	Day	Channel Islands
167	St James Senior Boys' School	41.7	62	£24,270	Ashford	Day	South East England
168	Ashford School	41.61	80	£21,795	Ashford	Boarding	South East England
169	Shrewsbury High School GDST	41.25	37	£17,655	Shrewsbury	Day	West Midlands
170	Lewes Old Grammar School	41.22	108	£17,904	Lewes	Day	South East England
171	Merchant Taylors' Boys' School	40.81	68	£14,529	Liverpool	Day	North West England
172	Mander Portman Woodward Birmingham	40.59	29	£18,390	Birmingham	Day	West Midlands
173	Ditcham Park School	40.58	42	£18,252	Petersfield	Day	South East England
174	St Bede's College	40.35	106	£14,374	Manchester	Day	North West England
175	Mount Kelly	40.2	74	£21,690	Tavistock	Boarding	South West England
176	Ampleforth College	39.96	82	£32,520	York	Boarding	Yorkshire & the Humber
177	Ryde School	38.83	93	£17,550	Ryde	Boarding	South East England
178	Loughborough Amherst School	38.77	38	£16,950	Loughborough	Boarding	East Midlands
179	Saint Nicholas School	38.44	44	£16,677	Old Harlow	Day	East of England
180	The King's School	38.16	40	£8,760	Eastleigh	Day	South East England
181	Merchant Taylors' Girls' School	37.99	61	£14,529	Liverpool	Day	North West England
182	Teesside High School	37.95	48	£15,300	Eaglescliffe	Day	North East England
183	Denstone College and The Prep at Denstone College	37.59	102	£22,119	Uttoxeter	Boarding	West Midlands
184	The King's School	37.44	22	£10,128	Harpenden	Day	East of England
185	Thorpe House School	37.04	34	£21,945	Gerrards Cross	Day	South East England
186	Loretto School	37	56	£28,500	Musselburgh	Boarding	Scotland
187	Battle Abbey School	35.98	52	£22,041	Battle	Boarding	South East England
188	Ashville College	35.41	51	£20,055	Harrogate	Boarding	Yorkshire & the Humber
189	Plymouth College	35.13	66	£19,842	Plymouth	Boarding	South West England
190	Ballard School	34.51	64	£19,065	New Milton	Day	South East England
191	Dixie Grammar School	34.49	39	£15,885	Market Bosworth	Day	East Midlands
192	Saint Felix School	34.4	34	£19,164	Southwold	Boarding	East of England
193	St Dominic’s Grammar School, Brewood	34.24	31	£11,595	Brewood	Day	West Midlands
194	Meoncross School	33.85	43	£17,010	Fareham	Day	South East England
195	Christ CollegeChrist College Brecon Guardian	33.75	51	£22,026	Brecon	Boarding	Wales
196	Wychwood School	33.53	34	£22,275	Oxford	Boarding	South East England
197	Shiplake College	33.16	68	£29,220	Henley-on-Thames	Boarding	South East England
198	Langley School	32.09	66	£20,250	Norwich	Boarding	East of England
199	Totnes Independent School	31.88	22	£13,170	Totnes	Day	South West England
200	Mander Portman Woodward (MPW)	31.69	79	£36,630	South Kensington	Boarding	London
201	Hydesville Tower School	31.03	28	£17,301	Walsall	Day	West Midlands
202	Elmhurst Ballet School	30.9	23	£20,706	Birmingham	Boarding	West Midlands
203	St Mary's College	30.36	80	£13,263	Liverpool	Day	North West England
204	Rochester Independent College	29.98	62	£22,230	Rochester	Boarding	South East England
205	Stover School	27.45	50	£16,950	Newton Abbot	Boarding	South West England
206	Thetford Grammar School	26.2	20	£16,500	Thetford	Boarding	East of England
207	Thorpe Hall School	24.75	58	£16,020	Southend-on-Sea	Day	East of England
208	Highclare School	24.57	46	£16,770	Birmingham	Day	West Midlands
209	Sherrardswood School	24.1	55	£20,175	Welwyn	Day	East of England
210	Boundary Oak School	21.89	45	£18,951	Fareham	Boarding	South East England
211	Pangbourne College	21.76	92	£29,700	Reading	Boarding	South East England
212	Oakhill School	18.01	20	£24,780	Whalley	Day	North West England
213	Sackville School	17.69	39	£20,145	Tonbridge	Day	South East England
214	Shebbear College	16.62	42	£16,620	Beaworthy	Boarding	South West England
215	Bedstone College	13.67	17	£16,320	Bucknell	Boarding	West Midlands
216	Centre Academy London	11.11	14	£42,900	London	Day	London
217	St Crispin's School	9.93	17	£10,800	Leicester	Day	East Midlands

GCSE Results - UK Independent Schools broken down by Ranking, School name, A*/A percentage, the number of candidates, location in the UK, type of school, and total number of pupils from 2024

Highlighting Top Performers in GCSE League Table

Private schools have significantly increased the gap in GCSE results compared to state schools this year, with nearly half of all exams receiving top grades.

In 2024, 48.4% of private school results were graded between 9 and 7, the equivalent of an A* or A, up from 47.8% last year. Meanwhile, academies, which account for the majority of state school results, saw a slight increase, with top grades rising from 21% to 21.2%.

An analysis by The Telegraph of results from 217 independent schools, compiled by the Independent Schools Council (ISC), revealed that some schools awarded top grades in up to 95% of GCSEs. Westminster School, which charges £36,873 per year and counts Nick Clegg, Louis Theroux, and Andrew Lloyd-Webber among its alumni, had the highest results, with 99% of grades between 9 and 7.

King’s College School, Wimbledon ranked second, with 98.3% of its exams achieving top marks, followed closely by Guildford High School, where 98.1% of grades were 9 to 7.

Despite the strong performance, private schools still trailed behind England’s grammar schools, where 60.3% of exams earned top grades.

This year’s results are expected to be the last before VAT is added to private school fees under the Labour government, potentially driving around 40,000 students out of the sector. Barnaby Lenon, chairman of the ISC, noted that the results highlighted the strong performance of independent school students. He added, “It’s unfortunate that the introduction of VAT will make these excellent schools less accessible.”

Currently, the average day fee at independent schools is £19,089. With a 20% VAT added, fees could rise to approximately £23,000 per year.

GCSE Results Table: A Reflection of Quality Education

The GCSE results table is not just a testament to the academic prowess of the students but also reflects the quality of education provided by these independent schools. The supportive and competitive environment in these schools often propels the students to perform at their best, as seen in the GCSE league tables. Schools like the City of London School For Girls, Guildford High School for Girls, and St. Paul’s School are often featured prominently in these tables, bearing testimony to the high educational standards upheld by these institutions⁴³.

Delving Deeper with League Tables GCSE

In addition to the comparison of results, the league tables GCSE often breakdown the data further to show the performance across different genders and the type of school (day, boarding, or both)³. This detailed analysis often helps in understanding the broader landscape of education in the independent schools sector.

The Broader Narrative of GCSE Results Table

The narrative of academic excellence as depicted by the GCSE results table often extends beyond mere rankings. It delves into a discourse of how well the independent schools are aligning with the educational objectives set forth by educational bodies and how they compare not just among themselves but also with state schools. For instance, the 2022 data revealed that despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, students at both independent schools and grammar schools achieved a greater proportion of top grades than in 2019⁵.

The United Kingdom is home to an array of distinguished secondary schools, known for their tradition of academic excellence and holistic education. These schools provide a nurturing environment where every student’s potential is recognized and fostered. With a curriculum that’s designed to challenge and inspire, UK secondary schools are stepping stones towards a bright academic and professional future.

However, the journey to achieving outstanding GCSE results is a collaborative effort. Guardians play an indispensable role in this endeavor. Their support, encouragement, and engagement with both the students and the schools contribute significantly to the students’ success. They are not just observers of the educational journey but active participants, working in harmony with the school to ensure that every child receives the necessary support to excel.

A Guardian’s Role in Fostering Academic Excellence

Guardians are the bridge between the school and the students, ensuring a seamless flow of communication and understanding. Their involvement can make a world of difference in the student’s academic experience. By collaborating with the school, guardians can help create a supportive environment that’s conducive for learning, thereby laying a strong foundation for excellent GCSE results.

The heartwarming success stories of many students are a testament to the fruitful collaboration between guardians, schools, and students. It’s a triad of support that propels students to aim high and achieve their academic goals. And the good news is, this collaborative spirit is not just a hallmark of a few schools but is deeply ingrained in the ethos of the UK’s education system.

Embarking on a Journey Towards Academic Success

Parents, your involvement is a precious gift to your child’s education. Your engagement, together with the expertise and dedication of the school staff, creates a nurturing ecosystem where your child can thrive and achieve remarkable GCSE results. In this collaborative endeavor, you’re not alone. The schools are committed to working hand in hand with you, ensuring that your child’s academic journey is rewarding and successful.

Now is the time to take a step towards securing a bright academic future for your child. Explore the opportunities that await in the UK’s esteemed secondary schools and become a part of your child’s journey to academic excellence.

Discover the bespoke educational packages that can provide a seamless transition for your child into the UK’s prestigious secondary schools, and ensure a supportive environment for outstanding GCSE results.

Reach out to us to learn more about how our services can assist you in collaborating with the school to create a conducive learning environment for your child, ensuring their success in GCSE examinations.