England is no stranger to exceptional education and prestigious schools. With a history as a pioneer in global education, the modern educational landscape of England boasts some of the best schools in the world. While there are plenty of ways to measure the quality of a school, from holistic development to extracurricular opportunities, perhaps the most telling measure is academic performance. The Times has released a 2025 ranking of England’s best private and state schools, using A level and GCSE results to give them a place on the list.
This guide will explore England’s top ten private and state schools, as described by The Times, and highlight what exactly makes them such excellent establishments.
1. St Paul’s Girls’ School
Taking the title of Independent School of the Year for Academic Excellence 2025, the London based St Paul’s Girls’ School was founded in 1904 and has since retained its reputation as one of the best schools in England. A frontrunner in academic achievement, 88% of St Paul’s Girls’ A-level 2024 cohort achieved an A - A* grade and 92% of them were accepted into their first-choice university. At GCSE level, 94% of students achieved a level 8 or 9, which is equivalent to the old A* grade.
Beyond the classroom, St Paul’s Girls’ School offers an extracurricular provision that is extensive and constantly evolving. Clubs like Improv Club, Dissection Society, Junior Feminist Society and Gardening Club are just a few of the unique activities available to students.
2. St Paul’s School
The all-boys counterpart to St Paul’s Girls’, the prestigious St Paul’s school is known for its long history of distinguished alumni such as diarist and naval administrator Samuel Pepys and the famous financier Lord Rothschild. Boasting just over 90% attainment of grades 8-9 at GCSE and at A level 88% of all grades were A-A* with 87% of pupils meeting their first-choice university offer.
The school has a diverse roster of extracurriculars, including debating and STEM, but it has a particularly strong reputation for its sporting achievements. The school rowing, rugby and cricket teams regularly compete at national level. St Paul’s music and arts program is also among the best in the country.
3. Brighton College
Coming in at joint third, the all-boys Brighton College is the only school outside of London to make it into the top 5. As one of the very first traditional independent schools to actively support diversity, Brighton College has shown that prioritising mental well-being does not negatively impact academic performance. In 2024 the year 11 cohort celebrated record GCSE results, with over 1,100 grade 9’s being achieved and at A level, 87% of results were A to A*.
Alongside extracurriculars like robotics and athletics, Brighton College also complements and enhances the learning of its pupils with a mix of local and international trips. The sixth form pupils were recently offered the chance to explore the geography of Iceland and the history of Athens, and the school swim team participated in a series of events in Slovenia.
4. King’s College School, Wimbledon
Sharing third place with Brighton College, Kings College is a Wimbledon-based independent day school for boys. It boasts particular strength in STEM subjects as well as languages and humanities, with consistently high academic performance across the board. In 2024 an impressive 90.7% of all GCSE exam results were 9/8 and grades A/A* made up 87% of the A level performance.
Co-curricular activities play a key role in a student’s life at King’s College, which is reflected by the school’s significant investment in music, sports and drama facilities. Students are offered the chance to participate in the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh award as well as a cadet program that has three sections: army, royal navy, and Royal Air Force.
5. Westminster School
With a history dating back to the 12th century, Westminster School is a co-educational independent establishment located in the heart of London. In keeping with its impressive history of attainment, top-line figures were achieved in 2024 with 94% 8-9 grades in GCSE and 89 out of 201 A level student receiving at least three A* grades.
There are a number of diverse pursuits included in Westminster School’s extracurricular program. These include carpentry, bookbinding and mythology which are offered alongside more traditional activities like music, drama and football. In addition, students can experience a wide range of educational trips like exploring the Lake District on one of approximately 60 expeditions offered by the school.
6. Godolphin and Latymer
An independent girls school located in West London, Godolphin and Latymer has built a reputation for outstanding education, modern teaching methods and a commitment to developing confident young women. The most recent GCSE results achieved by Godolphin and Latymer consisted of 92% grades 8 and 9 and 96% of the A level results were grades A-A*.
To round out the curriculum, Godolphin and Latymer offer a vast selection of extracurriculars. These clubs and societies include classics society, choir and Spanish debating club and are designed to develop the talents, skills and interests of their students. The school also organises numerous trips such as an art trip to Tate Modern and choir performances at the Charterhouse.
7. North London Collegiate School
Founded by pioneering educator Frances Mary Buss in 1850, North London Collegiate School (NLCS) is a prestigious private school for girls. Consistently ranking among the top ten schools for academic performance, the 2024 NLCS GCSE cohort achieved over 89% grades 8/9 with the A level students achieving 85% A*-A.
NLCS has a history of foreign exchange programmes, in particular an exchange with Goethe-Gymnasium in Ludwigsburg, Germany. This exchange was initiated by two Jewish teachers, one at NLCS and one in Germany, and celebrated its 67th year in 2024. Afterschool clubs at NLCS run every weekday and pupils select their desired clubs every term, choosing from around 40 options including theatre design and lacrosse.
8. Guildford High School
Located in Guildford, Surrey, Guildford High School is a leading independent establishment for girls, excelling particularly in its passionate and highly qualified teaching staff that ensure the school secures consistently high exam results. Of the 1,150 GCSE papers that were taken by the 2024 year 11 cohort, 70% of them were awarded a Grade 9. Equally as impressive, 83% of the A level results were A-A*.
With more than 70 different activities on offer every week, from fencing to jewellery making, the extracurricular roster at Guildford High School is diverse and engaging. Also an enriching part of school life are the frequent trips offered by almost every subject area including art trips to the National Gallery and Spanish visits to the Moorish cities of southern Spain.
9. City of London School for Girls
City of London School for Girls (CLSG) is another of England’s most prestigious independent schools, popular for its central London location and strong university placements. The most recent GCSE cohort secured 83% grades 8-9 and the A level students performed similarly, with 46% of exams being graded at an A*.
At CLSG there is an array of competitive and recreational sports and clubs on offer, from netball and cross country to chess and robotics club. Given the central location of the school, trips to London’s museums, galleries, theatres and lectures are a frequent companion to traditional classroom learning, creating a holistic educational experience for students.
10. The Henrietta Barnett School
The only state school to make the top ten, The Henrietta Barnett School in London has an exemplary local and national reputation. Located in a Hampstead Garden suburb, this grammar school for girls continued its pattern of outstanding exam results with the 2024 cohort. The GCSE students achieved 88% grades 8-9 and the A-level cohort received some of the best results in the school’s history with 81% of the results at grade A-A*.
Every year group at HBS is offered the opportunity to go on a residential trip, with the year 7 students visiting Chateau Beaumont in Normandy for a week of language development and the year 8 class attending a “Bushcraft” experience where they learn new important skills. Within the school, extracurricular activities are abundant especially within the areas of sport, drama and music.
