Grammar schools have dominated in a new, competitive secondary school league table - but one high-achieving comprehensive school has ranked amongst the top performers too.
The Telegraph released its new top secondary schools ranking earlier this month, lining up with the beginning of the 2025/26 school year. Its guide compares state-funded secondary schools across 10 different criteria; including GCSE-derived Progress 8 and Attainment 8 scores, English Baccalaureate attainment, how the school’s results compare to its local authority area averages, class size, truancy, and more.
Each school is then given a score out of 40 possible points. Those with the same amount of points are then sorted by the proportion of their pupils who scored a grade of 5 or above in a selection of five key GCSE subjects - with the national average being 18%.
Parents of this year’s primary school leavers are currently busy attending open days, and getting their child’s secondary school applications for next year ready before the October deadline. Many will no doubt have their child’s future success in mind as they select their preferred schools, which is why we’ve taken a look at which of England’s state schools were ranked as being at the very pinnacle of performance.
Here were the country’s top 15, according to the new Telegraph league table:
7. Chelmsford County High School for Girls
This is a selective secondary academy for girls, in Chelmsford, Essex. The Telegraph again gave it an overall score of 39 out 40. In the 2023/24 school year, 94% of its pupils achieved a grade of 5 or more in at least 5 different GCSEs. | Google
8. Colyton Grammar School
This is a selective secondary academy in Colyford, Devon. The Telegraph gave it too an overall score of 39 out 40. In the 2023/24 school year, 93.3% of its pupils achieved a grade of 5 or more in at least 5 different GCSEs. | Google
9. Urmston Grammar Academy
This is a selective secondary academy in Urmston, Greater Manchester. The Telegraph also gave it an overall score of 39 out 40. In the 2023/24 school year, 88.7% of its pupils achieved a grade of 5 or more in at least 5 different GCSEs. | Google
10. Alcester Grammar School
Another selective secondary academy, this one is in Alcester, Warwickshire. The Telegraph again gave it an overall score of 39 out 40. In the 2023/24 school year, 81.7% of its pupils achieved a grade of 5 or more in at least 5 different GCSEs. | Google
11. Queen Mary's High School
Queen Mary's is a selective secondary academy for girls, in Walsall, in the West Midlands. The Telegraph gave it an overall score of 39 out 40. In the 2023/24 school year, 80.4% of its pupils achieved a grade of 5 or more in at least 5 different GCSEs. | Google
12. Dartford Grammar School for Girls
Yet another selective girls’ secondary academy, this one is in Dartford, Kent. The Telegraph also gave it an overall score of 39 out 40. In the 2023/24 school year, 78.8% of its pupils achieved a grade of 5 or more in at least 5 different GCSEs. | Google