The best schools in England are those that promote creativity and innovation, while also maintaining a rigorous curriculum. When choosing a school, look for one that has a dedicated staff who know and love their students. Teachers should be willing to work hard to help students succeed, no matter what their background or learning style is. If a school has an arts program, it’s important that it encourages students to express themselves using multiple mediums. Music, visual arts, dance—all of these things can play an important role in helping children develop confidence and foster creativity. For students who have difficulty with academics, a great school will provide them with the resources they need to succeed at their studies as well as support them emotionally. It’s important for educators to understand how each student learns best so they can design lessons accordingly.

You may find it hard to access the right information on the internet, so we are here to help you in the following article, providing the best and updated information on best schools in england. Read on to learn more. We at collegelearners have all the information that you need about best schools in england.

best schools in england

Each year, The Sunday Times Parent Power releases its ‘best schools’ league tables based on that year’s GCSE and A level results. The 2022 league tables (released in December 2021) indicate that the top 10 private schools in England are all located in the South East – specifically within the City of London, Greater London, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Kent and East Sussex.

Why are private schools in England sometimes called public schools?

As the terms private and public have entirely opposite meanings, it can be confusing when you hear some private schools being referred to as ‘public schools’.

In the UK, ‘public school’ is an archaic term used for an elite group of fee-paying schools. The term first emerged in the 18th century when a small group of well-established boys’ schools distinguished themselves from the spread of grammar schools (which were free) by charging fees. These schools were Eton College, Shrewsbury School, Harrow School, Charterhouse School, Rugby School, Westminster School and Winchester College.

‘Public school’ is now considered an outdated term in the UK, with fee-paying schools now typically referred to as ‘private schools’ or independent schools’.

What is the average class size in UK private schools?

UK private schools are renowned for having smaller class sizes than their state school counterparts. While state schools will often have around 30-32 pupils in a class, private schools have a much lower pupil-to-teacher ratio.

In Key Stage 3 (Year 7 to 9), there are around 20 (normally no more than 25) pupils per class in UK private schools. As pupils move from year to year, class sizes tend to become smaller as a result of ‘streaming’ (setting classes based on academic ability) and more subject choices to choose from at GCSE and A level. Sixth form classes are typically much smaller, with around 8 to 15 students in a class.

What are the top 10 private schools in England?

1. St Paul’s Girls’ School (London)

St Paul’s Girls’ School, located in Hammersmith, West London, is often top of the list in The Sunday Times Parent Power’s top independent schools. The girls’ day school was founded in 1904 to complement St Paul’s School (the boys’ counterpart), which was founded in the 16th century.

Students are known as ‘Paulinas’. There are approximately 20 students per class in the Lower School at St Paul’s Girls’ School.

St Paul’s Girls’ School fees

In 2021-22, the school fees are £8,802 per term (Year 7 entry). St Paul’s Girls’ School offers music scholarships for 11 plus applicants and has a means-tested bursary programme which may be available to families with a total gross household income of less than £110k.

St Paul’s Girls’ School exam results (2021)

• A level: 97.8% A*/A/B
• GCSE: 99.4* A*/A/9/8/7

2. King’s College School Wimbledon (London)

King’s College School Wimbledon is a prestigious boys’ day school situated on the edge of Wimbledon Common in South West London. Girls are accepted into the sixth form. The school was founded by royal charter in 1829 as the junior department of King’s College London on the Strand, before moving to Wimbledon in 1897.

King’s College School Wimbledon fees

In 2022-23, the school fees will be £7,310 per term (Year 7 entry). King’s College School Wimbledon offers entrance bursaries of up to 100% tuition fees to eligible families as well as academic, music and sports scholarships.

King’s College School Wimbledon exam results (2021)

• A level: 96.9% A*/A/B
• GCSE: 96.5% A*/A/9/8/7

3. Wycombe Abbey (Buckinghamshire)

Wycombe Abbey is a girls’ boarding and day school located on a 69-hectare campus in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. It was founded in 1896 by Dame Frances Dove.

There are around 16 pupils per class at Wycombe Abbey.

Wycombe Abbey fees

The termly fees for Wycombe Abbey in 2021-22 are £10,315 for day students and £13,750 for boarding students. The school also offers academic and music scholarships (of limited financial value) and means-tested bursaries to girls whose parents could not otherwise afford the fees.

Wycombe Abbey exam results (2021)

• A level: 96.7% A*/A/B
• GCSE: 96.7% A*/A/9/8/7

4. Magdalen College School (Oxfordshire)

Magdalen College School offers an independent day education to boys aged 7 to 18 and to girls in the sixth form. It is located in the cathedral city of Oxford, with approximately one-third of students going on to study at either Oxford or Cambridge universities after A levels.

The average class size for pupils in Years 7 to 11 at Magdalen College School is 25.

Magdalen College School fees

In 2021-22 the fees are £6,600 per term. Magdalen College School offers means-tested bursaries to students who meet the academic standard of entry and where there is a genuine financial need for assistance. In 2019-20, one in ten pupils were on a bursary. The school also offers scholarships in academia, music, art, sport and drama as well as ‘all-rounder awards’ and ‘governors’ presentation awards’.

Magdalen College School exam results (2021)

• A level: 96.6% A*/A/B
• GCSE: 95.3% A*/A/9/8/7

5. Guildford High School (Surrey)

Founded in 1888, Guildford High School offers an independent day education to approximately 1,000 girls aged 7-18. The Sunday Times named it the ‘South East Independent Secondary School of the Decade’ in 2021.

Guildford High School fees

Guildford High School’s fees for 2021-22 are £6,100 per term. The school offers a sibling discount of 5% (and 10% for subsequent daughters) and means-tested bursaries to eligible families. Academic and music scholarships are also available based on assessment and can be worth up to 5% off the school fees.

Guildford High School exam results (2021)

• A level: 95.3% A*/A/B
• GCSE: 97.2% A*/A/9/8/7

6. St Paul’s School (London)

St Paul’s School is a boys’ independent day and boarding school located on a 43-acre site in Barnes, West London. It was founded in 1509 by John Colet, Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral. Boys at St Paul’s School are known as ‘Paulines’.

St Paul’s School fees

The fees in 2022-23 will be £9,162 per term (or £13,788 per term for boarders). Bursaries between 20% and 100% may be available for families whose combined household income is less than £120,000. St Paul’s School also offers academic scholarships of a small financial value and music scholarships, which include free tuition on up to two instruments.

St Paul’s School exam results (2021)

• A level: 95.4% A*/A/B
• GCSE: 96.1% A*/A/9/8/7

7. Westminster School (London)

Westminster School is an independent day and boarding school for boys (and girls in the sixth form) located in Little Dean’s Yard in the precincts of Westminster Abbey, City of Westminster. About half of the students go on to Oxbridge, giving Westminster School the highest national Oxbridge acceptance rate. Class sizes at Westminster School rarely exceed 22.

Westminster School fees

The fees for Westminster School in 2021-22 are £9,987 per term for day pupils and £14,424 per term for boarders. A bursary programme is in place, with approximately £1.4m of support available to pupils across the Under School (prep) and Great School (senior). Academic and music scholarships are also available.

Westminster School exam results (2021)

• A level: 94.1% A*/A/B
• GCSE: 98.3% A*/A/9/8/7

Year 9 (13 plus) is the main entry point at Westminster School.

8. Brighton College (East Sussex)

Brighton College is a co-educational day and boarding school with three sites in the East Sussex seaside town: Brighton College Nursery & Pre-Prep School, Brighton College Prep School and Brighton College. It has been awarded the title of ‘United Kingdom School of the Decade’ by The Sunday Times.

Class sizes at Brighton College are normally around 15 to 18 pupils.

Brighton College fees

The fees for Year 7 pupils at Brighton College in 2021-22 are £6,120 per term (rising to £8,900 by the end of the sixth form). Boarding is available from Year 9 and is upwards of £12,220 per term. Brighton College has means-tested bursaries available for day pupils who are eligible. A range of scholarships are also available.

Brighton College exam results (2021)

• A level: 97.4% A*/A/B
• GCSE: 90.9% A*/A/9/8/7

9. City of London School for Girls (London)

City of London School for Girls is a day school for girls aged 7 to 18 in the Barbican, within the City of London. It is partnered with the City of London School (boys) and the City of London Freemen’s School (co-educational).

City of London School for Girls fees

The current fees at City of London School for Girls are £6,888 per term. The school usually has 12-15 bursary places to allocate at 11 plus depending on the pupil’s success in the entrance exams and interview, and the family’s financial circumstances. Music scholarships are also available for pupils at 11 plus.

City of London School for Girls exam results (2021)

• A level: 94.4% A*/A
• GCSE: 98.0% A*/A/9/8/7

10. Sevenoaks School (Kent)

Sevenoaks School is an independent day and boarding school for over 1,000 boys and girls in Sevenoaks, Kent. Founded in 1432 by William Sevenoke, it is the second oldest non-denominational school in the UK. It has twice been named The Sunday Times Independent Secondary School of the Year.

There are generally no more than 20 pupils per class in the main school, and around 10 students per class in the sixth form.

Sevenoaks School fees

The standard fees at Sevenoaks School are £8,340 per term for day pupils and £13,320 per term for boarders. At least five free places are available to successful day applicants in Years 7 and 9 for families with a gross annual income of less than £40,000. Additional funding may be available for successful day applicants whose families have a gross annual income of £100,000 or less. In addition, 55 scholarships are available (academic, art, drama, music and sport) but these will no longer carry a fee remission from 2022 onwards.

Sevenoaks School exam results (2021)

• A level: 95.8% A*/A/B
• GCSE: 92.7% A*/A/9/8/7

Top 100 Schools by GCSE

#	A + A* %	Name	Day/Board	Boy/Girl	Day £	Board £
1	99.09	St Paul’s School	Both	Boys	27,486	41,364
2	98.89	City of London School for Girls	Day	Girls	21,894
3	98.29	Westminster School	Both	Co-ed (Boys Only 13 – 16)	34,389	46,341
4	98.17	St Paul’s Girls’ School	Day	Girls	29,880
5	97.82	Guildford High School	Day	Girls	19,482
6	97.65	King’s College School – Wimbledon	Day	Boys (Co-ed 6th form)	24,255
7	97.00	Tonbridge School	Both	Boys	35,067	46,740
8	96.95	City of London School for Boys	Day	Boys	21,057
9	96.57	Wycombe Abbey School	Boarding	Girls	33,150	44,100
10	96.39	North London Collegiate School	Day	Girls	22,038
11	96.00	Sevenoaks School	Both	Co-ed	30,348	46,566
12	95.84	Highgate School	Day	Co-ed	23,520
13	95.79	Oxford International College	Both	Co-ed	25,167	50,589
14	95.48	Lady Eleanor Holles School	Day	Girls	22,716
15	95.13	Latymer Upper School	Day	Co-ed	22,530
16	94.98	King Edward VI High School for Girls	Day	Girls	15,129
17	94.66	St Mary’s School – Ascot	Both	Girls	32,460	45,570
18	94.51	South Hampstead High School	Day	Girls	21,174
19	94.38	Haberdashers’ Boys’ School – Elstree	Day	Boys	22,659
20	94.08	Brighton College	Both	Co-ed	27,840	56,760
21	94.00	Francis Holland School – Sloane Square	Day	Girls	23,250
22	93.66	Bancroft’s School	Day	Co-ed	20,748
23	93.34	Trinity School – Croydon	Day	Boys (Co-ed 6th form)	20,437
=	93.34	Withington Girls School	Day	Girls	14,622
25	93.06	Magdalen College School	Day	Boys (Co-ed 6th form)	20,544
26	92.96	St Albans School	Day	Boys (Co-ed 6th form)	21,282
27	92.94	Dulwich College	Both	Boys	22,971	47,949
28	92.85	Alleyn’s School, Dulwich	Day	Co-ed	22,860
29	92.78	Merchant Taylors’ School	Day	Boys	23,600
30	92.66	Notting Hill and Ealing High School	Day	Girls	20,868
31	92.65	Royal Grammar School – Guildford	Day	Boys	20,520
32	92.55	Perse Upper School	Day	Co-ed	19,443
33	92.00	Wimbledon High School	Day	Girls	20,316
34	91.48	Reigate Grammar School	Day	Co-ed	21,585
35	91.31	Whitgift School	Both	Boys	22,269	43,629
36	91.17	University College School	Day	Boys (Co-ed 6th form)	23,379
37	91.00	James Allen’s Girls’ School	Day	Girls	21,135
=	91.00	Haberdashers’ Girls’ School – Elstree	Day	Girls	21,636
39	90.60	St Catherine’s School, Bramley	Both	Girls	20,535	34,275
40	90.52	St Albans High School for Girls	Day	Girls	20,745
41	90.48	Winchester College	Boarding	Boys	33,990	45,936
42	90.37	Wellington College	Both	Co-ed	32,940	45,090
43	90.35	The Abbey School – Reading	Day	Girls	19,830
=	90.35	Surbiton High School	Day	Girls	20,070
45	90.20	King Edward’s School – Bath	Day	Co-ed	16,275
46	90.00	Putney High School	Day	Girls	21,639
47	89.90	St Helen and St Katharine	Day	Girls	19,335
48	89.88	Caterham School	Both	Co-ed	21,870	44,835
49	89.74	Benenden School	Boarding	Girls	32,649	43,503
50	89.64	St Helen’s – Northwood	Day	Girls	19,971
51	89.45	King Edward’s School – Birmingham	Day	Boys	15,525
52	89.37	Emanuel School	Day	Co-ed	21,453
53	89.00	Downe House School	Both	Girls	32,880	44,220
54	88.84	Cardiff Sixth Form College	Both	Co-ed	20,600	49,300
55	88.57	Ibstock Place School	Day	Co-ed	23,820
56	88.25	Manchester Grammar School	Day	Boys	13,980
57	88.13	Concord College	Both	Co-ed	16,200	48,900
58	88.12	Oxford High School GDST	Day	Girls	17,556
59	87.70	St Michael’s School – Llanelli	Both	Co-ed	13,818	30,900
=	87.70	Channing School	Day	Girls	23,025
61	87.40	St John’s College – Cardiff	Day	Co-ed	14,850
62	87.19	Sir William Perkins’s School	Day	Girls	18,738
63	86.63	Radley College	Boarding	Boys		44,550
64	86.60	Abingdon School	Both	Boys	22,350	45,600
65	86.30	Forest School – London	Day	Co-ed	22,425
66	86.16	Nottingham High School	Day	Co-ed	16,608
67	86.07	Francis Holland School – Regent’s Park	Day	Girls	22,890
68	86.00	City of London Freemen’s School – Senior	Both	Co-ed	22,923	39,552
=	86.00	Sutton High School GDST	Day	Girls	19,071
70	85.94	Walthamstow Hall Senior School	Day	Girls	22,065
71	85.52	Royal Grammar School – Newcastle	Day	Co-ed	15,369
72	85.32	Palmers Green High School	Day	Girls
73	85.00	Eltham College	Day	Boys (Co-ed 6th form)	22,230
=	85.00	St Swithun’s School	Both	Girls	29,880	38,340
75	84.92	Oundle School	Both	Co-ed	27,075	42,270
76	84.60	Hurstpierpoint College	Day	Co-ed	26,400
77	84.54	Roedean School	Both	Girls	24,660	48,990
78	83.82	Colfe’s School	Day	Co-ed	19,125
79	83.68	St George’s College	Day	Co-ed	22,680
80	83.22	Headington School	Both	Girls	21,480	43,245
81	83.00	Rugby School	Both	Co-ed	26,310	41,910
82	82.14	St John’s School – Leatherhead	Day	Co-ed	25,560
83	82.00	Queen’s College – London	Day	Girls	22,035
=	82.00	St Mary’s School – Calne	Both	Girls	32,280	43,260
85	81.82	The Edinburgh Academy	Day	Co-ed	16,242
86	81.71	Exeter School	Day	Co-ed	15,525
87	81.70	Manchester High School for Girls	Day	Girls	13,230
88	81.37	Streatham & Clapham High School GDST	Day	Girls	19,719
89	81.18	Maynard School	Day	Girls	15,729
90	81.17	Leicester Grammar School	Day	Co-ed	14,739
=	81.17	King’s School – Chester	Day	Co-ed	14,748
92	80.94	Norwich School	Day	Co-ed	18,855
93	80.47	Sheffield High School GDST	Day	Girls	14,271
94	80.41	Jersey College for Girls	Day	Girls	6,852
95	80.18	Badminton School	Both	Girls	18,300	42,540
96	80.15	Bromley High School GDST	Day	Girls	19,125
97	79.98	Loughborough High School	Day	Girls	14,970
98	79.74	The Leys School	Both	Co-ed	25,260	37,740
99	79.60	Queen’s Gate – Kensington	Day	Girls	23,580
100	79.56	Canford School	Both	Co-ed	32,085	42,147