Best secondary schools London: Sunday Times School Guide reveals top state schools in Parent Power survey

The top performing state secondary schools in London have been revealed in Parent Power, The Sunday Times’ Schools Guide 2022.

Every parent wants their child to get the best start in life and for some Londoners they are in the lucky position of living next to some of the best schools in the country.

The 29^th edition of Parent Power identifies the highest-achieving schools in the UK, ranked by their examination results from 2017 to 2019.

The top state secondary school in the country is Queen Elizabeth’s school in Barnet.

Unsurprisingly, that also made it the top secondary school in London.

Alastair McCall, editor of Parent Power said: “Queen Elizabeth’s is making top spot in our annual rankings and our award this year recognises that sustained excellence.

“However, this is no academic hothouse.

“Success in examinations comes as a by-product of a wider school ethos centred on fully developing the boys’ considerable talents.

“Boys leave the school confident young men capable of taking their place in the world, nurtured by a school with outstanding facilities and exceptional teaching.”

Queen Elizabeth’s headmaster Neil Enright said: “The State Secondary School of the Year award is a significant accolade, so this is excellent news.

“The award reflects the breadth of the educational experience here at Queen Elizabeth’s, with pupils taking full advantage of the opportunities available to enrich themselves, pursuing their intellectual interests well beyond the confines of course syllabuses and throwing themselves into our huge range of clubs and societies – more than 90 at the last count – many of them set up by the boys themselves.”

In second place is the Henrietta Barnett school, a grammar school with academy status primarily for girls in Golders Green, Barnet.

And in third place is Wilson’s school, a boys’ grammar school with academy status in Wallington, Sutton.

This trio were also the three best secondary schools in the whole of the UK.

See the full list of top 10 schools.

What are the best state secondary schools in London?

1. Queen Elizabeth’s School, Queens Road, Barnet EN5 4DQ
2. The Henrietta Barnett School, Central Square, Golders Green NW11 7BN
3. Wilson’s School, Mollison Drive, Wallington SM6 9JW
4. The Tiffin Girls’ School, Richmond Road, Kingston upon Thames KT2 5PL
5. St. Olave’s Grammar School, Goddington Lane, Orpington BR6 9SH
6. The Latymer School, Haselbury Road, London N9 9TN
7. St Michael’s RC Grammar School, Nether Street, London N12 7NJ
8. Tiffin School, Queen Elizabeth Road, Kingston upon Thames KT2 6RL
9. Nonsuch High School for Girls, Ewell Road, Sutton SM3 8AB
10. Sutton Grammar School, Manor Lane, Sutton SM1 4AS

How were the rankings worked out?

The 29th edition of Parent Power identifies the highest-achieving schools in the UK, ranked by their pre-pandemic examination results.

As well as assessment of all academic results on a school-by-school basis, Parent Power enables parents to compare the performance of a given school with other schools in the same town, local authority or nationally.

There are also live links to school websites and schools’ most recent inspection reports.

How do I see the full rankings?

You can find the full national database on The Sunday Times website.