A new authoritative ranking has identified the leading state secondary schools in London, offering families a clear guide to exceptional education without the substantial fees associated with the capital's famous private institutions.
Queen Elizabeth's School Crowned National Champion
Queen Elizabeth's School in Barnet (EN5) has been declared the top state school not just in London, but across the whole of Britain. The prestigious title comes from The Times Parent Power Ranking for 2025, the newspaper's annual analysis of academic performance.
The selective boys' grammar school posted remarkable exam results. In 2025, an impressive 52.4% of all A-levels taken were awarded the top A* grade, with 97.6% achieving A* to B. At GCSE level, 95.5% of all grades were between 9 and 7 (equivalent to the old A* and A).
While education at the school is free, securing a place is intensely competitive. Approximately 3,500 applicants vie for just 192 places each year, with candidates required to sit two entrance exams. Notable former pupils, or alumni, include spoken word artist George the Poet, sprinter John Otugade, and television judge Robert Rinder.
The Methodology Behind the League Table
The Times researchers compiled the league table by scrutinising the GCSE and A-level results of schools across the country. A key feature of the Parent Power guide is that it separates fee-paying private schools from state-funded schools, allowing for a direct comparison within the state sector.
This provides valuable insight for parents seeking outstanding educational outcomes without considering independent school fees, which can run into many thousands of pounds per term.
London's Top 10 State Secondary Schools for 2025
The full list of London's leading state secondary schools, as ranked by The Times, is dominated by selective grammar schools and high-performing academies. The top ten is as follows:
- Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet
- Wilson's School, Wallington
- St Olave's Grammar School, Orpington
- The Tiffin Girls' School, Kingston upon Thames
- Tiffin School, Kingston upon Thames
- The Latymer School, Edmonton
- Sutton Grammar School, Sutton
- St Michael's RC Grammar School, Finchley
- Wallington High School for Girls, Wallington
- Wallington County Grammar School, Wallington
The ranking highlights that five London schools have been named among the very best in Britain, underscoring the strength of the capital's state education sector at the highest level.
The publication of this list shifts the spotlight from London's renowned elite private schools, such as Harrow and Westminster, to the high-achieving state sector. It demonstrates that a world-class education is accessible within the state system, albeit often through a rigorous selective process for these top-tier institutions.
