A north London grammar school is among the most successful state schools in Britain for securing Oxford and Cambridge offers.

Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet, founded in 1573, has become known as a top performer for getting pupils into these prestigious universities.

Last year, 62 students from the boys’ grammar school received offers from Oxford and Cambridge, with 46 from Cambridge and 16 from Oxford.

These offers meant that more than one in three Year 13 students from the school had a chance to attend either Oxford or Cambridge.

This year, the success story continues with another 49 offers received, taking the total number of Oxbridge offers over the past three years to 157.

The school’s headmaster, Neil Enright, said its success comes from fostering a “culture that encourages intellectual curiosity, independent learning, and academic ambition.”

Queen Elizabeth’s School doesn’t just prepare its students for Oxbridge.

Most of its sixth-formers go into higher education, with many securing spots at Russell Group universities on competitive courses like medicine, engineering, law, and economics.

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According to government data, this school sends a higher proportion of students to Russell Group universities than any other state-funded school in England.

Queen Elizabeth’s was also named State Secondary School of the Year by the Sunday Times, which praised its academic achievements and university destinations.

The school’s selective admissions process makes it highly sought after, with thousands of families applying each year for a limited number of Year 7 places.

For many parents, Queen Elizabeth’s is a prime example of a state-funded school matching the achievements often seen in the independent sector.

While league tables and university destinations are not the only measures of a school’s success, the numbers from Queen Elizabeth’s speak volumes.

In the ongoing conversation about social mobility and access to top universities, Barnet’s historic grammar school shows that state schools can compete – and win – at the highest levels.

The school’s consistent success in securing university places has not only reinforced its reputation for academic excellence but also demonstrated the potential of state-funded education to break barriers and match the traditional advantages of private schooling.

In a climate where access to top universities is a hot topic of debate, Queen Elizabeth’s School is setting a benchmark for others to follow, proving that determination, skill, and ambition can come from any part of the educational spectrum.