{"id":613411,"date":"2025-12-05T08:13:23","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T08:13:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/613411\/"},"modified":"2025-12-05T08:13:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T08:13:23","slug":"londons-top-schools-2026-best-primaries-and-secondaries-revealed-as-academic-powerhouse-shines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/613411\/","title":{"rendered":"London’s top schools 2026: Best primaries and secondaries revealed as academic powerhouse shines"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"WEST<\/p>\n

A north London<\/a> state school has swept the board in this year\u2019s league tables, claiming the title of best in the capital and the country after a standout performance for academic excellence.<\/p>\n

Founded in 1573, Queen Elizabeth\u2019s School in Barnet is a selective state-funded grammar school for boys, rated Outstanding by Ofsted in its last six inspections. <\/p>\n

It was closely followed in the London state secondary league table by St Olave\u2019s Grammar School in Orpington, The Tiffin Girls\u2019 School in Kingston upon Thames and The Henrietta Barnett School in Barnet.<\/p>\n

Celebrating their success, Headmaster at Queen Elizabeth\u2019s, Neil Enright, said: \u201cI would firstly congratulate the boys, governors, my colleagues, parents, and Old Elizabethans of all generations \u2013 in fact, all those in our wide Elizabethan community who have played a part in this tremendous success. <\/p>\n

A north London<\/a> state school has claimed the title of best in the capital and the country<\/p>\n

PA Archive<\/p>\n

\u201cThis recognition reflects the dedication and aspiration of our community. Academically, we are second to none. <\/p>\n

\u201cHowever, winning the State Secondary School of the Year award once again demonstrates that it is not all about exam results at QE. Instead, what goes on beyond the classroom goes hand in hand with these academic outcomes. Our extensive QE Flourish co-curricular programme, is not in tension with our academic high standards; rather, it complements boys\u2019 studies.<\/p>\n

\u201cSimilarly, the broader QE experience. We have QE Futures, which helps our pupils find their path into the best degree courses and careers; a bespoke programme of pastoral care to build and sustain wellbeing; and very active engagement from our QE Connect alumni network.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of this supports academic achievement and rounded personal development, helping us to realise the boundless potential of our pupils.” <\/p>\n

When asked about London\u2019s dominance of the school league tables, Helen Davies, editor of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide, told the Standard: \u201cI think there\u2019 s been a lot of investment in London schools <\/a>and I think it\u2019s often easier to recruit and retain some key talent and you also have access to the whole of London.<\/p>\n

\u201cIts become increasingly clear in some of the top schools<\/a> that it\u2019s an overall experience and not simply just the classroom and the results you get, but it\u2019 who you are, what you have access to, and what you can aspire to and perhaps in some London schools that is more achievable.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The entrance to Queen Elizabeth\u2019s School in Barnet<\/p>\n

Google <\/p>\n

\u201cI think also access to speakers and having an alumni network, which is increasingly seen in the state sector, and hearing what people do after they leave school, and what is possible, really inspires pupils to do well.\u201d<\/p>\n

Helen says that all boys\u2019 schools appear to have outperformed all girls\u2019 schools for the first time in some years, for reasons that are not yet fully understood. She suggests this may be because schools have become better at tailoring teaching to the specific needs of boys.<\/p>\n

She also notes that leading schools are increasingly focused not just on academic outcomes, but on preparing pupils for an uncertain future by building resilience, social skills, curiosity and a love of lifelong learning, rather than training them for specific jobs.<\/p>\n

At primary level, Thomas Jones Primary School in Notting Hill was named London\u2019s top performer, scooping Primary School of the Year in London, followed by Hampden Gurney CofE Primary School in Westminster, St Andrew\u2019s RC Primary School in Streatham, Lambeth, Courtland School in Barnet, and Christ Church Bentinck CofE Primary School in Westminster.<\/p>\n

Among London\u2019s comprehensive schools, West London Free School leads the rankings as the capital\u2019s number one and sits 44th nationally, earning it the title of Comprehensive School of the Year in London. It is followed by JFS in Harrow, ranked second in London and 59th nationally, with Camden School for Girls placing third in the capital at 84th nationally.<\/p>\n

In the independent sector, St Paul\u2019s School tops both the London and national tables, ranked number one in the country and named Independent Secondary School of the Year in London for Academic Excellence, closely followed by North London Collegiate School, ranked third nationally, and Godolphin and Latymer, which takes third place in London and fourth nationally.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a full list of the top schools in London.<\/p>\n

Top State Secondary Schools in London<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Queen Elizabeth\u2019s School, Barnet \u2013 Regional 1 \/ National 1 State Secondary School of the Year in London 2026 & Academic Excellence <\/li>\n
  2. St Olave\u2019s Grammar School, Orpington \u2013 Regional 2 \/ National 3 <\/li>\n
  3. The Tiffin Girls\u2019 School, Kingston upon Thames \u2013 Regional 3 \/ National 5 <\/li>\n
  4. The Henrietta Barnett School, London \u2013 Regional 4 \/ National 8 <\/li>\n
  5. Tiffin School, Kingston upon Thames \u2013 Regional 5 \/ National 11 <\/li>\n
  6. The Latymer School, London \u2013 Regional 6 \/ National 18 <\/li>\n
  7. Sutton Grammar School, Sutton \u2013 Regional 7 \/ National 21 <\/li>\n
  8. St Michael\u2019s RC Grammar School, Finchley \u2013 Regional 8 \/ National 22 <\/li>\n
  9. Wallington High School for Girls, Wallington \u2013 Regional 9 \/ National 24 <\/li>\n
  10. Wallington County Grammar School, Wallington \u2013 Regional 10 \/ National 30 <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Top Comprehensive Secondary Schools in London<\/strong><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. West London Free School, London \u2013 Regional 1 \/ National 44 Comprehensive School of the Year in London <\/li>\n
    2. JFS, Harrow \u2013 Regional 2 \/ National 59 <\/li>\n
    3. Camden School for Girls, London \u2013 Regional 3 \/ National 84 <\/li>\n
    4. The Charter School North Dulwich, London \u2013 Regional 4 \/ National 96 <\/li>\n
    5. The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School, London \u2013 Regional 5 \/ National 97 <\/li>\n
    6. Waldegrave School, Twickenham \u2013 Regional 6 \/ National 99 <\/li>\n
    7. Twyford CofE High School, London \u2013 Regional 7 \/ National 107 <\/li>\n
    8. Hasmonean High School for Girls, London \u2013 Regional 8 \/ National 108 <\/li>\n
    9. Mossbourne Community Academy, London \u2013 Regional 9 \/ National 113= <\/li>\n
    10. JCoss (Jewish Community Secondary School), London \u2013 Regional 10 \/ National 118 <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Top Independent Secondary Schools in London<\/strong><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. St Paul\u2019s School, London \u2013 Regional 1 \/ National 1 Independent Secondary School of the Year in London for Academic Excellence <\/li>\n
      2. North London Collegiate School, London \u2013 Regional 2 \/ National 3 <\/li>\n
      3. Godolphin and Latymer, London \u2013 Regional 3 \/ National 4 <\/li>\n
      4. St Paul\u2019s Girls\u2019 School, London \u2013 Regional 4 \/ National 6 <\/li>\n
      5. King’s College School, Wimbledon \u2013 Regional 5 \/ National 7 <\/li>\n
      6. Westminster School, London \u2013 Regional 6 \/ National 8 <\/li>\n
      7. City of London School for Girls, London \u2013 Regional 7 \/ National 9 <\/li>\n
      8. Latymer Upper School, London \u2013 Regional 8 \/ National 10 <\/li>\n
      9. Lady Eleanor Holles, London \u2013 Regional 9 \/ National 12 <\/li>\n
      10. Alleyn’s School, London \u2013 Regional 10 \/ National 13 <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Top Primary Schools in London<\/strong><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. Thomas Jones Primary School, Kensington and Chelsea \u2013 Regional 1 \/ National 1 Primary School of the Year in London <\/li>\n
        2. Hampden Gurney CofE Primary School, Westminster \u2013 Regional 2 \/ National 5 <\/li>\n
        3. St Andrew’s RC Primary School, Streatham, Lambeth \u2013 Regional 3 \/ National 6 <\/li>\n
        4. Courtland School, Barnet \u2013 Regional 4 \/ National 7 <\/li>\n
        5. Christ Church Bentinck CofE Primary School, Westminster \u2013 Regional 5 \/ National 8 <\/li>\n
        6. Cleves Primary School, East Ham, Newham \u2013 Regional 6 \/ National 11 <\/li>\n
        7. Merton Park Primary School, Merton \u2013 Regional 7 \/ National 13 <\/li>\n
        8. Hampstead Parochial CofE Primary School, Camden \u2013 Regional 8 \/ National 14= <\/li>\n
        9. Woodridge Primary School, Barnet \u2013 Regional 9 \/ National 16 <\/li>\n
        10. Fox Primary School, Kensington and Chelsea \u2013 Regional 10 \/ National 17 <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A north London state school has swept the board in this year\u2019s league tables, claiming the title of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":613412,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7757],"tags":[748,393,4884,257,25378,857,167653,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-613411","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-london","8":"tag-britain","9":"tag-england","10":"tag-great-britain","11":"tag-london","12":"tag-primary-schools","13":"tag-schools","14":"tag-secondary-schools","15":"tag-uk","16":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115665962638192223","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/613411","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=613411"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/613411\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/613412"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=613411"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=613411"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=613411"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}