England’s highest performing secondary schools of the most recent GCSE exam season have been named.
The government’s preliminary performance figures for state-funded secondary schools were released in December, after the release of these official league tables was initially delayed, due to what the government described as “quality issues”.
Among a handful of other available metrics, the government rates secondary schools based on their ‘Progress 8’ scores for the recently-ended 2023/24 school year. This is a unique figure based on GCSE results and other student achievements, which helps to determine how quickly students at any particular school are learning and progressing compared to peers from similar primary schools nationwide.
Any score above 0 is positive, while any above 0.5 is considered ‘well above average’ - the highest band available. All of the schools to make the top 20 this year had truly exceptional scores, the highest in the country. All schools on the list also had an overall Ofsted rating of ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ before this measure was recently dropped. This means that the quality of education provided, student behaviour and attitudes, school leadership and management, and student safeguarding were all found to either meet or exceed government standards last time the school was inspected.
Here are England’s top 20 secondary schools for 2025, based on GCSE performance from the last school year.

17. Altrincham Grammar School for Boys
This is a boys’ grammar school in Altrincham, Greater Manchester. It is selective, meaning students must get through a competitive admission process to enrol. It was formerly rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. In the 2023/24 school year, it also had a ‘well above average’ Progress 8 Score of 1.32. | Google

18. Ealing Fields High School
This is a secondary school and sixth form in Ealing, West London. It was formerly rated ‘good’ overall by Ofsted. In the 2023/24 school year, it had a ‘well above average’ Progress 8 Score of 1.31. | Google

19. Wilson's School
Wilson’s is an Anglican boys’ grammar school in the Sutton borough, South London. It is selective, meaning students must get through a competitive admission process to enrol. It was formerly rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. In the 2023/24 school year, it had a ‘well above average’ Progress 8 Score of 1.27. | Google

20. St Olave's Grammar School
Rounding out the top 20 is St Olave’s, another Anglican boys’ grammar school, in Orpington, Southeast London. It is selective, meaning students must get through a competitive admission process to enrol, and was formerly rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted. In the 2023/24 school year, it too had a ‘well above average’ Progress 8 Score of 1.27. | Google