The best state and grammar schools in the UK - 2026

Choosing the right school for your child is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a parent.

The school - and environment - in which children learn impacts both their academic and social development, as well as the likelihood of being accepted into various colleges and universities.

For example, a recent study by the Higher Education Policy Institute found that students who attended selective, state-funded, grammar schools were much more likely to go on to be accepted at top universities, including Oxford and Cambridge. The effect was especially true among students from low-income families.

To help parents with the decision, here’s a list of the top 100 state and grammar schools in the UK, updated for 2026 to include their most recent GCSE and A-level results, as well as which 11+ exam they accept.

Meanwhile, to help students attain the 11+ pass required by the UK’s top schools, we also offer a dedicated 11+ preparation course, taught by the UK’s top teachers and containing everything they’d need to achieve their full potential.

Top 100 state and grammar schools in the UK - 2026

Here is a list of the current top 100 state and grammar schools in the UK, according to GCSE and A-level pass rates.

Rank	School	Location	Gender	*A-levels (% A–B)**	GCSEs (% 9–7)	11+ exam type
1	Queen Elizabeth's School	London	Boys	97.60%	95.50%	GL Assessment
2	Wilson's School	London	Boys	95.40%	97.40%	Sutton Selective Eligibility Test
3	St Olave's Grammar School	London	Boys	95.10%	89.70%	School's own two-stage exam
4	Colchester Royal Grammar School	Essex	Boys	92.20%	90.20%	CSSE
5	The Tiffin Girls' School	London	Girls	90.70%	94.10%	GL Assessment (stage 1), school's own (stage 2)
6	Pate's Grammar School	Gloucestershire	Mixed	92.60%	90%	Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test
7	King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford	Essex	Boys	91.10%	87.50%	CSSE
8	The Henrietta Barnett School	London	Girls	86%	97.20%	GL Assessment (first stage), school's own (second stage)
9	Altrincham Grammar School for Girls	Greater Manchester	Girls	91.30%	86.10%	Trafford Consortium 11 Plus
10	Reading School	Berkshire	Boys	88.80%	88.90%	FSCE
11	Tiffin School	London	Boys	91.80%	79.80%	GL Assessment (stage 1), school's own (stage 2)
12	King Edward VI School, Stratford	Warwickshire	Boys	86%	90.70%	West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test
13	Nonsuch High School for Girls	London	Girls	89.20%	82.80%	Sutton Selective Eligibility Test
14	Tonbridge Grammar School	Kent	Girls	91.5%	77.60%	Kent Test
15	Dartford Grammar School	Kent	Boys	89.80%	80.70%	Kent Test
16	Chelmsford County High School for Girls	Essex	Girls	86.70%	87.00%	FSCE
17	King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys	Birmingham	Boys	86.80%	84.70%	West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test
18	The Latymer School	London	Mixed	85.70%	84%	GL Assessment and school's own
19	The Judd School	Kent	Boys	87.10%	81.10%	Kent Test
20	Colyton Grammar School	Devon	Mixed	87.10%	80.90%	FSCE
21	Sutton Grammar School	London	Boys	87.00%	81.10%	Sutton Selective Eligibility Test
22	St Michael's Catholic Grammar School	London	Girls	86.60%	80.60%	GL Assessment
23	Colchester County High School for Girls	Essex	Girls	83.70%	85.60%	CSSE
24	Wallington High School for Girls	London	Girls	84.30%	83.30%	Sutton Selective Eligibility Test
25	Dr Challoner's High School	Buckinghamshire	Girls	84%	82.90%	Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test
26	Stratford Girls' Grammar School	Warwickshire	Girls	81.60%	85.80%	West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test
27	Kendrick School	Berkshire	Girls	79%	89.80%	GL Assessment
28	Langley Grammar School	Berkshire	Mixed	85.20%	76.80%	76.20%
29	Wallington County Grammar School	London	Boys	87.00%	73.00%	Sutton Selective Eligibility Test
30	Strathearn School	Belfast	Girls	83.00%	78%	Schools' Entrance Assessment Group
31	Sir Thomas Rich's School	Gloucestershire	Boys	83.10%	78%	Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test
32	Altrincham Grammar School for Boys	Greater Manchester	Boys	82.20%	79.20%	Trafford Consortium 11 Plus
33	Newstead Wood School	London	Girls	77.30%	87.90%	GL Assessment
34	Rathmore Grammar School	Belfast	Mixed	86.30%	69.30%	Schools' Entrance Assessment Group
35	St Dominic's Grammar School for Girls	Belfast	Girls	85%	71.30%	Schools' Entrance Assessment Group
36	Woodford County High School	London	Girls	78%	85%	Redbridge 11 Plus
37	Sale Grammar School	Greater Manchester	Mixed	83.30%	74%	Trafford 11 Plus Consortium
38	Dr Challoner's Grammar School	Buckinghamshire	Boys	87.50%	64.80%	Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test
39	King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls	Birmingham	Girls	84.50%	71%	West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test
40	Bishop Vesey's Grammar School	West Midlands	Boys	80.60%	77.50%	West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test
41	Chesham Grammar School	Buckinghamshire	Mixed	85.70%	66.90%	Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test
42	The Liverpool Blue Coat School	Merseyside	Mixed	78.20%	81.60%	School's own
43	South Wilts Grammar School	Wiltshire	Girls	79.90%	78%	GL Assessment
44	Friends' School Lisburn	Belfast	Mixed	79.10%	78.20%	Schools' Entrance Assessment Group
45	The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe	Buckinghamshire	Boys	85.50%	65.40%	Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test
46	Our Lady and St Patrick's College, Knock	Belfast	Mixed	87.20%	61.60%	Schools' Entrance Assessment Group
47	Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls	West Midlands	Girls	76.50%	82.80%	West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test
48	Bexley Grammar School	London	Mixed	84.10%	67.30%	Bexley Selection Test
49	St Ambrose College	Greater Manchester	Boys	80%	74.60%	GL Assessment and school's own
50	Upton Court Grammar School	Slough	Mixed	76.20%	82.20%	Slough Consortium 11+
51	Lumen Christi College	County Londonderry	Mixed	79.90%	74.40%	Schools' Entrance Assessment Group
52	King Edward VI Five Ways School	Birmingham	Mixed	80%	74%	West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test
53	Royal Latin School	Buckingham	Mixed	83.20%	67.20%	Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test
54	Beaconsfield High School	Buckinghamshire	Girls	80.90%	71.20%	Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test
55	Westcliff High School for Girls	Essex	Girls	77.90%	74.90%	CSSE
56	Sir William Borlase's Grammar School	Buckinghamshire	Mixed	82.00%	66.00%	Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test
57	Loreto Grammar School	Greater Manchester	Girls	78.80%	71.20%	GL Assessment and school's own
58	Southend High School for Boys	Essex	Boys	79.80%	68.90%	CSSE
59	Sullivan Upper School	County Down	Mixed	80.90%	66.70%	Schools' Entrance Assessment Group
60	Wolverhampton Girls' High School	West Midlands	Girls	78.10%	72.30%	West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test
61	Banbridge Academy	Banbridge	Mixed	78%	72.20%	Schools' Entrance Assessment Group (SEAG)
62	St Louis Grammar School	County Antrim	Mixed	86%	56%	Schools' Entrance Assessment Group
63	Newport Girls' High School	Shropshire	Girls	75.40%	76.30%	West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test
64	Stroud High School	Gloucestershire	Girls	73.60%	79.60%	Gloucestershire Grammar Schools Entrance Test
65	Bishop Wordsworth's School	Wiltshire	Boys	80.40%	65.30%	GL Assessment
66	Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School	Belfast	Mixed	79.40%	66.30%	Schools' Entrance Assessment Group
67	Herschel Grammar School	Berkshire	Mixed	75.70%	73%	Slough Consortium 11 Plus
68	Ripon Grammar School	Ripon	Mixed	81.70%	59.60%	GL Assessment
69	The Rochester Grammar School	Kent	Girls	85.30%	52.00%	Medway Test
70	Aylesbury Grammar School	Buckinghamshire	Boys	76.00%	70.00%	Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test
71	Ballymena Academy	County Antrim	Mixed	81.80%	58%	Schools' Entrance Assessment Group
72	Southend High School for Girls	Essex	Girls	74.60%	70.20%	CSSE
73	Rainey Endowed School, Magherafelt	County Londonderry	Mixed	79.00%	61.10%	Schools' Entrance Assessment Group
74	Churston Ferrers Grammar School	Devon	Mixed	78.90%	60.90%	GL Assessment
75	Carrickfergus Grammar School	County Antrim	Mixed	80.90%	56.40%	Schools' Entrance Assessment Group
76	Invicta Grammar School	Kent	Girls	79.00%	59.80%	Kent Test
77	Tunbridge Wells Girls' Grammar School	Kent	Girls	75.10%	66.60%	Kent Test
78	Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School	London	Mixed	72.60%	71.50%	Bexley Selection Test
79	Townley Grammar School	London	Girls	72.90%	70%	Bexley Selection Test
80	Urmston Grammar School	Greater Manchester	Mixed	76%	62%	Trafford Consortium 11 Plus
81	Ilford County High School	Ilford	Boys	72.70%	68.20%	Redbridge 11 plus selection test
82	Rugby High School	Warwickshire	Girls	70.40%	72.80%	West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test
83	Heckmondwike Grammar School	West Yorkshire	Mixed	64.60%	83.50%	FSCE
84	St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School	Berkshire	Mixed	70.20%	72.00%	Slough Consortium 11 Plus
85	Dartford Grammar School for Girls	Kent	Girls	69%	75.50%	Kent Test
86	John Hampden Grammar School	Buckinghamshire	Boys	75.10%	62.10%	Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test
87	King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls	Birmingham	Girls	73%	65.90%	West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test
88	Down High School	Downpatrick	Mixed	80.20%	50.70%	Schools' Entrance Assessment Group (SEAG)
89	Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School	Aylesbury	Mixed	72.40%	65.80%	Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test
90	Lancaster Royal Grammar School	Lancashire	Boys	72.20%	65.20%	GL Assessment
91	Haberdashers' Adams	Shropshire	Boys	75%	59%	West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test
92	Aylesbury Grammar School	Aylesbury	Boys	70.70%	67.20%	Buckinghamshire Secondary Transfer Test
93	Lawrence Sheriff School	Warwickshire	Boys	70.30%	67.90%	West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test
94	Queen Mary’s Grammar School, Walsall	Walsall	Boys	70.10%	68.30%	West Midlands Grammar Schools Entrance Test
95	Dane Court Grammar School	Broadstairs	Mixed	80.90%	46.10%	The Kent Test
96	The Skinners’ School, Tunbridge Wells	Tunbridge Wells	Boys	73.70%	60.50%	The Kent Test
97	Lancaster Girls' Grammar School	Lancashire	Girls	68.80%	68.30%	GL Assessment
98	The King's School, Grantham	Lincolnshire	Boys	71.50%	62.60%	Lincolnshire Consortium of Grammar Schools 11 Plus
99	Methodist College Belfast	Belfast	Mixed	71.60%	61.80%	Schools' Entrance Assessment Group (SEAG)
100	Parkstone Grammar School	Poole	Girls	74.60%	55.50%	Dorset Consortium 11 plus exam

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The best state and grammar schools in the UK - 2026

Top 100 state and grammar schools in the UK - 2026

Get ahead this summer with the MyEdSpace Summer School