What are the Best Grammar Schools in the UK in 2026
Every parent wants their child to feel supported and confident at school, but finding the right fit isn’t always straightforward. Choosing a grammar school involves weighing up many factors, from location and academic performance to your child’s individual strengths and needs. For some families, a grammar school will be the right environment; for others, a high-performing comprehensive or specialist school may be a better fit.
To help you begin your research, we’ve brought together lists of high-performing grammar schools using nationally recognised data sources. While these rankings can be a helpful starting point, it’s worth remembering that every child is different, and the “right” school will look different for every family.
Overall Top 5 Grammar Schools in the UK in 2026
Based on the most recently published GCSE and A-Level performance data (2024-25) from the Times League Tables for 2026, the following grammar schools are most consistently ranked among the highest performers in the UK. These schools are identified using aggregated exam results, including the proportion of top GCSE grades and strong A-Level outcomes, and are drawn from nationally recognised performance tables:
Top Grammar Schools by GCSE Performance
According to recent league tables based on 2024–2025 GCSE exam results, the following grammar schools are consistently among the highest-performing state schools in the UK based on GCSE results. These figures are drawn from aggregated league lists that use the latest published exam performance data. Percentages are rounded and based on published league table summaries:
1. Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet (~96% of grades 7-9)
2. The Henrietta Barnett School, London (~96% of grades 7-9)
3. St Olave’s Grammar School, Orpington (~95% of grades 7-9)
4. Wilson’s School, Wallington (~94% of grades 7-9)
5. Pate’s Grammar School, Cheltenham (~92–90% of grades 7-9)
A-Level Performance: Where Grammar Schools Excel
Some league tables report that grammar schools overall have a very high proportion of A–B A-level grades compared to comprehensive schools. This could be because grammar schools have selective entry based on 11 plus exam results and often set higher academic goals for their students. Based on national league tables and published A-Level performance data (2024-25), these schools perform strongly:
It’s worth remembering that strong A-Level results can also be found in many high-performing comprehensive and sixth form colleges across the UK, so exam data should always be viewed alongside the wider school environment.
Top Value-Added Grammar Schools
When comparing grammar schools, many parents focus on headline exam results, but value-added measures can offer a different perspective. This data looks at how much a school helps pupils make progress compared with national expectations. According to The Good Schools Guide, which examined England’s Progress 8 value-added data from Key Stage 2 to GCSE, several grammar schools stand out:
St Olave’s Grammar School, Orpington (with notably high Progress 8 scores)
These value-added insights can be particularly helpful for parents who want to understand not just where pupils finish, but how much support and progress they make along the way.
Top Regional Grammar Schools
Discover the top grammar schools near you:
Best Grammar Schools in Greater London
In Greater London, national and regional league tables consistently highlight several high-performing grammar schools based on combined GCSE and A-Level results. These include The Henrietta Barnett School (Hampstead), Queen Elizabeth’s School (Barnet) and The Tiffin Girls’ School (Kingston-upon-Thames). All of these schools are featured near the top of the Times League Tables for 2026 selective school rankings, offering parents multiple strong options to consider.
Best Grammar Schools in the South East of England
According to the Financial Times, the South East as a whole frequently ranks near the top of national performance charts alongside London through combined state and grammar data.
In the South East region, the Times League Tables for 2026 identify several top performers. Reading School is recognised as a leading selective state secondary, while other grammar schools such as Dartford Grammar School and Tonbridge Grammar School regularly appear in national rankings of high-performing schools. These schools are all known for strong examination outcomes relative to their peers in the South East.
Best Grammar Schools in North West England
For North West England, regional league table summaries show that several grammar schools stand out based on recent exam results. Altrincham Grammar School for Girls is often ranked as the top state secondary in the North West, with Altrincham Grammar for Boys, Sale Grammar School, Loreto Grammar School and St Ambrose College also featured prominently in the Times League Tables for 2026. These schools provide a range of academically strong grammar options in the North West.
Best Grammar Schools in Yorkshire and the Humber
In Yorkshire and the Humber, several grammar schools feature highly in regional rankings. Ripon Grammar School frequently leads in national league summaries for the North, while Heckmondwike Grammar School has been recognised as “Secondary School of the Year” for the North of England by the Times League Tables for 2026.
Best Grammar Schools in the East of England
In the East of England (often reported as East Anglia in league analyses), Colchester Royal Grammar School is regularly identified as the region’s top state secondary in the Times League Tables for 2026. Other high-performing grammar schools in the region include King Edward VI Grammar School and Chelmsford County High School for Girls, giving parents multiple well-recognised options to explore.
Best Grammar Schools in the West Midlands
The West Midlands has strong grammar representation in the Times League Tables for 2026, with schools such as King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls, King Edward VI School and Stratford Girls’ Grammar School appearing near the top of the regional state secondary league tables. These schools are known for academic consistency relative to other schools in the region.
Best Grammar Schools in the East Midlands
Across the East Midlands, various grammar schools are highlighted in league tables for their exceptional performance. Caistor Grammar School and Bourne Grammar School are among those noted in the national Times League Tables for 2026. Other strong local schools like The King’s School, Grantham, often rank highly on combined results boards. These schools offer parents several distinguished grammar options within the area.
Best Grammar Schools in South West England
In South West England, league summaries and regional rankings identify Pate’s Grammar School in Cheltenham as a standout in national comparisons. Other grammar schools in the South West that often show strong results include Colyton Grammar School in Devon and Devonport High School for Girls, which appear in broader national selective school listings. These schools provide well-regarded choices for families researching selective education in the South West.
Best Grammar Schools in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland has a long tradition of academically selective state grammar schooling, and recent league tables show several schools performing strongly on both GCSE and A-Level outcomes. According to rankings published in the Times League Tables for 2026, schools frequently highlighted for high academic results include:
Friends’ School, Lisburn (often recognised as Secondary School of the Year in Northern Ireland)
Strathearn School, Belfast
St Dominic’s Grammar School for Girls, Ballymena
Lumen Christi College in Derry
These schools appear in regional performance lists based on aggregated GCSE and A-Level data, offering parents several strong options across Northern Ireland.
Are There Grammar Schools in Scotland and Wales?
According to the National Grammar Schools Association and official education definitions, there are no state-funded selective grammar schools in either Scotland or Wales. Schools that carry the “grammar” name in these nations do not select pupils based on entrance exams and are part of the comprehensive system. Instead, secondary education in Scotland and Wales is delivered through a broad set of comprehensive state schools. These schools use national qualification systems (e.g. Highers in Scotland and GCSEs/A-Levels in Wales) that do not involve academic selection at age 11.
Are Grammar Schools the Right Choice for Every Child?
Grammar schools offer an academically selective environment, which can suit children who thrive in fast-paced, exam-focused settings. However, they are not the right choice for every pupil. Many comprehensive and non-selective schools across the UK achieve excellent academic outcomes whilst offering more subjects, vocational routes, and different learning environments. When comparing options, it’s helpful to consider your child’s learning style, confidence, interests and wellbeing - not just exam statistics.
Choosing a Grammar School for a Child With SEN
If your child has special educational needs (SEN), choosing a grammar school often comes down to understanding how well that environment will suit them on a day-to-day basis. Because grammar schools are academically selective, support for SEN is usually delivered through adjustments and access arrangements rather than changes to the curriculum itself. This can include help from a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo), agreed classroom strategies, and exam access arrangements such as extra time or rest breaks. Because grammar schools usually have fewer pupils with SEN overall, the level of support can differ from school to school. For parents, it’s a good idea to read each school’s SEN policy, look at their most recent Ofsted report, and speak directly with the school about your child’s specific needs to see whether the support offered is the right fit.
How to Use Official Performance Tables to Compare Schools
If you’re trying to compare grammar schools objectively, the government’s School Performance Tables are one of the most reliable places to start. Published on GOV.UK, these tables let you search for individual schools and compare them using consistent national data. You can easily find GCSE results (such as Progress 8 and Attainment 8 scores), A-Level outcomes, and student destinations after Year 11 and Year 13. Rather than relying on headlines alone, it’s helpful to look at trends over time and consider how results sit alongside factors such as cohort size and local context. Used this way, official performance tables can give you a clearer, data-based picture to support your decision-making.
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GL, CEM Select, CSSE, Sutton SET, London Consortium, Future Stories, SEAG Transfer Test
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