A grammar school education is such an attractive option that many families in the UK will willingly move to a grammar school area. The combination of being free yet highly selective and high-attaining makes this type of schooling very appealing. But where are the 10 best grammar schools in the UK in 2022? Read on to find out where to look and where’s best to live nearby.
What is a grammar school?
Grammar schools are a tiny minority of state schools in the UK – less than 1% according to the National Grammar Schools Association (NGSA). They are selective, and require all students applying for a place to complete the ‘11+’ examination and undergo one or several interviews. However, education at a grammar school is free, and almost all of them are among the top-performing schools in the UK.
This means that competition for grammar school places is fierce. Every year, hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren take the 11+, hoping to get a place in one of the UK’s 163 grammar schools.
10 best grammar schools in the UK and where to live nearby
The following list shows the 10 best grammar schools in the UK. This is according to the 2022 Top 50 League Table from Think Academy – a specialist UK education platform.
The schools’ rankings are not purely based on their attainment level of the top GCSE grades in 2021. The league table uses another metric – ‘Progress 8′. This measures the overall progress of the school’s pupils between Year 6 and Year 11. Effectively this measures their attainment across 8 subjects/qualifications. To put it in perspective, the national average is 0. Accordingly, any score higher than 0.5 is considered a signal of exceptional schoolwide performance.
*Please note that in 2021, students did not sit public examinations due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Grades were awarded by teachers according to strictly controlled internal assessment criteria. However, the rankings below also consider pre-pandemic grades, for a more rounded picture.
1: Kendrick School
Location: Berkshire
2021 GSCE Grade Percentage at 8/9: 79.30%
Progress 8: 1.29
Overview: Top of the table, Kendrick School in Reading, Berkshire is the UK’s leading grammar school. With consistently ‘outstanding’ Ofsted ratings, the highest tracked Progress 8 score and an impressive alumnae list a mile long, this school is the most impressive feather in the county’s educational cap.
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2: The Tiffin Girls’ School
Location: Kingston-Upon Thames
2021 GSCE Grade Percentage at 8/9: 81.73%
Progress 8: 1.2
Overview: London is home to many of the best grammar schools in the country, and The Tiffin Girls’ School is no exception. Boasting exceptional exam results and general progression every academic year, it also provides a highly creative learning environment. The school is a great incubator of artistic talent in its students, as well as sporting prowess.
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3: Woodford County High School
Location: Redbridge
2021 GSCE Grade Percentage at 8/9: Unpublished in 2022
Progress 8: 1.17
Overview: Another Greater London school hits the top three. Woodford County High School may not have published its 2021 scores for GCSE 8/9, but its reputation for combining academic excellence with community spirit and fostering intellectual curiosity is as strong as ever.
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4: Wilson’s School
Location: Sutton
2021 GSCE Grade Percentage at 8/9: 72.70%
Progress 8: 1.12
Overview: Wilson’s School is one of the fastest climbers in the grammar school league tables. This is thanks to its stellar reputation for sport combined with excellent academic progression rates overall. Located in Sutton, the school features an exceptional, modern and well-resourced campus.
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5: Dr Challoner’s High School for Girls
Location: Buckinghamshire
2021 GSCE Grade Percentage at 8/9: 60%
Progress 8: 1.09
Overview: This Buckinghamshire grammar school gets its name from Dr Challoner, D.D, Canon of Windsor and Rector of Amersham from 1578 to 1621. It aims to provide its students with the right environment to let them be bold, joyful and intellectually ambitious. Performing strongly across sports, the arts and academe, Dr Challoner’s High School for Girls is a consistently top-level UK grammar school.
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6: Dartford Grammar School for Girls
Location: Kent
2021 GSCE Grade Percentage at 8/9: 48%
Progress 8: 1.09
Overview: This girls’ grammar school (with a co-ed sixth form) is one of the top-performing schools in the whole of Kent. Balancing academic excellence with strong extracurricular opportunities, it’s a huge draw for families both in Kent and Greater London.
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7: Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet
Location: Barnet
2021 GSCE Grade Percentage at 8/9: 79.73%
Progress 8: 1.08
Overview: Founded in 1573 by royal charter, Queen Elizabeth’s School has a long and storied history. Besides its grand old buildings and impressive interiors, the school is forward thinking too. It’s described as providing an “exceptional and rounded education” by the Good Schools Guide, and The Sunday Times recently voted it the State School of the Year.
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8: Wallington High School for Girls
Location: Sutton
2021 GSCE Grade Percentage at 8/9: Unpublished in 2022
Progress 8: 1.07
Overview: Another Sutton-based grammar with an excellent record and bright future, Wallington High is an all-girls school with excellent all-around education provision. It also has an impeccable sports pedigree, with heavy investment in top-notch facilities and coaching resources.
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9: Nonsuch High School for Girls
Location: Sutton
2021 GSCE Grade Percentage at 8/9: 66.80%
Progress 8: 1.04
Overview: This is the third entry of this list that’s located in Sutton, highlighting the incredible grammar school coverage of this London borough. Created on the park overlooking the very site where Henry VIII placed his fantastical palace of ‘Nonsuch’, the school is very much built on firmer foundations. It’s currently within the top 2% of the nation’s schools for student progress levels, and has an outstanding record for sending students on to the world’s best universities for medicine, engineering and other fields.
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10: Highworth Grammar School
Location: Kent
2021 GSCE Grade Percentage at 8/9: 40%
Progress 8: 1.04
Overview: For the final entry on the list, it’s back to Kent we go. Highworth is a school in Ashford catering to around 1500 students per year. Alongside academic excellence, the school focuses on the provision of holistic pastoral care as part of a happy, healthy and supportive learning environment.
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Quick Questions asked about Grammar Schools
Where are the best grammar schools in England?
The best grammar schools in England are spread across London, the Home Counties, Kent and Manchester. If you really want to go down the grammar school route, it’s worth checking out all of the country’s ‘grammar school areas’ to see what might be the best fit.
Are grammar schools better than public schools?
Grammar schools are not necessarily better or worse than public schools. There are plenty of examples where one type outperforms the other on key metrics. Generally, grammar schools achieve excellent academic results, often beating public schools. Crucially, grammar schools are free, whereas public schools are fee-paying institutions.
Are grammar schools hard to get into?
Grammar schools are often very difficult to get into. They are oversubscribed because of their high popularity and non-fee-paying status. The ‘11+’ examination is a very challenging entry exam as well. It’s designed to help grammar schools find the best and most suitable candidates for places.
What percentage of children go to grammar school?
About 5% of all secondary-aged schoolchildren in England attend grammar school. Over 100,000 pupils take the 11+ each year, on average.
Do you have to pay for grammar school UK?
You do not have to pay to attend grammar school in the UK. This is a big part of the reason why they are so popular. Millions of parents want to send their children to schools that are high-achieving but without having to pay fees.
If this has sparked your interest in the grammar school system, then click on any of the schools to review their admissions processes. We also have articles on HomeViews highlighting the best private and non-grammar state schools in the country.
Read more
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