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Parent Power 2026: Sunday Times Names UK’s Top Schools and Regional Winners

Rankings draw on summer 2025 exam results and provide a searchable database of more than 2,000 schools for parents.

Overview

  • Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet is crowned UK State Secondary School of the Year and tops the national state table on 2025 GCSE and A‑level performance.
  • Thomas Jones Primary School in London is named Primary School of the Year after a steep rise in the national rankings.
  • Dame Alice Owen’s School in Potters Bar is recognised as the leading comprehensive, and St Paul’s School is highlighted at the top of the independent sector.
  • Regional standouts include Ripon Grammar School in the North, St Leonard’s RC School in Durham in the North East, King Edward VI School in Stratford-upon-Avon in the West Midlands, and Reading School for academic excellence in the South East.
  • The 33rd edition sets tables by top-grade outcomes at GCSE and A‑level for secondaries and KS2 for primaries, with editors noting budget constraints, rising mental health needs and SEND pressures shaping school performance.