Top London Prep Schools / Secondary Schools

Find the lists of top London secondary schools and top London Prep Schools below.

Top London secondary schools Guide

      *  *  CONTENT last updated October 2021   *  *

This year, London represented 86 of the top 500 state secondaries and 65 of the best independent schools.

Top of the London Schools Tables

 St Paul’s Girls’ School has topped the Sunday Times independent school rankings for nine years straight. 

Similarly, Barnet’s highly selective boys’ grammar Queen Elizabeth’s topped the state secondary school rankings. It has been at the top for 5/7 years, with an average 98.8% A-level pass rate of at grades A*-B.

Such single-sex schools provide parents with an alternative – given that most UK schools are co-educational. This year the Sunday TImes also awarded:

• Boys’ grammar Wilson’s School, based in Wallington (South London) the award of London State Secondary School of the Decade.
• The Sunday Times’ London Independent School of the Decade award went to the co-educational, north London Highgate School.

Over the last three years, London’s Academy of Excellence Tottenham (Sunday Times’ Sixth Form College of the Year) has gone from strength to strength. Now,  one in five of ts 2019 leavers achieved AAB or better at A-level in two or more “facilitating” subjects.

top London secondary schools and top London Prep Schools

London Independent Secondary School of the Decade

…is Highgate School:

• Highgate raises money for hardship funds and laptops for schools that can’t afford them.
• Few independent schools can match Highgate’s efforts by staff and former students to promote social mobility through education. 
• Eighty of Highgate’s teachers contribute to its Chrysalis programme, introduced in 2008. Last year alone, they gave timetabled classes and ran events in 51 participating schools for more than 3,500 children.

Top state secondary schools in London

1. Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet
2. Wilson’s School, Wallington
3. The Henrietta Barnett School, Hampstead
4. The Tiffin Girls’ School, Kingston upon Thames
5. St Olave’s Grammar School, Orpington
6. Tiffin School
7. Sutton Grammar School
8. Nonsuch High School for Girls, Cheam
9. The Latymer School, Edmonton
10. St Michael’s RC Grammar School, Finchley
11. Newstead Wood School, Orpington
12. Wallington County Grammar School
13. Wallington High School for Girls
14. Woodford County High School
15. Camden School for Girls
16. JCoSS (Jewish Community Secondary School)
17. Townley Grammar School, Bexleyheath
18. JFS, Harrow
19. Twyford C of E High School, Acton
20. Hasmonean High School for Boys, Hendon
21. Ilford County High School
22. The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School
23. Waldegrave School, Twickenham
24. Hasmonean High School for Girls, Mill Hill
25. Bexley Grammar School, Welling
26. The Charter School, Herne Hill
27. The St Marylebone C of E School
28. The London Oratory School, Fulham
29. Fortismere School, Muswell Hill
30.  Alexandra Park School, Haringey

top London secondary schools and top London Prep Schools

Top independent secondary schools in London

1. St Paul’s Girls’ School, Hammersmith
2. The Godolphin and Latymer School, Hammersmith
3. King’s College School, Wimbledon
4. St Paul’s School, Barnes
5. Westminster School
6. City of London School
7. North London Collegiate, Edgware
8. Hampton School
9. University College School, Hampstead
10. City of London School For Girls, Barbican
11. Highgate School
12. South Hampstead High School GDST
13. Latymer Upper School, Hammersmith
14. James Allen’s Girls’ School, Dulwich
15. Eltham College, Mottingham
16. Lady Eleanor Holles School, Hampton
17. Wimbledon High School GDST
18. Whitgift School, South Croydon
19. Channing School, Highgate
20. Putney High School GDST
21. Alleyn’s School, Dulwich
22. Trinity School, Croydon
23. Notting Hill and Ealing High School GDST
24. Dulwich College
25. Bancroft’s School, Woodford Green
26. Kingston Grammar School
27. Sydenham High School GDST
28. Ibstock Place School, Roehampton
29. Surbiton High School, Kingston upon Thames
30. Hampton Court House, East Molesey

top London secondary schools and top London Prep Schools

London values education more than anything so one will find an abundant supply of top-grade private primary schools here. It is quite important to understand that in London, the co-ed form of education is not prominent compared to other cities or even countries. Here, the education system is primarily based on providing education to one group of single-gender at one time. Boys schools and girls schools are quite evident here and if your child is a boy, then there is a 99% chance that he will be going to an all-boys school only.

Below is a list of some of the best primary schools (private) in London:

North London Collegiate school:

First, we have the North London Collegiate school which was established in 1850 and is still one of the best performing schools in England. Some of the greatest minds in the country attended this school. Being located in Harrow, UK, it gets students from all around the country and is considered as an education-focused institution, which commits to building students from the ground to successful human beings. This is a girl school and most girls in harrow have either some connection with this school or studied there.

London’s King’s College School:

The second one on our list is King’s College School which is world-renowned and is located in Wimbledon. Post its foundation in the year 1829, it declared itself as an independent school that will not be involved with any foreign governance. The school offers a brilliant faculty with a peaceful environment that is ideal for educating children and building a strong foundation. The school has been there teaching students for a considerable period of time, so if someone is planning to admit their child to one of the finest schools in England, then this might just get the job done.

top London secondary schools and top London Prep Schools

City of London school for girls:

By the name, one will be able to understand that this school has been built for taking in guys primarily. The school is one of the finest independent schools in the UK and has been there for more than 50 years. It was founded in 1894 by William Ward and is being funded by the City’s cash. The school was primarily a part of Freeman’s School in London but later established itself as a separate entity. With free registration, the school offers the contemporary version of the syllabus that will equip children with the highest amount of knowledge and offers behavioral programs well to make the students disciplined.

South Hamstead highs school:

In the North-Western part of England lies the South Hamstead school, which is one of the best independent bodies out there for acquiring top-class education. The school is developed by the Girl’s Day School Trust and is operating under the leadership of Victoria Bingham. It houses more than 900 students and has the facility for focusing on all the individual needs of the children. The staff of this school understand the importance of education and tries to keep a learning atmosphere all around the campus.

Read more on Primary school league tables 2021 and also our Private School league tables 2020.

Here’s our Top Scottish schools 2021. Then next our Best West Midlands schools 2021 and our good East Anglis schools 2021.

And then next are our Best North East schools 2021. Next our Top Schools South East 2021 and top schools East Midlands 2021.

Then next our Best Northern schools 2021 and then finally, Good schools Northern Ireland league table 2021.

top London secondary schools and top London Prep Schools