Practical guidance from the Leading Tuition team
Book a Free ConsultationEvery year, thousands of UK parents turn to grammar school league tables hoping to find a simple answer: which school will give my child the best chance? It's a reasonable instinct. GCSE results are publicly available, independently verified, and easy to compare at a glance. But league tables only tell part of the story — and misreading them can lead families to chase the wrong school for the wrong reasons. This guide unpacks the 2025 GCSE data for England's top grammar schools, explains what the numbers actually mean, and helps you ask better questions before making one of the most important decisions of your child's education.
The Department for Education (DfE) publishes school performance data each year through its Find and Compare Schools in England tool. For secondary schools, the two headline metrics are Attainment 8 and Progress 8.
Attainment 8 measures a pupil's average grade across eight GCSE subjects, including English, maths, three EBacc subjects (sciences, languages, humanities), and three further qualifications. The maximum score is 90. Grammar schools consistently score well above the national average of around 50.
Progress 8 measures how much progress pupils make between the end of primary school (Key Stage 2) and their GCSEs, compared to pupils nationally with the same prior attainment. A score of 0 means pupils progressed as expected. A positive score — common in grammar schools — means pupils outperformed similar peers. A negative score means the opposite. This metric is arguably more meaningful than raw grades, because it accounts for the fact that grammar schools select high-ability pupils to begin with.
It's also worth understanding the distinction between selective grammars and super-selective grammars. Most grammar schools admit pupils who pass the 11+ above a set threshold. Super-selective schools — such as King Edward's School Birmingham, Tiffin Boys', and Tiffin Girls' — admit only the very highest scorers, often drawing applicants from a wide geographic area. Their GCSE results tend to be exceptional, but this reflects the intake as much as the teaching.
The table below draws on 2024–25 DfE performance data and published school information. Percentage figures for grades 9–7 are approximate and rounded. Value-added scores are indicative based on available Progress 8 data.
| School Name | Location | Approx. % Grades 9–7 | Value-Added Score (approx.) | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tiffin School (Boys') | Kingston upon Thames, Surrey | 92% | +0.85 | Super-selective; national applicant pool; strong Oxbridge record |
| Tiffin Girls' School | Kingston upon Thames, Surrey | 91% | +0.82 | Super-selective; consistently top 5 nationally; broad sixth form offer |
| Wilson's School | Sutton, London | 89% | +0.79 | Super-selective boys' school; outstanding Progress 8; strong sciences |
| King Edward VI Five Ways | Birmingham, West Midlands | 87% | +0.74 | Part of the King Edward VI Foundation; highly competitive entry |
| Kendrick School | Reading, Berkshire | 86% | +0.71 | Girls' super-selective; strong STEM and arts provision |
| Reading School | Reading, Berkshire | 85% | +0.69 | Boys' grammar; one of England's oldest schools; strong EBacc performance |
| Wallington County Grammar | Sutton, London | 84% | +0.66 | Boys' grammar; strong value-added; popular with South London families |
| Aylesbury Grammar School | Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire | 82% | +0.63 | Boys' grammar in a fully selective county; large sixth form; broad curriculum |
| Dartford Grammar School | Dartford, Kent | 81% | +0.61 | Boys' grammar in Kent's selective system; strong Progress 8 relative to intake |
Note that Kent and Buckinghamshire operate fully selective county systems, meaning a higher proportion of pupils attend grammar schools there than in areas with just one or two selective schools. This affects how results should be interpreted across regions.
Grammar schools are not evenly distributed across England. They are concentrated in specific areas, and regional context matters when comparing schools.
London and the South East contain some of the highest-performing grammars in the country, including the Tiffin schools and Wilson's in the London Borough of Sutton. These schools draw applicants from across Greater London and beyond, making entry extremely competitive.
Berkshire is home to Kendrick and Reading School, both of which perform consistently in the national top 20. The area has a strong tradition of grammar school education and active local tuition networks.
Buckinghamshire is one of the few remaining fully selective counties. Schools like Aylesbury Grammar and Royal Latin School serve large catchment areas. Because the entire county is selective, the grammar school population here is broader than in areas where only a small percentage of pupils attend selective schools.
Kent also operates a fully selective system, with over 30 grammar schools. Dartford Grammar is among the stronger performers, though results vary considerably across the county.
The West Midlands is home to the prestigious King Edward VI Foundation schools in Birmingham, which are among the most academically demanding in England. Entry is highly competitive and the schools draw pupils from across the city and surrounding areas.
A school ranked 12th nationally may be a better fit for your child than one ranked 3rd. Here is what experienced parents and educators look at alongside the headline figures:
League table position does not predict whether a school will be the right environment for your child. A pupil who thrives in a supportive, well-rounded school will almost always outperform one who is anxious and unhappy in a higher-ranked institution.
Rather than treating league tables as a definitive ranking, use them as a starting point for a more structured comparison. Begin with the DfE's official performance tables at explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk, where you can filter by local authority, school type, and specific metrics including Progress 8, Attainment 8, and EBacc entry rates.
When comparing two schools in the same area, look at both Attainment 8 and Progress 8 together. If School A has a higher Attainment 8 but a lower Progress 8 than School B, it may simply be selecting higher-ability pupils rather than adding more value. For a child sitting near the top of the 11+ pass mark, School B might actually produce better outcomes.
Also consider the admissions criteria carefully. Some grammar schools give priority to siblings, looked-after children, or pupils within a defined catchment area. Others — particularly super-selectives — admit purely on 11+ score. Knowing this before you apply avoids wasted effort and disappointment.
If your child is currently in Year 5 or Year 6, preparation for the 11+ is the most practical step you can take right now. The exam typically covers verbal reasoning, non-verbal reasoning, mathematics, and English comprehension, with formats varying by region and exam board — GL Assessment is used in most areas, while CEM is used in others including parts of the Midlands and the North.
For families already in secondary school and looking to maximise GCSE outcomes at whichever grammar school their child attends, targeted subject support in Years 10 and 11 can make a significant difference, particularly in mathematics, sciences, and English literature. GCSE tuition can help pupils consolidate understanding and build exam technique across all major subjects.
Leading Tuition works with families across England preparing for both the 11+ and GCSE examinations, offering structured, personalised support tailored to each child's needs and target schools.
Which grammar school is the best in England?
There is no single answer. Schools like Tiffin Boys', Tiffin Girls', and Wilson's consistently appear at the top of national GCSE rankings, but "best" depends on your child's personality, learning style, and the subjects they want to study. A super-selective school with outstanding results may not be the right environment for every high-ability pupil. Use league table data as one input, not the final word.
How do I compare two grammar schools in the same area?
Start with the DfE's official performance tables and compare both Attainment 8 and Progress 8 scores side by side. A school with a higher Progress 8 is adding more value relative to its intake, which is often more meaningful than raw grade averages. Then visit both schools, speak to current parents if possible, and read the most recent Ofsted reports to get a fuller picture of culture and pastoral care.
Should I prioritise league table position or school culture?
For most families, school culture should carry at least as much weight as league table position. A child who feels safe, supported, and engaged will perform better academically than one who is anxious or socially isolated — regardless of where the school sits in a ranking. If two schools are close in performance data, culture, pastoral support, and extracurricular provision should be the deciding factors.
Where can I find official DfE data on grammar school performance?
The official source is the DfE's school performance tables, available at explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk. You can search by school name or local authority and filter results by school type, including selective schools. Ofsted inspection reports are published separately at reports.ofsted.gov.uk and provide qualitative insight that the performance data alone cannot offer.
Choosing a grammar school is a significant decision, and league tables are a useful tool — but only when read carefully and in context. The schools that top the rankings in 2025 share high expectations, strong teaching, and selective intakes, but the right school for your child is the one where they will be challenged, supported, and genuinely happy. Take the data seriously, but trust your instincts about fit just as much.
If you are preparing for the 11+ or looking to support your child through their GCSEs, you may find these pages helpful: 11+ tuition with Leading Tuition and GCSE tuition.
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