Top 50 Grammar Schools in UK 2026 — At a Glance
The top 50 grammar schools in UK 2026 — average academic performance, regional breakdown and exam board distribution. All data is based on the latest GCSE 9-7 and A-Level A*-B results for state grammar schools across England and Northern Ireland.
| Rank | School | Region | Gender | 11+ Exam | GCSE 9-7 | A-Level A*-B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet | London | Boys | GL Assessment | 95.5% | 97.6% |
| #2 | Wilson’s School | London | Boys | GL Assessment | 97.4% | 95.4% |
| #3 | St Olave’s Grammar School | London | Boys | GL Assessment | 89.7% | 95.1% |
| #4 | Colchester Royal Grammar School | Essex | Boys (Mixed 6th) | CSSE Essex | 88.4% | 95.5% |
| #5 | The Tiffin Girls’ School | London | Girls | GL Assessment | 95.7% | 89.9% |
| #6 | Pate’s Grammar School | Gloucestershire | Mixed | GL Assessment | 90.0% | 92.6% |
| #7 | King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford | Essex | Boys (Mixed 6th) | CSSE Essex | 87.5% | 91.1% |
| #8 | The Henrietta Barnett School | London | Girls | GL Assessment | 97.2% | 86.0% |
| #9 | Altrincham Grammar School for Girls | Greater Manchester & Trafford | Girls | GL Assessment | 86.1% | 91.3% |
| #10 | Reading School | Berkshire | Boys | GL Assessment | 88.9% | 88.8% |
| #11 | Tiffin School | London | Boys | GL Assessment | 79.8% | 91.8% |
| #12 | King Edward VI School, Stratford | Warwickshire | Mixed | GL Assessment | 90.7% | 86.0% |
| #13 | Nonsuch High School for Girls | London | Girls | GL Assessment | 82.8% | 89.2% |
| #14 | Tonbridge Grammar School | Kent | Girls (Mixed 6th) | GL Assessment | 77.6% | 91.5% |
| #15 | Dartford Grammar School | Kent | Boys | GL Assessment | 80.7% | 89.8% |
| #16 | Chelmsford County High School for Girls | Essex | Girls | CSSE Essex | 87.0% | 86.7% |
| #17 | King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls | Birmingham & West Midlands | Girls | GL Assessment | 84.7% | 86.8% |
| #18 | The Latymer School | London | Mixed | GL Assessment | 84.1% | 85.7% |
| #19 | The Judd School | Kent | Boys | GL Assessment | 81.1% | 87.1% |
| #20 | Colyton Grammar School | Devon & Torbay | Mixed | CEM | 80.9% | 87.1% |
| #21 | Sutton Grammar School | London | Boys | GL Assessment | 81.1% | 87.0% |
| #22 | St Michael’s RC Grammar School, Finchley | London | Girls | GL Assessment | 80.6% | 86.6% |
| #23 | Colchester County High School for Girls | Essex | Girls | CSSE Essex | 85.6% | 83.7% |
| #24 | Wallington High School for Girls | London | Girls | GL Assessment | 83.3% | 84.3% |
| #25 | Dr Challoner’s High School | Buckinghamshire | Girls | GL Assessment | 82.9% | 84.2% |
| #26 | Dame Alice Owen’s School | Hertfordshire | Mixed | GL Assessment | 72.1% | 89.1% |
| #27 | Stratford Girls’ Grammar School | Birmingham & West Midlands | Girls | GL Assessment | 85.8% | 81.6% |
| #28 | Kendrick School | Berkshire | Girls | GL Assessment | 89.8% | 79.2% |
| #29 | Langley Grammar School | Slough | Mixed | GL Assessment | 77.0% | 85.0% |
| #30 | Wallington County Grammar School | London | Boys | GL Assessment | 73.0% | 87.0% |
| #31 | Strathearn School | Northern Ireland | Girls | SEAG | 78.4% | 83.0% |
| #32 | Sir Thomas Rich’s School | Gloucestershire | Boys | GL Assessment | 77.9% | 83.1% |
| #33 | Altrincham Grammar School for Boys | Greater Manchester & Trafford | Boys | GL Assessment | 79.2% | 82.2% |
| #34 | Newstead Wood School | London | Girls | GL Assessment | 87.9% | 77.3% |
| #35 | Rathmore Grammar School | Northern Ireland | Mixed | SEAG | 69.3% | 86.3% |
| #36 | St Dominic’s Grammar School | Northern Ireland | Girls | SEAG | 71.3% | 85.3% |
| #37 | Woodford County High School | London | Girls | GL Assessment | 85.0% | 78.0% |
| #38 | Sale Grammar School | Greater Manchester & Trafford | Mixed | GL Assessment | 73.7% | 83.3% |
| #39 | Dr Challoner’s Grammar School | Buckinghamshire | Boys | GL Assessment | 64.8% | 87.5% |
| #40 | King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys | Birmingham & West Midlands | Boys | GL Assessment | 70.6% | 84.5% |
| #41 | Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School | Birmingham & West Midlands | Boys | GL Assessment | 77.5% | 80.6% |
| #42 | Chesham Grammar School | Buckinghamshire | Mixed | GL Assessment | 66.9% | 85.7% |
| #43 | The Blue Coat School, Liverpool | Independent / Other | Mixed | GL Assessment | 81.6% | 78.2% |
| #44 | West London Free School | London | Mixed | Free School test | 63.1% | 87.4% |
| #45 | South Wilts Grammar School | Wiltshire | Girls | GL Assessment | 78.0% | 79.9% |
| #46 | Friends’ School Lisburn | Northern Ireland | Mixed | SEAG | 78.2% | 79.1% |
| #47 | The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe | Buckinghamshire | Boys | GL Assessment | 65.4% | 85.5% |
| #48 | Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock | Northern Ireland | Mixed | SEAG | 61.6% | 87.2% |
| #49 | Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls | Birmingham & West Midlands | Girls | GL Assessment | 82.8% | 76.5% |
| #50 | Bexley Grammar School | Bexley | Mixed | GL Assessment | 67.3% | 84.1% |
Preparing for the 11+? Get the Right Practice Papers
Aiming for one of these schools? Success comes down to preparing for the right 11+ test. Find your target school’s exam below and practise with papers that match it — each with full worked solutions.
GL Assessment
Used across much of England and Northern Ireland, including many London grammar schools.
GL practice papers →CSSE & Independent
Essex (CSSE) and selective independent schools set their own papers.
Independent 11+ papers →SEAG (Northern Ireland)
Every Northern Ireland grammar school uses the SEAG Transfer Test.
SEAG practice papers →What Makes the Best Grammar Schools in the UK?
The best UK grammar schools share several characteristics — not just exam results, but the breadth of opportunity, pastoral support, and university destinations. Our rankings draw on:
GCSE 9-7 Performance
The percentage of grades at 9-7 (formerly A*/A) is the single strongest indicator of academic outcomes at Key Stage 4. The top grammar schools in UK regularly achieve 80-95% of grades at 9-7 — against a national average of around 27%.
A-Level A*-B Rate
Sixth-form outcomes matter as much as GCSEs. The best grammar schools in the UK deliver A-Level A*-B rates above 85%, fuelling strong destinations at Russell Group and Oxbridge universities.
Entrance Test & Selectivity
All UK grammar schools admit on the basis of an 11+ entrance exam (or SEAG Transfer Test in Northern Ireland). Schools with the highest qualifying marks — some London consortiums require near-perfect scores — tend to occupy the very top of the rankings.
History & Foundation
Many of the best UK grammar schools were founded by royal charter centuries ago — from Reading School (1125) to King Edward VI Birmingham (1552). Long traditions translate into established academic cultures and strong alumni networks.
University Destinations
Where pupils go after Sixth Form is the ultimate measure. Top UK grammar schools regularly send 20-40% of leavers to Russell Group universities, with multiple Oxbridge offers each year.
Access & Diversity
The best grammar schools in the UK are increasingly prioritising Pupil Premium and Free School Meals applicants — Birmingham's King Edward VI Foundation, for example, reserves 20% of places for FSM pupils.
Top 50 Grammar Schools — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the UK grammar school rankings, entry and how to prepare for 2026.
What are the top 50 grammar schools in the UK?
This table ranks the top 50 grammar schools in the UK for 2026 by GCSE 9–7 and A‑Level A*–B results. The current top three are Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet, Wilson’s School, St Olave’s Grammar School. Every school links to a full admissions guide.
How is this grammar school ranking compiled?
It draws on The Times Parent Power Top 100 alongside the latest published GCSE 9–7 and A‑Level A*–B results, giving a reliable view of selective performance.
Which is the best grammar school in the UK?
Queen Elizabeth’s School, Barnet currently tops the 2026 ranking, with around 95.5% of GCSE entries at 9–7 and 97.6% at A‑Level A*–B.
Are these grammar schools state-funded or private?
Most are state-funded grammar schools that select by ability through the 11+ and charge no fees. A small number of high-performing selective independent schools also feature where their results and entry are comparable.
How do I prepare for the 11+ to get into a top grammar school?
Register for your area’s 11+ before the deadline and prepare across English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning. Our practice papers match each board — GL Assessment, CEM, Independent and SEAG.
Where can I see more grammar schools?
See our other ranked lists — Top 10, Top 100, Top 200 and the full A–Z database — of 576 selective schools across England and Northern Ireland.