The best schools in Surrey in 2026

Thinking about secondary schools in Surrey? Even though it’s a small county, there’s still plenty of choice with around 200 schools to explore.

Here’s a quick look at the top-ranked private and state schools in Surrey for 2026 — including exam results, fees, and how to apply.

Top 10 private schools in Surrey

Around one in five children in Surrey attend an independent (private) school.

1. Guildford High School

Guildford High School is an all-through school for girls aged 4–18 in Guildford, Surrey. The school is ranked 5th out of all independent schools in the UK. The Times named it Independent Secondary School of the Year in the Southeast 2026.

Key information for Guildford High School

• Number of pupils: 1,000+
• National league table rank: 5
• Fees (2025–2026): £8,663 per term
• 2025 A level results: 97.3% A*–B
• 2025 GCSE results: 96.7% 9–7
• Entry points: 4+, 7+, 11+, 16+

2. RGS Guildford

The Royal Grammar School (RGS Guildford) is an all-boys school founded in 1509. The school is consistently ranked one of the best private schools in the country and is well known for its academic excellence. Students leave RGS for top universities, with around 300 offers from Oxford and Cambridge in the last 10 years.

Key information for RGS Guildford

• Number of pupils: 1,300+
• National league table rank: 22
• Fees (2025–2026): £8,790 per term
• 2025 A level results: 95.2% A*–B
• 2025 GCSE results: 88.6% 9–7
• Entry points: 11+, 13+, 16+

3. Reigate Grammar School

Reigate Grammar School is a co-educational day school in Reigate for children aged 11–18. Nearly 200 extracurricular activities take place each week and the school performs particularly well in competitive sport.

Key information for Reigate Grammar School

• Number of pupils: 1,100+
• National league table rank: 29
• Fees (2025–2026): £9,265–£9,515 per term
• 2025 A level results: 93.9% A*–B
• 2025 GCSE results: 89.7% 9–7
• Entry points: 11+, 13+, 16+

4. Caterham School

Caterham School is a co-ed day and boarding school for ages 11–18, located on a 200-acre campus in the Surrey Hills. It received the National Children's Bureau Wellbeing Award in 2022.

Key information for Caterham School

• Number of pupils: approx. 1,000
• National league table rank: 38
• Fees (2025–2026): £9,210–£9,650 per term (day fees), £12,475–£20,145 per term (boarding fees)
• 2025 A level results: 91.4% A*–B
• 2025 GCSE results: 91.5% 9–7
• Entry points: 11+, 13+ (deferred entry), 16+

5. Epsom College

Epsom College is a co-educational day and boarding school for children aged 11–18. It sits on a large 72-acre site, 15 miles from Central London.

The school is the leading sporting school in the region, with over 30 sports and physical activities available. The Week magazine has praised Epsom College as the best in the UK for the breadth of its co-curricular programme.

Key information for Epsom College

• Number of pupils: 1,100+
• National league table rank: 52
• Fees (2025–2026): £9,727–£12,472 per term (day fees), £16,708–£18,864 per term (boarding fees)
• 2025 A level results: 90.6% A*–B
• 2025 GCSE results: 87.1% A*/A/9/8/7
• Entry points: 11+, 13+, 16+

6. City of London Freemen's School

City of London Freemen's School is a co-ed school for children aged 7–18 in Ashtead. It was founded in Brixton, London in 1854 and is one of three schools owned by the City of London Corporation. Students at Freemen's benefit from links with Livery Companies, Guilds and The City, including events, awards and career guidance.

Key information for City of London Freemen's School

• Number of pupils: approx. 950
• National league table rank: 57
• Fees (2025–2026): £8,392–£10,596 per term (day fees), £16,355–£18,645 per term (boarding fees)
• 2025 A level results: 92.2% A*–B
• 2025 GCSE results: 81.5% 9–7
• Entry points: 7+, 11+, 13+, 16+

7. St Catherine's, Bramley

St Catherine’s School (St Cat’s) is a private day and boarding school for girls aged 11–18. The school sits on a 25-acre campus in the Surrey Hills, just 3 miles from Guildford.

St Cat's provides an all-round 21st century education to develop sensible, caring and competent young women. Students consistently achieve outstanding exam results and go on to study at global universities.

Key information for St Catherine's, Bramley

• Number of pupils: 750+
• National league table rank: 64
• Fees (2025–2026): £9,180 per term (day fees), £15,770 per term (boarding fees)
• 2025 A level results: 90.8% A*–B
• 2025 GCSE results: 79.6% 9–7
• Entry points: 11+, 16+

8. Sir William Perkins's School

Sir William Perkins's School is a day school for girls aged 11–18. It sits on a 13-acre site in Chertsey. From 2026, boys will be accepted into the school.

The school has one of the country's most successful rowing teams, with students competing in the National Schools' Regatta, Henley Women's Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta.

Key information for Sir William Perkins's School

• Number of pupils: 500+
• National league table rank: 68
• Fees (2025–2026): £8,755 per term
• 2025 A level results: 86.1% A*–B
• 2025 GCSE results: 85% 9–7
• Entry points: 11+, 13+, 16+

9. Woldingham School

Woldingham School is a day and boarding school for girls. It's one of the largest girls' schools in the country, occupying a 700-acre site just outside the village of Woldingham. Clapham Junction is just 25 minutes by train, and Gatwick Airport a 30-minute drive away.

There are more than 100 clubs and activities to choose from at Woldingham School. Sport, music and drama are all strong.

Key information for Woldingham School

• Number of pupils: 500+
• National league table rank: 93
• Fees (2025–2026): £9,926–£11,726 per term (day fees), £15,422–£19,838 per term (boarding fees)
• 2025 A level results: 88.8% A*–B
• 2025 GCSE results: 70.4% 9–7
• Entry points: 11+, 13+, 16+

10. Reed's School

Reed's School is a day and boarding school in Cobham for boys aged 11–18 with a co-ed sixth form. Boys are regularly successful in national and county cricket, hockey and rugby, with plenty more opportunities in the creative arts. Approximately 15% of students take up boarding places.

Key information for Reed's School

• Number of pupils: 800+
• National league table rank: 101
• Fees (2025–2026): £9,265–£11,195 per term (day fees), £12,480–£14,595 per term (boarding fees)
• 2025 A level results: 85% A*–B
• 2025 GCSE results: 75% A*/A/9/8/7

How to apply to a private school

If you’re considering a private school in Surrey, you’ll need to register with each school you’re applying to. Most senior schools close registration in the autumn term of Year 6 for both 11+ and 13+ entry. When you submit the form, you’ll usually pay a registration fee of around £100–£200.

Many of Surrey’s top private schools are selective, so your child will need to take an entrance exam. The format varies by school. Some of the most well-used exam boards include:

• Quest Admissions
• ISEB Common Pre-Test
• CAT4
• Cambridge Select Insight
• GL Assessment

Some schools also set their own exams. These often cover English (such as reading comprehension and/or creative writing) and maths.

Top 10 state schools in Surrey

There are 86 state secondary schools in Surrey. Nonsuch High School for Girls is a grammar school which borders London and Surrey. However, there are no other academically-selective state schools in Surrey. The closest local grammar schools are in the London boroughs of Kingston-upon-Thames and Sutton, and in Berkshire and Kent.

1. Nonsuch High School for Girls

Nonsuch High School for Girls is a girls' grammar school in Sutton, on the border of Surrey and London. It opened in 1938 and is located on the edge of Nonsuch Park on a 22-acre site.

The school specialises in science and languages and became a member of the Girls' Learning Trust in 2015. A broad curriculum and plenty of enrichment opportunities develop students into global citizens.

Key information for Nonsuch High School for Girls

• Number of pupils: approx. 1,500
• National league table rank: 13
• 2025 A level results: 89.2% A*–B
• 2025 GCSE results: 82.8% 9–7
• Entry points: 11+, 16+
• 11+ exam: Sutton Selective Eligibility Test and second stage exam

2. St Andrew's Catholic School

St Andrew's Catholic School is a mixed comprehensive school in Leatherhead.

The school aims to help everyone in its community grow in faith, make the most of their innate ability, and recognise that making mistakes and taking risks are both part of learning.

Key information for St Andrew's Catholic School

• Number of pupils: 1,500+
• National league table rank: 81
• 2025 A level results: 82.4% A*–B
• 2025 GCSE results: 52.5% 9–7
• Entry points: 11+, 16+

3. Salesian School

Salesian School is a large co-educational Catholic school and sixth form in Chertsey. The school's mission is characterised by the philosophy of the Salesian founder, St John Bosco. Children are encouraged to form good relationships and become confident and capable.

Key information for Salesian School

• Number of pupils: 1,800+
• National league table rank: 133
• 2025 A level results: 75% A*–B
• 2025 GCSE results: 48% 9–7
• Entry points: 11+, 16+

4. Rosebery School

Rosebery School is a girls' comprehensive school in Epsom. The school aims to provide a calm, happy and purposeful environment based on a culture of mutual respect. Students are taught skills in leadership and teamwork to help them uncover new talents. There are plenty of extracurricular activities, including cheerleading which is extremely popular among students.

Key information for Rosebery School

• Number of pupils: 1,400+
• National league table rank: 152
• 2025 A level results: 70.7% A*–B
• 2025 GCSE results: 52% A*/A/9/8/7
• Entry points: 11+, 16+

5. St Peter's Catholic School

St Peter's Catholic School provides a Catholic education to children aged 11–18 in Guildford and is rated 'outstanding' by Ofsted. St Peter's's ethos is based on strong relationships, high expectations, and emotional and spiritual health.

Key information for St Peter's Catholic School

• Number of pupils: 1,300+
• National league table rank: 157
• 2025 A level results: 72.1% A*–B
• 2025 GCSE results: 46.2% 9–7
• Entry points: 11+, 16+

6. Gordon's School

Gordon's School is a comprehensive school for boys and girls aged 11 to 18 in Woking. It was founded at the request of Queen Victoria in 1885 as a national memorial to General Gordon. While not a military school, Gordon's is proud of its unique ceremonial heritage.

Unusually for a state school, Gordon's School offers boarding places. Means-tested financial assistance is available for boarding fees.

Key information for Gordon's School

• Number of pupils: approx. 1,000
• National league table rank: 159
• 2025 A level results: 70.1% A*–B
• 2025 GCSE results: 49.8% 9–7
• Entry points: 11+, 16+

7. St John the Baptist School

St John the Baptist School (SJB) is a Catholic school for boys and girls aged 11–18 in Woking. It was the first school nationally to be recognised as 'transforming' under the SSATs Framework for Exceptional Education. SJB is also an Apple Distinguished School for its use of technology in teaching and learning.

Key information for St John the Baptist School

• Number of pupils: 1,500+
• National league table rank: 163
• 2025 A level results: 73.6% A*–B
• 2025 GCSE results: 40.7% 9–7
• Entry points: 11+, 16+

8. Hinchley Wood School

Hinchley Wood School is a mixed academy in Esher, on the border of southwest London. The school's core values are enthusiasm, determination, confidence, independence, consideration and respect. Importance is placed on recognising and rewarding individual achievement. Many students gain recognition locally and nationally in the arts and sports.

Key information for Hinchley Wood School

• Number of pupils: 1,350+
• National league table rank: 194
• 2025 A level results: 63.4% A*–B
• 2025 GCSE results: 52.1% 9–7
• Entry points: 11+, 16+

9. St Paul's RC College

St Paul’s Catholic College is a co-educational 11–18 state school and sixth form in Sunbury-on-Thames. It’s built around its motto “Achieving excellence, learning to serve,” offering a caring and supportive community, strong teaching, and a broad curriculum. Many students stay on into the Sixth Form, where they benefit from academic courses alongside enrichment – from leadership and mentoring to creative and applied options.

Key information for St Paul's RC College

• Number of pupils: 1,350+
• National league table rank: 200
• 2025 A level results: 65.8% A*–B
• 2025 GCSE results: 45.6% 9–7
• Entry points: 11+, 16+

10. Howard of Effingham School

Howard of Effingham School ('The Howard') is a mixed secondary school near Leatherhead. Students at The Howard are taught skills to thrive in modern society, including academic and emotional resilience.

The school has won a collection of awards. These include the Artsmark Gold Award, Outstanding School or College (Careers Excellence Awards 2019) and Wellbeing Award for Schools.

Key information for Howard of Effingham School

• Number of pupils: 1,500+
• National league table rank: 207
• 2025 A level results: 67.8% A*–B
• 2025 GCSE results: 38.7% A*/A/9/8/7
• Entry points: 11+, 16+

How to apply to a state school

State schools are funded by the government, so there are no fees. With the exception of Nonsuch High School for Girls, Surrey doesn’t have academically selective state schools, so your child won’t need to sit a test to get a place.

However, many of the top non-selective schools have priority criteria. This might include faith, staff children, or living in a catchment area. If this applies to your child, you may need to complete a Supplementary Information Form (SIF), available on the school’s website.

To apply, list the school on your Common Application Form (CAF) and submit it to your local authority by the 31st October in Year 6. You’ll receive your offer on the 1st March (National Offer Day).