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The top private schools in the UK in 2025

By Atom | Dec 12, 2024, 3:00 PM

Group of British teenagers wearing white shirts and ties, walking outside and smiling at each other

Are you considering a private (independent) school for your child's secondary education?

There are around 1,500 private senior schools in the UK, including approximately 500 boarding schools. With plenty of choice for a high-quality education, it can be challenging to know where to begin your school search – but we're here to help.

Keep reading to find out more about:

  • The 100 highest-performing private schools in England in 2025

  • The difference between 'private' and 'public' schools

  • Fees and financial assistance at the top 10 senior schools

  • How to help your child prepare for entry to the nation's best private schools

What are private schools?

Private schools, known more commonly in the education industry as independent schools, are fee-paying. This means that unlike state schools (which are funded by the government and free to attend), you'll need to pay a fee directly to your child's school. Fees are normally paid three times a year, in termly instalments.

How do you apply to private schools?

Private schools are independent from the state. To apply for a place at a private school, you will need to register your child directly with the school's admissions team. If you are considering both private and state schools, you will need to apply for any state school places via your local authority's school application form.

Some private schools – particularly the top ones – are selective. Children applying for a place at these schools need to meet certain academic criteria, such as passing an entrance exam, to be considered.

The admissions timeline is different for every private school. If you are considering 11 plus entry into Year 7, most senior schools close their registration windows in October/November in Year 6 (although some have earlier deadlines, such as the summer term in Year 5). Most exams then take place in December or January.

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How much do private schools cost?

The fees for private senior schools can range between £4,000–£8,000 per term for day pupils, and up to approximately £15,000 per term for boarding pupils – although this can significantly vary between schools and regions. As these schools receive more private funding, they are usually able to offer better facilities and a wider range of extracurricular activities (e.g. in sports, creative arts and outdoor pursuits) for their students.

The majority of private schools in England are able to offer financial assistance. The most common type of assistance, known as a bursary, is means-tested and usually available to children who pass the entrance process and whose parents would not otherwise be able to afford the school fees. According to the Independent Schools Council (ISC), which represents over 1,300 of the best-ranked UK and international schools, a total of £464 million per year is currently offered in fee assistance in the form of bursaries and scholarships.

Why are private schools in England sometimes called public schools?

As the terms private and public have entirely opposite meanings, it can be confusing when you hear some private schools being referred to as ‘public schools’.

In the UK, ‘public school’ is an archaic term used for an elite group of fee-paying schools. The term first emerged in the 18th century when a small group of well-established boys’ schools distinguished themselves from the spread of grammar schools (which were free) by charging fees. These schools were Eton College, Shrewsbury School, Harrow School, Charterhouse School, Rugby School, Westminster School and Winchester College.

‘Public school’ is now considered an outdated term in the UK, with fee-paying schools now typically referred to as ‘private schools’ or 'independent schools’.

What is the average class size in UK private schools?

UK private schools are renowned for having smaller class sizes than their state school counterparts. While state schools will often have around 30-32 pupils in a class, private schools have a much lower pupil-to-teacher ratio.

In Key Stage 3 (Year 7 to 9), there are around 20 (normally no more than 25) pupils per class in UK private schools. As pupils move from year to year, class sizes tend to become smaller as a result of ‘streaming’ (setting classes based on academic ability) and more subject choices to choose from at GCSE and A level. Sixth form classes are typically much smaller, with around 8 to 15 students in a class.

The top 100 private schools in England in 2025

The list below ranks independent senior schools based on their A level results (or equivalent) and GCSE results in 2024.

Select filter

RankSchoolTownEntry genderA levels (% A*/B)GCSEs (% A*/A/9/87)
1St Paul's Girls' SchoolLondonGirls98.2%98.5%
2St Paul's SchoolLondonBoys98%97.5%
3Brighton CollegeBrightonCo-ed99.394.7
4King’s College School, WimbledonLondonBoys97.498.6
5Westminster SchoolLondonBoys96.898.7
6Godolphin and LatymerLondonGirls96.497.8
7North London Collegiate SchoolLondonGirls96.996.3
8Guildford High SchoolSurreyGirls98%97.2%
9City of London School for GirlsLondonGirls96.695.2
10King Edward VI High School for GirlsBirminghamGirls95.795.4
11Lady Eleanor HollesLondonGirls94.996.8
12Wycombe AbbeyHigh WycombeGirls94.797
13Highgate SchoolLondonBoys95.894.8
14Reigate Grammar SchoolReigateBoys96.890
15Hampton SchoolLondonBoys93.895.8
16Latymer Upper SchoolLondonCo-ed94.494.3
17South Hampstead High School GDSTLondonGirls94.293.2
18Haberdashers’ Girls’ SchoolElstreeGirls9689.5
19Magdalen College SchoolOxfordCo-ed94.991.5
20Putney High School GDSTLondonGirls93.992.7
21City of London SchoolLondonBoys94.691.2
22Queen Ethelburga’s CollegeYorkCo-ed96.786.9
23Notting Hill and Ealing High School GDSTLondonGirls94.790.7
24Eton CollegeWindsorBoys93.692.7
25 University College Senior SchoolLondonBoys93.392.9
26Withington Girls’ SchoolManchesterGirls92.993.6
27Alleyn's SchoolLondonCo-ed95.588
28Wimbledon High School GDSTLondonGirls9294.6
29Sevenoaks SchoolSevenoaksCo-ed96.186.4
30The Haberdashers’ Boys’ SchoolElstreeBoys9392.3
31Tonbridge SchoolTonbridgeBoys94.489.5
32 St Mary’s School AscotAscotGirls93.391.4
33Concord CollegeShrewsburyCo-ed94.289.1
34The Perse SchoolCambridgeCo-ed94.588.3
35James Allen’s Girls’ SchoolLondonGirls91.993
36Francis Holland School, Sloane SquareLondonGirls9488
37Cardiff Sixth Form CollegeCardiffCo-ed96.981.8
38Bancroft’sWoodford GreenCo-ed91.791.6
39Kingston Grammar SchoolKingston upon ThamesCo-ed94.684.1
40Winchester CollegeWinchesterBoys90.492.1
41Whitgift SchoolSouth CroydonBoys92.986.1
42 Royal Grammar School, GuildfordGuildfordBoys9385.5
43Francis Holland, Regent’s ParkLondonGirls9287
44King Edward’s School, BirminghamBirminghamBoys92.286
45Eltham CollegeLondonBoys91.287.9
46 City of London Freemen’s SchoolAshteadCo-ed91.985.8
47Emanuel SchoolLondonCo-ed9089.7
48St Helen and St KatharineAbingdonGirls91.785.7
49Benenden SchoolCranbrookGirls92.783.3
50Trinity School, CroydonCroydonBoys91.385.9
51Radley College AbingdonBoys91.785.1
52St John’s College, CardiffCardiffCo-ed94.579.3
53Merchant Taylors’ SchoolLondonBoys91.685
54Cheltenham Ladies’ College CheltenhamGirls91.185.8
55Caterham SchoolCaterhamCo-ed91.285.5
56Royal Grammar School, NewcastleNewcastle upon TyneCo-ed90.985.6
57St Albans SchoolSt AlbansBoys89.287.3
58Abingdon SchoolAbingdonBoys89.686.4
59Dulwich CollegeLondonBoys86.891.7
60St Swithun’s SchoolWinchesterGirls92.479.9
61The AbbeyReadingGirls87.489.1
62St Michael’s SchoolLlanelliCo-ed96.770.4
63The Cathedral School, LlandaffCardiffCo-ed95.971.5
64Channing SchoolLondonGirls88.885.3
65St Albans High School for GirlsSt AlbansGirls87.886.3
66Surbiton High SchoolKingston upon ThamesGirls85.191.3
67Oxford High School GDST OxfordGirls86.986.8
68Epsom CollegeEpsomCo-ed8882.8
69Nottingham High SchoolNottinghamCo-ed85.786.8
70Wellington CollegeCrowthorneCo-ed87.583.3
71Hurstpierpoint CollegeBurgess HillCo-ed8979
72St John’s School, LeatherheadLeatherheadCo-ed88.679.8
73St Mary’s CalneCalneGirls87.681.8
74Queen’s College, LondonLondonGirls92.172.1
75St Catherine’s, BramleyGuildfordGirls85.884.1
76The Manchester Grammar SchoolManchesterBoys85.185.1
77Headington Rye OxfordOxfordGirls87.279.8
78St Dunstan’s CollegeLondonCo-ed8877.7
79Colfe’s SchoolLondonCo-ed86.879.2
80Burgess Hill GirlsBurgess HillGirls92.667.5
81Birkenhead SchoolOxtonCo-ed84.284
82Churcher’s CollegePetersfieldCo-ed88.374.4
83Manchester High School for GirlsManchesterGirls85.878.8
84Westbourne SchoolPenarthCo-ed89.571.1
85Oundle SchoolPeterboroughCo-ed87.674.2
86Ardingly CollegeHaywards Heath Co-ed88.271.9
87King Edward’s School, BathBathCo-ed81.784.1
88St Helen’s School, NorthwoodLondonGirls82.881.5
89Walthamstow Hall Senior SchoolSevenoaksGirls86.474.4
90Reed’s SchoolCobhamBoys8675
91Leicester High School for GirlsLeicesterGirls83.280.6
92The LeysCambridgeCo-ed87.671.4
93HarrodianLondonCo-ed85.675.3
94Chigwell SchoolChigwellCo-ed8477.8
95Rodean SchoolBrightonGirls83.478.9
96Croydon High School GDST South CroydonGirls83.378.7
97The Yehudi Menuhin School CobhamCo-ed88.566.3
98 Blackheath High School GDSTLondonGirls8377
99The Maynard SchoolExeterGirls86.370
100Forest School LondonCo-ed82.477.6

Find a top private school near you

The top 10 private schools in detail

1. St Paul's Girls' School

St Pauls Girls School © spgs.org

St Paul’s Girls’ School, located in Hammersmith, West London, is often top of the list in The Sunday Times Parent Power’s top independent schools. The girls’ day school was founded in 1904 to complement St Paul’s School (the boys’ counterpart), which was founded in the 16th century.

Students are known as ‘Paulinas’. There are approximately 20 students per class in the Lower School at St Paul’s Girls’ School.

St Paul's Girls' School fees

The 2024–25 school fees at SPGS are £10,531 (excluding VAT) per term (or £11,322 for new Year 12 students). St Paul’s Girls’ School offers music scholarships for 11 plus applicants and has a means-tested bursary programme which may be available to families with a total gross household income of less than £140k.

How to apply to St Paul's Girls' School

2. St Paul's School

St Paul's School © stpaulsschool.org.uk

St Paul’s School is a boys’ independent day and boarding school located on a 43-acre site in Barnes, West London. It was founded in 1509 by John Colet, Dean of St Paul’s Cathedral. Boys at St Paul’s School are known as ‘Paulines’.

St Paul's School fees

The 2024–25 fees at St Paul's School range from £8,306–£10,390 per term for day pupils, and £15,636 for boarders. Bursaries between 20% and 100% may be available for families whose combined household income is less than £126,000. St Paul’s School also offers academic scholarships of a small financial value and music scholarships, which include free tuition on up to two instruments.

How to apply to St Paul's School

3=. Brighton College

Brighton College © brightoncollege.org.uk

Brighton College is a prestigious co-educational day and boarding school located in Brighton, East Sussex. Founded in 1845, it has a long-standing reputation for academic excellence and innovation, making it one of the top independent schools in the UK.

Brighton College fees

The current fees at Brighton College are £7,720 per term for pupils in Year 7, and £8,400 per term for pupils in Year 8. Brighton College offers a range of scholarships and bursaries to support eligible families. These include academic, music, and sports scholarships, as well as means-tested bursaries that can cover up to 100% of tuition fees.

How to apply to Brighton College

3=. King's College School Wimbledon

King's College School Wimbledon © kcs.org.uk

King’s College School Wimbledon is a prestigious boys’ day school situated on the edge of Wimbledon Common in South West London. Girls are accepted into the sixth form. The school was founded by royal charter in 1829 as the junior department of King’s College London on the Strand, before moving to Wimbledon in 1897.

King's College School Wimbledon fees

The current fees at KCS Wimbledon are £8,545 per term for boys in Years 7 and 8, and £9,360 for students in Year 9 and above. King’s College School Wimbledon offers entrance bursaries of up to 100% tuition fees to eligible families as well as academic, music and sports scholarships.

How to apply to KCS Wimbledon

5. Westminster School

Westminster School © tatler.com

Westminster School is an independent day and boarding school for boys (and girls in the sixth form) located in Little Dean’s Yard in the precincts of Westminster Abbey, City of Westminster. About half of the students go on to Oxbridge, giving Westminster School the highest national Oxbridge acceptance rate. Class sizes at Westminster School rarely exceed 22.

Westminster School fees

The 2023–24 fees at Westminster School range from £14,749 to £15,894 per term for day pupils, and £20,995 per term for boarding pupils. A bursary programme is in place, with approximately £1.4m of support available to pupils across the Under School (prep) and Great School (senior). Academic and music scholarships are also available.

How to apply to Westminster School

6. Godolphin and Latymer

Godolphin and Latymer © godolphinandlatymer.com

Godolphin and Latymer School is an independent day school for girls, located in Hammersmith, West London. Established in 1905, the school has a longstanding reputation for academic excellence and offers a broad curriculum, including both A-levels and the International Baccalaureate (IB) in the Sixth Form.

Godolphin and Latymer School fees

As of January 2025, the termly tuition fee at Godolphin and Latymer School is £9,218. The school provides means-tested bursaries ranging from 10% to 100% of tuition fees to eligible families. Additionally, Music scholarships are available at 11+ and 16+ entry, and Art scholarships at 16+ entry, offering up to 30% of school fees.

How to apply to Godolphin & Latymer School

7. North London Collegiate School

North London Collegiate School © tatler.com

North London Collegiate School is an independent day school for girls aged 4–18. It was founded in 1850 by Frances Buss – a pioneer in girls’ education – as the first girls’ school in the UK to offer girls the same educational opportunities as boys. It occupies a Georgian mansion on a 30-acre site in Edgware, North West London.

North London Collegiate School fees

The 2024–25 fees at North London Collegiate School are £7,465 per term. Means-tested bursaries of up to 100% fee remission are available for 11 plus and 16 plus candidates. Music scholarships (known as Handel Music Scholarships) provide an annual financial award that is equivalent to the cost of individual music lessons in two instruments (worth approximately £2,050).

How to apply to North London Collegiate School

8. Guildford High School

Guildford High School © bellsure.co.uk

Founded in 1888, Guildford High School offers an independent day education to approximately 1,000 girls aged 4-18. The Sunday Times named it the ‘South East Independent Secondary School of the Decade’ in 2021.

Guildford High School fees

Guildford High School’s fees for 2024–25 are £8,329 per term. The school offers a sibling discount of 5% (and 10% for subsequent daughters) and means-tested bursaries to eligible families. Academic and music scholarships are also available based on assessment and can be worth up to 5% off the school fees.

How to apply to Guildford High School

9. City of London School for Girls

City of London School for Girls © tatler.com

City of London School for Girls is an independent day school for girls aged 7–18 in the heart of Central London. The school describes itself as 'intellectually edgy, unassuming and unpretentious'. A unique coaching programme supports girls to become confident young women by developing inner strength, social and emotional intelligence, positivity and integrity.

City of London School for Girls fees

The 2023–24 fees at City of London School for Girls are £7,926 per term. A capped number of means-tested bursaries (usually 12–15 at 11+ entry) is available. The school also offers 11+ music scholarships (worth up to £1,500 per year) and 16+ music, drama, art and sport scholarships.

How to apply to City of London School for Girls

10. King Edward VI High School for Girls, Birmingham

Students walking and talking outside the main entrance building at King Edward VI High School for Girls (c) kehs.org.uk

King Edward VI High School for Girls is an independent day school in Edgbaston for girls aged 11–18. It's one of the country's leading girls' schools with a longstanding reputation for academic achievement. The Sunday Times recently rated the school number one in the West Midlands.

King Edward VI High School for Girls fees

The fees at King Edward VI High School for Girls in 2023–24 are £5,538 per term. Means-tested assisted places are available for children applying for entry at 11+ and 16+. These are offered on a sliding scale, where families with an income of below £20,000 pay no fees and some level of assistance is available for families with an income of up to £72,000. The school also offers academic and music scholarships which usually represent a fee reduction of 5–10%.

How to apply to KEVI High School for Girls

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