The Best Boys' Secondary State Schools in the UK 2025: Rankings, Results, Ofsted Ratings & Admissions Guide

Introduction

The UK boasts a remarkable selection of boys' secondary state schools, offering high-quality education and academic excellence. With a strong emphasis on achievement, discipline, and holistic development, these schools play a crucial role in shaping future leaders. In this article, we explore the rankings, attainment scores, Ofsted ratings, and key insights from 143 boys' secondary state schools across the country.

 

Rank School Name Local Authority Grade 5 or above in English and Maths Attainment 8 Score Ofsted Rating Latest Ofsted Report Admissions
1 Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet Barnet 100 86.6 Outstanding 17-05-2022 Selective
2 St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School Bromley 100 85.8 Outstanding 06-03-2014 Selective
3 Wilson's School Sutton 99.5 85.6 Outstanding 28-09-2022 Selective
4 Colchester Royal Grammar School Essex 100 83.4 Serious Weaknesses 13-05-2021 Selective
5 King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys Birmingham 100 83.3 Outstanding 22-11-2023 Selective
6 Sutton Grammar School Sutton 100 82.6 Good 22-06-2022 Selective
7 King Edward VI School Warwickshire 100 81.7 Outstanding 30-11-2021 Selective
8 Reading School Reading 100 81.1 Outstanding 21-11-2023 Selective
9 Altrincham Grammar School for Boys Trafford 99.5 79.9 Outstanding 27-09-2022 Selective
10 Tiffin School Kingston upon Thames 98.9 79.2 Good 24-05-2022 Selective
11 Dartford Grammar School Kent 98.4 78.4 Outstanding 06-12-2022 Selective
12 The Judd School Kent 97.4 78.4 Outstanding 06-05-2015 Selective
13 Wallington County Grammar School Sutton 98 77.7 Outstanding 16-11-2022 Selective
14 Dr Challoner's Grammar School Buckinghamshire 99.5 77.5 Outstanding 05-11-2019 Selective
15 Ilford County High School Redbridge 99.4 77.4 Good 21-09-2021 Selective
16 Westcliff High School for Boys Academy Southend-on-Sea 98.3 77.3 Outstanding 21-11-2023 Selective
17 Lawrence Sheriff School Warwickshire 99.2 77.1 Outstanding 29-03-2022 Selective
18 Sir Thomas Rich's School Gloucestershire 98.7 76.9 Good 06-10-2021 Selective
19 Bishop Vesey's Grammar School Birmingham 98.4 75.7 Outstanding 30-04-2024 Selective
20 Aylesbury Grammar School Buckinghamshire 97.8 75.7 Outstanding 02-11-2022 Selective
21 The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe Buckinghamshire 98.5 75.1 Good 09-10-2019 Selective
22 Queen Mary's Grammar School Walsall 97.3 74.3 Outstanding 28-03-2023 Selective
23 The Skinners' School Kent 98.7 74.1 Good 16-11-2021 Selective
24 Southend High School for Boys Southend-on-Sea 98.3 73.9 Outstanding 12-06-2024 Selective
25 Saint Ambrose College Trafford 96.6 73.7 Good 18-02-2020 Selective
26 Bournemouth School Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 95.6 73.3 Outstanding 27-02-2024 Selective
27 John Hampden Grammar School Buckinghamshire 94.5 73.2 Outstanding 14-09-2022 Selective
28 Bishop Wordsworth's Church of England Grammar School Wiltshire 95.5 72.3 Outstanding 15-11-2022 Selective
29 King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys Birmingham 93.3 72 Good 16-04-2024 Selective
30 Beths Grammar School Bexley 96.3 72 Good 04-05-2022 Selective
31 Marling School Gloucestershire 98.1 71.3 Outstanding 12-11-2013 Selective
32 Poole Grammar School Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 95.6 71 Good 27-03-2024 Selective
33 The King's School, Grantham Lincolnshire 96.5 70.7 Good 13-12-2022 Selective
34 Sir Joseph Williamson's Mathematical School Medway 97.5 70.3 Outstanding 21-03-2023 Selective
35 King Edward VI Aston School Birmingham 96.4 69.3 Outstanding 10-05-2022 Selective
36 Devonport High School for Boys Plymouth 95.5 68.9 Good 17-10-2023 Selective
37 The Cardinal Vaughan Memorial RC School Kensington and Chelsea 85.5 67.4 Outstanding 16-11-2021 Non-selective
38 Torquay Boys' Grammar School Torbay 89.1 66.9 Good 22-09-2021 Selective
39 Maidstone Grammar School Kent 88.4 66.6 Good 15-01-2019 Selective
40 Wilmington Grammar School for Boys Kent 92.6 66.5 Good 14-03-2023 Selective
41 Watford Grammar School for Boys Hertfordshire 84.7 66.5 Outstanding 13-10-2021 Non-selective
42 Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys Kent 91.9 66 Outstanding 13-11-2013 Selective
43 Ermysted's Grammar School North Yorkshire 85.8 65.8 Good 28-09-2022 Selective
44 Wirral Grammar School for Boys Wirral 93.6 65.7 Good 08-11-2022 Selective
45 Oakwood Park Grammar School Kent 95.5 64.9 Good 02-05-2024 Selective
46 Calday Grange Grammar School Wirral 91 64.7 Good 26-09-2019 Selective
47 Tunbridge Wells Grammar School for Boys Kent 88.1 64.2 Good 25-11-2021 Selective
48 The Norton Knatchbull School Kent 85.9 64.2 Good 13-12-2023 Selective
49 Gunnersbury Catholic School Hounslow 81.4 63.7 Outstanding 17-01-2023 Non-selective
50 Eden Boys' School, Birmingham Birmingham 81.7 63.7 Outstanding 22-05-2018 Non-selective
51 Gravesend Grammar School Kent 89.2 63.2 Outstanding 25-06-2015 Selective
52 Finchley Catholic High School Barnet 77.4 63.2 Good 27-09-2023 Non-selective
53 Borden Grammar School Kent 85.4 63.1 Good 24-11-2021 Selective
54 The Harvey Grammar School Kent 85.6 62.9 Outstanding 14-12-2022 Selective
55 The London Oratory School Hammersmith and Fulham 75.3 62.5 Outstanding 13-09-2022 Non-selective
56 Tauheedul Islam Boys' High School Blackburn with Darwen 84.7 62.3 Outstanding 05-03-2024 Non-selective
57 The Fulham Boys School Hammersmith and Fulham 73 62 Good 11-10-2022 Non-selective
58 Northampton School for Boys West Northamptonshire 79.5 61.6 Outstanding 12-11-2014 Non-selective
59 The St Thomas the Apostle College Southwark 72 60.5 Outstanding 20-11-2018 Non-selective
60 Holcombe Grammar School Medway 86.1 59.9 Good 13-03-2024 Selective
61 Spalding Grammar School Lincolnshire 75.8 59.8 Good 06-02-2024 Selective
62 Dover Grammar School for Boys Kent 79.5 59.1 Good 16-10-2019 Selective
63 Hasmonean High School for Boys Barnet 75.8 59 Good 07-11-2023 Non-selective
64 Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Birmingham East Birmingham 75.6 58.9 Outstanding 18-01-2023 Non-selective
65 Richard Challoner School Kingston upon Thames 81.7 58.8 Outstanding 22-11-2022 Non-selective
66 St Ignatius College Enfield 68 57.9 Good 06-11-2019 Non-selective
67 Beechen Cliff School Bath and North East Somerset 68.5 57.1 Good 21-09-2023 Non-selective
68 Wimbledon College Merton 64.9 56.8 Good 22-03-2023 Non-selective
69 Hitchin Boys' School Hertfordshire 64.9 56.3 Outstanding 22-09-2021 Non-selective
70 The Bishop's Stortford High School Hertfordshire 68.5 56.1 Outstanding 25-05-2023 Non-selective
71 Glyn School Surrey 64.1 56.1 Outstanding 12-09-2023 Non-selective
72 Langley Park School for Boys Bromley 70.3 56 Good 05-03-2019 Non-selective
73 Winton Academy Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 74.2 55.8 Outstanding 15-05-2024 Non-selective
74 St Anselm's College Wirral 71.6 55.6 Good 03-07-2019 Selective
75 Eden Boys' School, Preston Lancashire 74.6 55.6 Outstanding 16-05-2024 Non-selective
76 Harris Boys' Academy East Dulwich Southwark 52.1 55.4 Outstanding 28-11-2023 Non-selective
77 The Campion School Havering 64.4 55.3 Good 25-11-2021 Non-selective
78 Rutlish School Merton 62.4 55.2 Outstanding 27-04-2022 Non-selective
79 The John Fisher School Sutton 64.7 55 Good 21-06-2023 Non-selective
80 Central Foundation Boys' School Islington 61.6 54.9 Outstanding 03-02-2015 Non-selective
81 Salvatorian Roman Catholic College Harrow 61.7 54.2 Good 23-02-2022 Non-selective
82 Richard Hale School Hertfordshire 66.3 53.8 Good 09-07-2024 Non-selective
83 Hutton Church of England Grammar School Lancashire 64.3 53.4 Good 11-05-2022 Non-selective
84 St Bonaventure's RC School Newham 62.2 53.4 Outstanding 29-11-2022 Non-selective
85 Coombe Boys' School Kingston upon Thames 64.8 53.3 Good 13-09-2023 Non-selective
86 Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Manchester Manchester 62.9 53.1 Good 23-11-2021 Non-selective
87 Marylebone Boys' School Westminster 56 52.4 Good 16-11-2022 Non-selective
88 Norlington School and 6th Form Waltham Forest 59.3 52.3 Good 30-11-2023 Non-selective
89 Verulam School Hertfordshire 56.9 51.8 Good 22-05-2024 Non-selective
90 St Aidan's Catholic Academy Sunderland 54.9 51.5 Good 08-06-2023 Non-selective
91 Madani Boys School Leicester 58.3 51.5 Good 06-03-2019 Non-selective
92 Eden Boys' Leadership Academy, Bradford Bradford 62.8 51.3 Outstanding 27-02-2024 Non-selective
93 The Boston Grammar School Lincolnshire 62.2 51.3 Good 05-10-2021 Selective
94 Burnage Academy for Boys Manchester 56.1 51.1 Outstanding 31-01-2024 Non-selective
95 St Aloysius RC College Islington 57 51.1 Good 07-06-2022 Non-selective
96 The Royal Liberty School Havering 64.6 51.1 Good 08-02-2024 Non-selective
97 Westminster City School Westminster 50.9 50.7 Good 23-03-2022 Non-selective
98 Birkdale High School Sefton 53.6 50.7 Good 16-06-2022 Non-selective
99 Forest Hill School Lewisham 54.6 50.5 Good 13-12-2023 Non-selective
100 Beverley Grammar School East Riding of Yorkshire 53.2 50.3 Outstanding 29-09-2021 Non-selective
101 St Margaret's Church of England Academy Liverpool 59.8 50.2 Good 30-04-2024 Non-selective
102 St Birinus School Oxfordshire 53 50 Good 12-02-2020 Non-selective
103 St Thomas More High School Southend-on-Sea 57.3 49.8 Good 07-03-2024 Non-selective
104 Ernest Bevin Academy Wandsworth 59.1 49.5     Non-selective
105 Wheelers Lane Technology College Birmingham 53.1 49.4 Outstanding 23-09-2014 Non-selective
106 Southborough High School Kingston upon Thames 48.1 49.2 Good 02-02-2023 Non-selective
107 The Forest School Wokingham 50.4 49.1 Good 29-06-2021 Non-selective
108 Rokeby School Newham 52.7 48.9     Non-selective
109 The Green School for Boys Hounslow 53.8 48.8 Good 25-02-2020 Non-selective
110 William Ellis School Camden 54.5 48.8 Requires improvement 18-05-2022 Non-selective
111 Challney High School for Boys Luton 52.7 48.7 Outstanding 07-11-2023 Non-selective
112 Enfield Grammar School Enfield 55.7 48.5 Good 31-01-2024 Non-selective
113 Bullers Wood School for Boys Bromley 58.6 48.5 Good 07-02-2023 Non-selective
114 Eden Boys' School, Bolton Bolton 54.1 48.4 Outstanding 04-07-2023 Non-selective
115 Isleworth and Syon School for Boys Hounslow 44.3 48.2 Good 14-11-2023 Non-selective
116 Sandbach School Cheshire East 48.1 47.7 Good 28-06-2023 Non-selective
117 The Windsor Boys' School Windsor and Maidenhead 48.5 47.5 Good 11-05-2023 Non-selective
118 Ravens Wood School Bromley 48.9 47.5 Good 29-06-2023 Non-selective
119 https://www.locadmissions.com/school-finder?urn=138650&lat=51.45191109&lng=0.155604809&school=st-columba-s-catholic-boys-school Bexley 49.7 47.4 Good 23-01-2019 Non-selective
120 St Cuthbert's High School Newcastle upon Tyne 38.4 46.9 Good 06-02-2024 Non-selective
121 Leigh Academy Tonbridge Kent 44.7 45.7 Good 06-12-2022 Non-selective
122 Avonbourne Boys' Academy Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole 53.3 45.7 Outstanding 29-11-2023 Non-selective
123 Wellacre Technology Academy Trafford 47.4 45.6 Requires improvement 17-10-2023 Non-selective
124 Upper Batley High School Kirklees 46.6 45.5 Good 12-06-2024 Non-selective
125 Hurstmere School Bexley 49 45.1 Requires improvement 28-09-2022 Non-selective
126 St Joseph's College Croydon 43.3 45 Good 25-02-2020 Non-selective
127 Carshalton Boys Sports College Sutton 39 45 Good 18-10-2022 Non-selective
128 Desborough College Windsor and Maidenhead 52.3 44.9 Good 17-05-2024 Non-selective
129 Audenshaw School Tameside 45.1 44.6 Good 13-03-2023 Non-selective
130 Woolwich Polytechnic School Greenwich 49.8 44.4 Good 13-03-2024 Non-selective
131 West Hill School Tameside 36.9 44.3 Good 24-11-2021 Non-selective
132 Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School Liverpool 43.1 43.6 Good 28-09-2021 Non-selective
133 Turves Green Boys' School Birmingham 48.8 43.5 Good 19-03-2024 Non-selective
134 Lordswood Boys' School Birmingham 41 42.7 Good 15-02-2022 Non-selective
135 The Howard School Medway 34.1 42.5 Good 24-11-2021 Non-selective
136 Manchester Mesivta School Bury 33.3 41.8 Requires improvement 30-01-2024 Non-selective
137 St Boniface's RC College Plymouth 28.8 40.1 Requires improvement 21-02-2023 Non-selective
138 Newman Catholic College Brent 32.2 39.8 Good 05-05-2022 Non-selective
139 Brymore Academy Somerset 29.5 39.6 Good 28-02-2024 Non-selective
140 West Derby School Liverpool 24.7 37.9 Good 04-05-2023 Non-selective
141 Northfleet Technology College Kent 22.9 35.9 Good 21-09-2022 Non-selective
142 The Mosslands School Wirral 15.4 33.5 Requires improvement 28-02-2024 Non-selective
143 Greenacre School Medway 18 32.8 Serious Weaknesses 22-03-2023 Non-selective

Note: This table includes all 143 boys' state secondary schools in the UK, sorted by 2024 Attainment 8 (GCSE) results. For the most up-to-date and complete data—including all rows—please refer to the Department for Education's official performance tables or your local authority's admissions guide.

Insights and Key Takeaways

The rankings of boys' secondary state schools are primarily based on attainment scores, GCSE results, and Ofsted ratings. Here are some of the key trends observed:

  • Academic Leaders: Grammar schools dominate the top of the table, with Attainment 8 scores above 80 and 100% of students achieving grade 5 or higher in English and Maths. Notable examples include Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet; St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School; and King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys.
  • Ofsted Ratings: The majority of top-performing schools are rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. However, some high-attaining schools, such as Colchester Royal Grammar School, have areas for improvement, demonstrating the importance of considering more than just exam results.
  • Diversity of Provision: While selective grammar schools lead academically, many non-selective schools—including faith schools and academies—also achieve strong results and positive Ofsted ratings.
  • Admissions Landscape: About half of the schools are selective, admitting students by academic criteria, while the rest are non-selective and serve their local communities.
  • Geographic Spread: High-performing boys' schools are found across England, with strong representation in London, the South East, the Midlands, and beyond.
  • Recent Ofsted Activity: Many schools have been inspected recently (2022–2024), ensuring that Ofsted ratings reflect current standards and leadership.

Conclusion

The 2024 data for all 143 boys' state secondary schools in the UK highlights both excellence and diversity. Selective grammar schools continue to set the benchmark for academic achievement, but many non-selective schools deliver strong outcomes and positive environments. Ofsted ratings remain a key indicator of overall quality, but families should consider a range of factors—including admissions, recent inspection outcomes, and local context—when choosing a school.