Best State Secondary Schools in England

Ash Field Academy is an outstanding all-through school located in Blaby District, East Midlands. Led by committed and exceptional leadership, the school prioritizes the safety and well-being of its students. With a student teacher ratio of 7:1, pupils receive high-quality education and care, making excellent progress across all key stages. The school offers a co-ed boarding option and has a dedicated sixth form. However, opportunities for external benchmarking and improving attendance for some medically affected students need to be addressed.

The St Christopher School is an outstanding all-through school located in Southend-on-Sea. With a student-teacher ratio of 6:1, it provides a supportive and inclusive environment for children aged 3-19. The school offers specialized respite care at Christopher's Cottage for children with exceptional needs, ensuring family life can be sustained. With exceptional leadership, outstanding teaching, and a focus on student achievement and safety, The St Christopher School is a top choice for parents seeking an exceptional education for their children.

Park Community Academy is an outstanding all-through school located in Blackpool. With visionary leadership and continuous improvement, the school offers exceptional personalized support for individual students. The school provides a happy and life-affirming environment with impeccable student behavior and deep respect for others. Offering a broad, balanced, and relevant curriculum with enrichment opportunities, Park Community Academy ensures thorough safeguarding arrangements and excellent education in the sixth form.

Adelaide School is an outstanding co-ed school located in Crewe. With exceptional teaching and care, students make exceptional progress in a supportive learning community. The school offers a well-designed curriculum, excellent leadership, and effective behaviour support strategies. Parents can trust Adelaide School to provide their children with an exceptional education and holistic development.

Perseid School is an outstanding all-through school in Merton, London. With a student-teacher ratio of 5:1, the school provides individualized attention and a safe environment for students aged 3-19. Led by Mrs Tina Harvey, the school's leadership ensures excellent education and exceptional emotional development. Perseid School offers a comprehensive curriculum that meets the needs of each student, resulting in outstanding academic achievements. The school prioritizes safeguarding and has a strong culture of wellbeing. Pupils at Perseid School are happy, well-behaved, and enjoy a wide variety of subjects and activities. While the provision for pupils with complex behavioural and mental health needs is currently being developed further, the school excels in every other aspect. Overall, Perseid School is a top-notch institution that prepares students for success in their education and beyond.

Bower Grove School is an outstanding all-through school located in Maidstone. With a student-teacher ratio of 6:1, the school focuses on providing individual attention and support to each student. The school excels in promoting positive behavior and emotions, ensuring that pupils feel safe and happy. With high aspirations for pupil achievement and exceptional preparation for college and work, Bower Grove School is a top choice for parents looking for a nurturing and academically rigorous education for their children.

Wilson Stuart School is an outstanding all-through school located in Erdington, Birmingham. With a highly personalized curriculum, dedicated staff, and exceptional leadership, the school ensures that all students, aged 2-19, receive an excellent education. The school's focus on progress, safety, and preparation for the future make it an ideal choice for parents seeking quality education for their children.

Dacorum Education Support Centre is an outstanding school that provides excellent outcomes for young people. With a safe and respectful environment, skilled staff, and individualized support, pupils consistently make strong progress. The school's high-quality information, advice, and guidance help develop self-awareness and social skills.

The Ashley School is a co-ed boarding school located in Lowestoft, East of England. With a student-teacher ratio of 6:1, it offers outstanding education with exceptional promotion of pupils' development. The school has consistently good and often outstanding teaching quality, ensuring outstanding progress for all students. While there are areas of improvement, such as providing suitable homework and rigorous website and safeguarding checks, the school maintains an overall outstanding grade.

Blanche Nevile School is a prestigious all-through school in Haringey, London, providing an exceptional education for children aged 3 to 16. With a strong focus on pupil outcomes and measuring progress, the school offers a broad and balanced curriculum that prepares students well for later life. The dedicated leadership team ensures a vibrant community, where pupils develop a well-rounded understanding of deaf issues and their place in the wider community. With outstanding behavior and safety measures in place, Blanche Nevile School provides a nurturing and inclusive environment for all students.

Hollinwood Academy is an outstanding all-through school in Oldham, North West. With a student-teacher ratio of 8:1, the school provides a tailored curriculum, excellent additional activities, and extensive partnership working. The school's exceptional leadership, teaching, and assessment strategies ensure ambitious expectations for all pupils, while the outstanding early years provision sets a strong foundation for their education.

Turney Primary and Secondary Special School is an outstanding all-through school located in Lambeth, London. With a student-teacher ratio of 5:1, the school provides individualized attention to students aged 4-18 with autism spectrum disorder and other learning difficulties. The school prioritizes the overall development of students, promoting their mental and physical well-being. With an A+ rating in academics and teaching, Turney School ensures that all groups of students make excellent progress. The school's holistic approach to learning, collaboration with specialists, and emphasis on life skills equip students for independent living and further education.

Swiss Cottage School - Development & Research Centre is an outstanding special needs school in London. With a student-teacher ratio of 6:1 and a focus on holistic development, the school provides a safe and stimulating learning environment for students aged 4-19. It embraces individuality and offers continuous staff development and research. The school has been recognized for its exemplary leadership, commitment to supporting each pupil's unique needs, and effective safeguarding methods.

The Garden School in Hackney, London is an outstanding all-through school providing highly specialized education for students ages 4-19 with autism. With a student-teacher ratio of 5:1 and a focus on developing emotional regulation, behavior, communication, and independence, the school ensures each child's unique needs are met. The school has an exceptional leadership team, outstanding academic achievements, and a strong vision for promoting positive behavior. With an overall grade of A+, The Garden School offers a welcoming and child-centered curriculum that fosters independence, learning, and communication.

Trinity School, located in Barking and Dagenham, London, is an outstanding all-through school offering education for students aged 3-19. With a student teacher ratio of 5:1 and a focus on individual progress, Trinity School provides a high-quality education for its students. The school excels in academics, with an overall grade of A+ and outstanding exam results in maths and reading. Additionally, the school has effective safeguarding practices, outstanding leadership and management, and a well-organized curriculum tailored to meet the needs of pupils. Trinity School is committed to promoting progress and ensuring the safety and success of its students.

Wandsworth Hospital and Home Tuition Service is an outstanding all-through school in Wandsworth, London. With a focus on providing education to pupils with long-term illnesses, mental health issues, or who are pregnant, the school offers a broad curriculum enriched with additional activities. Pupils receive exceptional care and support, ensuring their safety and enjoyment of school.

Oakwood Academy is an outstanding special school located in Salford, North West. With a student-teacher ratio of 11:1, our dedicated staff is committed to helping students overcome barriers and achieve their full potential. Our tailored curriculum, sixth-form provision, and excellent exam results ensure continued success for our students. With an outstanding Ofsted grade and a focus on personal development and welfare, Oakwood Academy provides a safe and supportive learning environment for students with a range of moderate and/or complicated learning challenges.

Brownhill School is a co-educational all-through school located in Rochdale. With a student-teacher ratio of 4:1, the school provides intensive support for students aged 4-16 with social, emotional, and mental health needs. The school excels in maintaining good quality education, effective safeguarding measures, and improving attendance and behavior. However, there is room for improvement in the information management system and precise use of assessment data by governors. Overall, Brownhill School offers a nurturing environment where students receive individualized attention to thrive academically and emotionally.

Abbey School is an all-through co-educational school located in Rotherham, Yorkshire. With a student-teacher ratio of 9:1, the school offers exceptional and innovative curriculum, ensuring strong subject knowledge of teachers. The school has been rated Outstanding by Ofsted, with outstanding effectiveness in leadership and management, teaching and learning, and personal development. However, the school could improve its understanding of communities outside of school and further develop its post-16 curriculum.

Priory School is an outstanding all-through boarding school located in Bury St Edmunds, East of England. With a student teacher ratio of 7:1, the school provides a safe and stimulating learning environment for students aged 5-19. The dedicated staff is committed to the wellbeing and progress of each student, offering tailored curriculum pathways for those with additional learning difficulties. The school has a proven track record of achieving outstanding results in inspections and provides extensive work experience programs to enhance communication and employability skills.