Best State Secondary Schools in England

Richard Barnes Academy is a co-educational school located in Peterborough, East of England. With a strong emphasis on providing quality education, the school offers all-through education for students aged 5-16 years. Led by Headteacher Mrs Claire Everton, the academy prioritizes the needs of its students, with 64% eligible for free school meals and support for students whose first language is not English. With a total of 102 students, including 84 boys and 18 girls, Richard Barnes Academy strives to create a nurturing and inclusive learning environment for all.

Bader Special Academy is an all-through school providing education for students aged 5-19. Led by Headteacher Mrs Viki Drew, the school offers a co-ed learning environment with a focus on special educational needs. With a small student population of 80, including 33% eligible for free school meals, Bader Special Academy provides individualized support and a nurturing atmosphere for all students to thrive.

Doubletrees School is a highly inclusive and nurturing learning environment, dedicated to helping every student reach their full potential. With a student-teacher ratio of 10:1 and a strong focus on individualized support, our school ensures that each child receives the attention they need to thrive. Our innovative and interesting curriculum delivery, coupled with our commitment to fostering wider friendships, prepares students well for their futures. With a track record of success, including impressive exam results, Doubletrees School provides a happy and stimulating environment where every child belongs, has fun, and achieves their goals.

Bennerley Fields School is an all-through school located in Cotmanhay, East Midlands. With a student-teacher ratio of 8:1, the school provides a supportive and inclusive learning environment for students aged 2-16. Specializing in supporting students with speech, language, communication, autistic spectrum disorder, social, emotional, mental health, moderate, and severe learning difficulties, Bennerley Fields School ensures that every child receives the individual attention they need to thrive academically and emotionally. The school's dedicated staff and comprehensive resources contribute to a safe and nurturing educational experience. While the school's overall grade is D-, it prioritizes the development and wellbeing of its students, working towards their individual goals and aspirations.

Stanton Vale School is an all-through co-ed school in Long Eaton, East Midlands. With a student-teacher ratio of 7:1, the school provides individual attention and support to its 86 students aged 2-19. Offering nursery classes and a sixth form, Stanton Vale caters to a diverse range of needs, including Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Social, Emotional and Mental Health, and Severe Learning Difficulty. While exam results are currently low, the school prioritizes personalized education and nurturing student potential.

The Children's Hospital School is an all-through co-educational school located within the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. With a dedicated staff and state-of-the-art facilities, we provide education for students aged 2 to 19 years. We specialize in supporting students with special educational needs, with 73.9% of our students receiving SEN support. Our school offers a nurturing and inclusive environment where every child can thrive and reach their full potential.

St Bernard's School in Louth is a caring and committed all-through school, providing a strong and relevant curriculum with a personalised approach to education. With a focus on personal development and welfare, the school maintains a good standard of education and ensures positive relationships between staff and pupils. With effective safeguarding procedures and close monitoring of attendance, all students achieve well regardless of starting points. However, the school acknowledges the need for further refinement of assessment systems and a review of the existing absence monitoring system.

Nancealverne School is an all-through school located in Penzance, South West. With a student-teacher ratio of 8:1, the school provides a supportive and caring environment for students aged 2-19. Led by Headteacher Ruth Carpenter, the school offers a range of SEN support for students with various learning difficulties. Attendance rates have improved, emphasizing the school's commitment to student welfare and development. Although middle leaders may require further development, Nancealverne School continues to provide a good quality education with a strong focus on fostering independence in learning.

St Catherine's School is a co-ed boarding school located in Ventnor, South East. With a good Ofsted rating and effective leadership, the school provides a supportive and safe environment for students aged 7-19. The broad curriculum and dedicated staff ensure progress and achievement, although some targets may need to be more challenging. The school is committed to improving attendance rates and offers effective safeguarding measures.

Amber Valley and Erewash Support Centre is a nurturing all-through school located in Cotmanhay, East Midlands. Led by experienced Headteacher Mr Kevin Wildrianne, the school provides excellent support for students with special educational needs, with 85.3% of students receiving SEN support. With a small and inclusive community of 182 students, the school offers a co-educational environment for children aged 5 to 16, ensuring individual attention and personalized learning. Additionally, 50% of students are eligible for free school meals, showcasing the school's commitment to equality and support for all students.

Evelina Hospital School is an outstanding all-through school in London, providing a tailored curriculum for students aged 2-19. With a focus on both academic and emotional well-being, pupils feel safe and happy while receiving excellent teaching and support. The school has high expectations for achievement, effective safeguarding, and close partnerships with external agencies.

SGS Pegasus School is a co-educational all-through school located in Patchway, South West. With a student to teacher ratio of 7:1, the school provides individualized attention and support for students aged 4-18. The dedicated staff, including 10 full-time teachers and 19 assistant teachers, ensure a high-quality education. Additionally, the school offers a sixth form program and has a focus on supporting students with ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder). With a small class size and a strong emphasis on student well-being, SGS Pegasus School creates a nurturing and inclusive environment for all students.

River Tyne Academy Gateshead is a co-ed school located in Sheriff Hill, Gateshead. Founded in 2018, it offers a middle deemed secondary education for students aged 8-16. With a small student body of 103, the school provides individualized attention to its students. It has a diverse community, with 45% of students eligible for free school meals and 1.40% having English as their second language. The school takes pride in its high percentage of students receiving SEN support, ensuring that all students receive the necessary assistance to thrive academically and socially.

Critchill Special School is a co-educational all-through school located in Frome. With a student teacher ratio of 6:1 and a small school size of 80 students, it offers a supportive and personalized learning environment for children aged 4-19 with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Moderate Learning Difficulty (MLD), Severe Learning Difficulty (SLD), and Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty (PMLD). The school's dedicated team of 11.8 full-time teachers and 22 assistant teachers ensures individual attention and support for each student. Critchill Special School also caters to diverse needs with 31% of students eligible for free school meals and 5% having English as their second language.

Wyvern Academy is a co-educational all-through school located in Dorset, South West. With a strong leadership team and effective safeguarding measures, the school provides a high quality education. Students consistently make strong progress, and behaviour has significantly improved. Offering nursery classes and a sixth form, the school caters to students aged 2-19 years. With a student teacher ratio of 5:1, individualized attention is given to each student. Although some activities lack structure, overall, Wyvern Academy ensures academic excellence and a safe learning environment.

Birtenshaw is an all-through school in Bolton, providing education and support for children and teenagers with special needs and disabilities. With a focus on brightening lives and building futures, the school offers a comprehensive curriculum and tailored care services in a state-of-the-art facility. The school has a good overall rating from Ofsted, with positive outcomes for students and a strong leadership team. With a low student absence rate and a supportive environment, Birtenshaw is dedicated to helping children reach their full potential.

Northern Counties School is an all-through co-ed school located in Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne. With a small school size of 120 students, it offers a nurturing and inclusive learning environment. The school provides education for students from the age of 3 to 19, with nursery classes and a sixth form. It caters to a diverse student population, with 24% eligible for free school meals and a small percentage having English as a second language. The school specializes in supporting students with various special educational needs such as hearing impairment, speech/language communication difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder, and more. However, recent Ofsted reports have highlighted areas of improvement needed in aspects such as overall effectiveness, education quality, behavior and attitudes, and leadership/management. Despite these challenges, the school aims to provide personal development opportunities for its students. Please note that the sixth-form provision has been rated inadequate. Exam results data is unavailable.

The Eresby School, Spilsby is an all-through co-ed school that provides a warm and friendly learning environment. With a student-teacher ratio of 7:1, pupils flourish and achieve exceptionally well. The school has high expectations for students, effective safeguarding arrangements, and offers excellent personal development opportunities. With a well-planned curriculum and inclusive approach, the school ensures that every student receives a suitable education based on their individual needs.

Ivy House School is a co-educational all-through school located in Littleover, Derby. With a student-teacher ratio of 8:1, our dedicated staff provide personalized attention to each student. We offer a nurturing environment for children aged 2-19, including those with multi-sensory impairment, physical disability, severe learning difficulty, and profound and multiple learning difficulty. Our inclusive approach ensures every child receives the support they need to thrive. Come join our Ivy House family!

Heatherwood School is an all-through co-ed school located in Doncaster, Yorkshire and The Humber. With a student teacher ratio of 8:1, our dedicated teachers provide individualized attention to ensure every child's needs are met. We offer classes from nursery to sixth form, catering to students aged 3-19 years. Our specialized support includes programs for severe and profound learning difficulties, creating an inclusive environment for all students. Join us at Heatherwood School for a nurturing and engaging educational experience.