This GCSE-only ranking uses three published measures: Attainment 8, grade 5+ in English and maths, and EBacc average point score.
How this page ranks schools
Attainment 8 does most of the work, with English and maths grade 5+ next and EBacc APS as a final check.
We turn each GCSE measure into a like-for-like score across the schools on this page, then apply these weights:
What To Keep In Mind
This page stays strictly GCSE-only, so sixth-form data is not used in the order at all.
A school needs all three published GCSE measures to receive a rank on this page.
What Matters Most
Attainment 8
This does most of the work. It captures GCSE attainment across eight qualifications.
Grade 5+ in English and maths
This is a second check using the published share of pupils getting grade 5 or above in both subjects.
EBacc average point score
This is a smaller final check on how strongly pupils perform across the EBacc basket of subjects.
Schools in this list
Henrietta Barnett School, Central Square, Hampstead Garden Suburb
Assessment: GL Assessment
Applicants per place: 3.4 applicants per place
Used in this ranking
Attainment 8
87.3
Grade 5+ English & maths
100.0%
EBacc APS
8.65
Calculated score
100.0
Wilson's School, Mollison Drive
Assessment: Sutton SET, Individual
Applicants per place: 4.0 applicants per place
Used in this ranking
Attainment 8
86.9
Grade 5+ English & maths
100.0%
EBacc APS
8.66
Calculated score
99.2
Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet, Queen's Road
Assessment: GL Assessment
Applicants per place: 4.4 applicants per place
Used in this ranking
Attainment 8
85.6
Grade 5+ English & maths
99.5%
EBacc APS
8.55
Calculated score
95.9
Tiffin Girls' School, Richmond Road
Assessment: Individual
Applicants per place: 3.5 applicants per place
Used in this ranking
Attainment 8
85.3
Grade 5+ English & maths
99.4%
EBacc APS
8.26
Calculated score
94.5
Kendrick School, London Road
Assessment: Individual
Applicants per place: 3.9 applicants per place
Used in this ranking
Attainment 8
84.0
Grade 5+ English & maths
100.0%
EBacc APS
8.29
Calculated score
92.6
St Olave's and St Saviour's Grammar School, Goddington Lane
Assessment: Individual
Applicants per place: 3.8 applicants per place
Used in this ranking
Attainment 8
83.6
Grade 5+ English & maths
100.0%
EBacc APS
8.22
Calculated score
91.5
King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, Broomfield Road
Assessment: CSSE
Applicants per place: 4.9 applicants per place
Used in this ranking
Attainment 8
83.3
Grade 5+ English & maths
100.0%
EBacc APS
8.24
Calculated score
91.0
King Edward VI School, Chapel Lane
Assessment: GL Assessment
Applicants per place: 4.0 applicants per place
Used in this ranking
Attainment 8
83.3
Grade 5+ English & maths
100.0%
EBacc APS
8.07
Calculated score
90.6
Reading School, Erleigh Road
Assessment: FSCE
Applicants per place: 3.0 applicants per place
Used in this ranking
Attainment 8
83.0
Grade 5+ English & maths
100.0%
EBacc APS
8.25
Calculated score
90.4
Newstead Wood School, Avebury Road
Assessment: GL Assessment
Applicants per place: 3.5 applicants per place
Used in this ranking
Attainment 8
82.8
Grade 5+ English & maths
100.0%
EBacc APS
7.89
Calculated score
89.2
Pate's Grammar School, Princess Elizabeth Way
Assessment: GL Assessment
Applicants per place: 2.1 applicants per place
Used in this ranking
Attainment 8
82.7
Grade 5+ English & maths
99.3%
EBacc APS
7.79
Calculated score
88.1
Colchester Royal Grammar School, Lexden Road
Assessment: CSSE
Applicants per place: 6.1 applicants per place
Used in this ranking
Attainment 8
82.1
Grade 5+ English & maths
100.0%
EBacc APS
7.85
Calculated score
87.7
Keep narrowing
Strong published results can narrow a long list quickly. Final choices usually come down to admissions reality, travel, and how the remaining schools compare once they are close together.
National view
Useful if you are still weighing schools across several counties rather than inside one local admissions picture.
Explore
Area guide
A county guide becomes more useful when the shortlist starts clustering around one route, test, or catchment pattern.
Explore
Comparison guide
This is where results, admissions, travel time, and school fit start to matter together instead of separately.
Explore
Before you shortlist
This page is for parents who want a GCSE-only first pass. It uses published Key Stage 4 measures, so it can help you spot the schools with the strongest GCSE profile before sixth-form results, travel, or admissions detail start reshaping the shortlist.
GCSE results are useful, but they are still only one slice of the picture. Use this ranking to narrow quickly, then open school pages and compare the schools that still look realistic for your child and your family.
FAQ
This ranking uses GCSE measures only. It stays focused on published Key Stage 4 performance instead of mixing in sixth-form data.
The ranking uses Attainment 8, the percentage of pupils getting grade 5 or above in English and maths, and the EBacc average point score.
No. GCSE strength does not tell you about admissions difficulty, catchment, exam route, or whether a school is the right fit for your child.
Open the school pages and compare the shortlist properly so you can bring in admissions detail, travel time, sixth form, and school fit.
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