Rank #1
The Perse School
Perse School, Hills Road, Cambridge
ISI: Standards metPrivate schoolTop 5% Attainment 8Mixed
Application: Apply direct to school
Used in this ranking
2025 Attainment 8
82.9
Private school Attainment 8
Private schools by Attainment 8
This ranking orders private schools by their latest published DfE Attainment 8 score.
Updated 18 August 2026 Uses published 2025 Attainment 8 measures 743 schools
How ranking works
How this page ranks schools
This page compares private schools using published DfE Attainment 8 data
Schools are ordered directly by their latest published Attainment 8 score.
This page uses one directly comparable Key Stage 4 measure:
What To Keep In Mind
Attainment 8 counts approved qualifications; some qualifications used by private schools may not be included. Absence is not a judgement about quality.
A private school needs a published Attainment 8 value to receive a rank on this page.
What Matters Most
- 1100%
Attainment 8
The DfE measure summarises pupils' attainment across eight qualifications, including English and maths.
Private schools with published data
Showing 12 of 743 schools
Compare up to 4 schools
Rank #2
Wimbledon High School GDST
Wimbledon High School GDST, Mansel Road, London
Private schoolTop 5% Attainment 8Girls only
Application: Apply direct to school
Used in this ranking
2025 Attainment 8
81.0
Rank #3
Cheltenham Ladies' College
Cheltenham Ladies' College, Bayshill Road
ISI: Standards metPrivate schoolTop 5% Attainment 8Girls only
Application: Apply direct to school
Used in this ranking
2025 Attainment 8
78.2
Rank #4
The Harrodian School
Harrodian School, Lonsdale Road
Ofsted: All standards MetPrivate schoolExcellent Attainment 8Mixed
Application: Apply direct to school
Used in this ranking
2025 Attainment 8
75.4
Rank #5
Manchester High School for Girls
Manchester High School for Girls, Grangethorpe Road
ISI: Standards metPrivate schoolExcellent Attainment 8Girls only
Application: Apply direct to school
Used in this ranking
2025 Attainment 8
73.7
Rank #6
St Helen's School
St Helen's School, Eastbury Road
ISI: Standards metPrivate schoolExcellent Attainment 8Girls only
Application: Apply direct to school
Used in this ranking
2025 Attainment 8
73.0
Rank #7
Salesian College
Salesian College, 119 Reading Road
ISI: Standards metPrivate schoolExcellent Attainment 8Mixed
Application: Apply direct to school
Used in this ranking
2025 Attainment 8
71.9
Rank #8
The Marist School
Marist School, Kings Road, Sunninghill
ISI: Standards metPrivate schoolExcellent Attainment 8Mixed
Application: Apply direct to school
Used in this ranking
2025 Attainment 8
71.9
Rank #9
St Helen and St Katharine
St Helen and St Katharine, Faringdon Road
ISI: Standards metPrivate schoolExcellent Attainment 8Girls only
Application: Apply direct to school
Used in this ranking
2025 Attainment 8
71.8
Rank #10
St Michael's School
St Michael's School, Harts Lane, Burghclere
Ofsted: All standards MetPrivate schoolExcellent Attainment 8Mixed
Application: Apply direct to school
Used in this ranking
2024 Attainment 8
71.1
Rank #11
New Hall School
New Hall School, The Avenue, Boreham
ISI: Standards metPrivate schoolExcellent Attainment 8Mixed
Application: Apply direct to school
Used in this ranking
2025 Attainment 8
70.5
Rank #12
Crosfields School
Crosfields School, Shinfield Road
ISI: Standards metPrivate schoolExcellent Attainment 8Mixed
Application: Apply direct to school
Used in this ranking
2025 Attainment 8
69.9
Keep narrowing
Use the broader GCSE picture
Attainment 8 covers approved qualifications; the grades 9-7 page uses verified GCSE or IGCSE results instead.
How to read this page
One published Key Stage 4 measure
Attainment 8 summarises pupils' attainment across eight qualifications, including English and maths.
Not every private school has a published value. Absence from this table is not a quality judgement.
Use the broader GCSE ranking when you also want English and maths grade 5+ and EBacc APS in the order.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What does Attainment 8 measure?
It is a DfE score summarising attainment across eight approved qualifications, including English and maths.
Why is this order different from the overall GCSE ranking?
This page uses Attainment 8 alone. The overall GCSE ranking also includes English and maths grade 5+ and EBacc APS.
What determines whether a private school appears here?
The school must have a published DfE Attainment 8 value. No value means no rank, rather than a judgement about its results.
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Keep exploring
Useful next pages
Ranking
Best Private Schools by GCSE Results
Compare private schools in England by the published percentage of GCSE and IGCSE grades awarded at 9, 8 or 7.
Ranking
Grammar and Private Schools by Attainment 8
Compare grammar and private schools using the same latest published DfE Attainment 8 measure.
Ranking
Best Private Schools by A-Level Results
Compare private schools by the percentage of A-level entries awarded A*, A or B using official DfE grade counts.
Guide
How to Compare Grammar Schools
A parent-first framework for moving from a long list to a realistic grammar school shortlist without relying on rankings alone.
School
The Perse School
The Perse School is a private secondary-stage school in Cambridgeshire, Cambridgeshire, with a published age range of 3-18.
School
Wimbledon High School GDST
Wimbledon High School GDST is a private secondary-stage school in Merton, Greater London, with a published age range of 4-19.
School
Cheltenham Ladies' College
Cheltenham Ladies' College is a private secondary-stage school in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, with a published age range of 11-18.
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