The Best Schools in the South East
(Photo of Guidlford High School for Girls)
The Best Schools in the South East
The Best Private Schools in the South East, based on 2025's A-level and GCSE results
Close to London, mainland Europe, and home to our busiest international airports, it is no surprise that the South East of England is the region boasting the most day and boarding independent schools.
It is also home to some of the top academically high-achieving schools, contributing 30 schools to the Top 100 A-level schools in the country.
The league table below lists each school’s percentage of A-Level entries awarded A* and A grades, and percentage of the top GCSE grades (A*/A or 9, 8 and 7.)
The national average for 2025’s A-levels was 28.2% and GCSEs was 21.8%. For independent schools the average was 48.4% (A-levels) and 48.1% (GCSEs).
There’s such a thing as too much choice, so make sure you use our School Filter and Guides to help you narrow down your search. And remember TSG’s friendly, expert advice is just a call away…
| Rank | School | A-Level A*/A% | GCSE A*/A% | Gender | County | Boarding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | School: Guildford High School for Girls | A-Level A*/A%: 84.67% | GCSE A*/A%: 96.41% | Gender: Girls | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, |
| 2 | School: Brighton College | A-Level A*/A%: 84.37% | GCSE A*/A%: 97.95% | Gender: Co-ed | County: East Sussex | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 3 | School: Magdalen College School | A-Level A*/A%: 78.57% | GCSE A*/A%: 94.05% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Oxfordshire | Boarding: Day |
| 4 | School: Eton College | A-Level A*/A%: 78.20% | GCSE A*/A%: 94.00% | Gender: Boys | County: Berkshire | Boarding: , Boarding |
| 5 | School: Wycombe Abbey School | A-Level A*/A%: 76.25% | GCSE A*/A%: 96.73% | Gender: Girls | County: Buckinghamshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 6 | School: Winchester College | A-Level A*/A%: 75.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 93.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Hampshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 7 | School: Royal Grammar School Guildford | A-Level A*/A%: 73.90% | GCSE A*/A%: 88.66% | Gender: Boys | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, |
| 8 | School: Tonbridge School | A-Level A*/A%: 73.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 92.00% | Gender: Boys | County: Kent | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 9 | School: Abingdon School | A-Level A*/A%: 72.10% | GCSE A*/A%: 87.30% | Gender: Boys | County: Oxfordshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 10 | School: St Swithun’s School | A-Level A*/A%: 71.70% | GCSE A*/A%: 77.40% | Gender: Girls | County: Hampshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 11 | School: City of London Freemen’s School | A-Level A*/A%: 71.31% | GCSE A*/A%: 81.54% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 12 | School: St Catherine’s, Bramley | A-Level A*/A%: 70.70% | GCSE A*/A%: 80.08% | Gender: Girls | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 13 | School: Reigate Grammar School | A-Level A*/A%: 70.60% | GCSE A*/A%: 90.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, |
| 14 | School: Benenden School | A-Level A*/A%: 69.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 78.00% | Gender: Girls | County: Kent | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 15 | School: Oxford International College | A-Level A*/A%: 68.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 61.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Oxfordshire | Boarding: Boarding |
| 16 | School: Caterham School | A-Level A*/A%: 66.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 91.35% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 17 | School: St Helen and St Katharine | A-Level A*/A%: 64.83% | GCSE A*/A%: 92.10% | Gender: Girls | County: Oxfordshire | Boarding: Day, |
| 18 | School: Sir William Perkins’s School | A-Level A*/A%: 63.41% | GCSE A*/A%: 84.50% | Gender: Girls | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, |
| 19 | School: The Yehudi Menuhin School | A-Level A*/A%: 62.86% | GCSE A*/A%: 71.19% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 20 | School: Oxford High School | A-Level A*/A%: 62.05% | GCSE A*/A%: 93.59% | Gender: Girls | County: Oxfordshire | Boarding: Day |
| 21 | School: St Mary’s School Ascot | A-Level A*/A%: 61.96% | GCSE A*/A%: 94.08% | Gender: Girls | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 22 | School: Headington Rye Oxford | A-Level A*/A%: 61.20% | GCSE A*/A%: 79.30% | Gender: Girls | County: Oxfordshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 23 | School: Radley College | A-Level A*/A%: 61.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 86.00% | Gender: Boys | County: Oxfordshire | Boarding: Boarding |
| 24 | School: The Portsmouth Grammar School | A-Level A*/A%: 60.50% | GCSE A*/A%: 62.80% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Hampshire | Boarding: Day |
| 25 | School: Churcher’s College | A-Level A*/A%: 60.08% | GCSE A*/A%: 73.28% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Hampshire | Boarding: Day, |
| 26 | School: Hurstpierpoint College | A-Level A*/A%: 60.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 79.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: West Sussex | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 27 | School: Wellington College | A-Level A*/A%: 58.70% | GCSE A*/A%: 86.70% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Berkshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 28 | School: d’Overbroeck’s | A-Level A*/A%: 58.48% | GCSE A*/A%: 47.24% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Oxfordshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 29 | School: Epsom College | A-Level A*/A%: 58.27% | GCSE A*/A%: 86.17% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 30 | School: Bromley High School | A-Level A*/A%: 57.92% | GCSE A*/A%: 71.13% | Gender: Girls | County: Kent | Boarding: Day, |
| 31 | School: Downe House | A-Level A*/A%: 54.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 81.00% | Gender: Girls | County: Berkshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 32 | School: The Marist School | A-Level A*/A%: 54.00% | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Girls | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, |
| 33 | School: Reddam House Berkshire | A-Level A*/A%: 53.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 56.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Berkshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 34 | School: Kingham Hill School | A-Level A*/A%: 53.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 31.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Oxfordshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 35 | School: St Teresa’s Effingham | A-Level A*/A%: 52.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 49.00% | Gender: Girls | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 36 | School: Lancing College | A-Level A*/A%: 52.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 62.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: West Sussex | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 37 | School: The King’s School, Canterbury | A-Level A*/A%: 51.97% | GCSE A*/A%: 70.38% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Kent | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 38 | School: King Edward VI School | A-Level A*/A%: 51.50% | GCSE A*/A%: 73.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Hampshire | Boarding: Day, |
| 39 | School: Reed’s School | A-Level A*/A%: 51.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 75.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 40 | School: Cranleigh School | A-Level A*/A%: 51.00% | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Co-ed | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 41 | School: Hurtwood House | A-Level A*/A%: 50.89% | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Co-ed | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 42 | School: Charterhouse | A-Level A*/A%: 50.68% | GCSE A*/A%: 75.03% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 43 | School: Woldingham School | A-Level A*/A%: 50.41% | GCSE A*/A%: 70.42% | Gender: Girls | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 44 | School: Reading Blue Coat School | A-Level A*/A%: 50.34% | GCSE A*/A%: 81.91% | Gender: Girls | County: Berkshire | Boarding: Day, |
| 45 | School: Mayfield School | A-Level A*/A%: 50.26% | GCSE A*/A%: 65.31% | Gender: Girls | County: East Sussex | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 46 | School: Lord Wandsworth College | A-Level A*/A%: 50.20% | GCSE A*/A%: 47.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Hampshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 47 | School: Roedean School | A-Level A*/A%: 50.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 76.00% | Gender: Girls | County: East Sussex | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 48 | School: Portsmouth High School | A-Level A*/A%: 50.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 57.00% | Gender: Girls | County: Hampshire | Boarding: Day, |
| 49 | School: Claremont Fan Court School | A-Level A*/A%: 49.78% | GCSE A*/A%: 54.66% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, |
| 50 | School: Burgess Hill Girls | A-Level A*/A%: 49.49% | GCSE A*/A%: 69.28% | Gender: Girls | County: West Sussex | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 51 | School: The Abbey School Reading | A-Level A*/A%: 49.36% | GCSE A*/A%: 80.11% | Gender: Girls | County: Berkshire | Boarding: Day, |
| 52 | School: Farnborough Hill | A-Level A*/A%: 49.12% | GCSE A*/A%: 47.96% | Gender: Girls | County: Hampshire | Boarding: Day, |
| 53 | School: St John’s School, Leatherhead | A-Level A*/A%: 49.06% | GCSE A*/A%: 77.59% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 54 | School: St George’s College Weybridge | A-Level A*/A%: 48.74% | GCSE A*/A%: 79.89% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, |
| 55 | School: Bradfield College | A-Level A*/A%: 48.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 63.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Berkshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 56 | School: Queen Anne’s School, Caversham | A-Level A*/A%: 47.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 69.00% | Gender: Girls | County: Berkshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 57 | School: St Joseph’s College, Reading | A-Level A*/A%: 46.31% | GCSE A*/A%: 46.54% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Berkshire | Boarding: Day |
| 58 | School: Claremont School | A-Level A*/A%: 46.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 29.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: East Sussex | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 59 | School: Walthamstow Hall | A-Level A*/A%: 45.45% | GCSE A*/A%: 70.75% | Gender: Girls | County: Kent | Boarding: Day, |
| 60 | School: Cranford School | A-Level A*/A%: 45.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 55.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Oxfordshire | Boarding: Day |
| 61 | School: Thornton College | A-Level A*/A%: 45.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 50.00% | Gender: Girls | County: Buckinghamshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 62 | School: Ardingly College | A-Level A*/A%: 44.53% | GCSE A*/A%: 75.70% | Gender: Co-ed | County: West Sussex | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 63 | School: Cokethorpe School | A-Level A*/A%: 44.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 48.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Oxfordshire | Boarding: Day, |
| 64 | School: Cherwell College Oxford | A-Level A*/A%: 41.20% | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Co-ed | County: Oxfordshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 65 | School: St George’s School, Ascot | A-Level A*/A%: 41.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 62.00% | Gender: Girls | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 66 | School: Bethany School | A-Level A*/A%: 41.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 33.30% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Kent | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 67 | School: St Edward’s School Oxford | A-Level A*/A%: 41.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 65.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Oxfordshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 68 | School: Notre Dame Senior School | A-Level A*/A%: 40.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 49.00% | Gender: Girls | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, |
| 69 | School: Tudor Hall School | A-Level A*/A%: 39.29% | GCSE A*/A%: 40.57% | Gender: Girls | County: Oxfordshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 70 | School: St Jospeh’s College Reading | A-Level A*/A%: 37.60% | GCSE A*/A%: 52.41% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Berkshire | Boarding: Day, |
| 71 | School: Ashford School | A-Level A*/A%: 37.50% | GCSE A*/A%: 61.18% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Kent | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 72 | School: Sutton Valence School | A-Level A*/A%: 37.40% | GCSE A*/A%: 50.60% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Kent | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 73 | School: Farringtons School | A-Level A*/A%: 37.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 39.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Kent | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 74 | School: Dunottar School | A-Level A*/A%: 37.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 49.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, |
| 75 | School: Leighton Park School | A-Level A*/A%: 36.71% | GCSE A*/A%: 58.91% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Berkshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 76 | School: Stowe School | A-Level A*/A%: 36.70% | GCSE A*/A%: 46.02% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Buckinghamshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 77 | School: Ryde School with Upper Chine | A-Level A*/A%: 36.54% | GCSE A*/A%: 39.44% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Hampshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 78 | School: Michael Hall School | A-Level A*/A%: 36.11% | GCSE A*/A%: 53.79% | Gender: Co-ed | County: East Sussex | Boarding: Day, |
| 79 | School: Christ’s Hospital | A-Level A*/A%: 36.00% | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Co-ed | County: West Sussex | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 80 | School: Frensham Heights School | A-Level A*/A%: 36.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 44.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 81 | School: Embley | A-Level A*/A%: 36.00% | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Co-ed | County: Hampshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 82 | School: Battle Abbey School | A-Level A*/A%: 35.59% | GCSE A*/A%: 37.81% | Gender: Co-ed | County: East Sussex | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 83 | School: Luckley House School | A-Level A*/A%: 35.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 47.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Berkshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 84 | School: Pangbourne College | A-Level A*/A%: 34.85% | GCSE A*/A%: 38.48% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Berkshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 85 | School: Kent College Pembury | A-Level A*/A%: 34.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 49.00% | Gender: Girls | County: Kent | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 86 | School: Bedales School | A-Level A*/A%: 32.00% | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Co-ed | County: Hampshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 87 | School: Pipers Corner School | A-Level A*/A%: 32.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 53.00% | Gender: Girls | County: Buckinghamshire | Boarding: Day, |
| 88 | School: Ewell Castle School | A-Level A*/A%: 31.36% | GCSE A*/A%: 46.95% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, |
| 89 | School: Kent College Canterbury | A-Level A*/A%: 31.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 45.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Kent | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 90 | School: Lewes Old Grammar School | A-Level A*/A%: 30.88% | GCSE A*/A%: 41.35% | Gender: Co-ed | County: East Sussex | Boarding: Day, |
| 91 | School: St Edmund’s School Canterbury | A-Level A*/A%: 30.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 35.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Kent | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 92 | School: Brighton Girls | A-Level A*/A%: 29.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 47.00% | Gender: Girls | County: East Sussex | Boarding: Day, |
| 93 | School: King Edward’s School Witley | A-Level A*/A%: 29.00% | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Co-ed | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 94 | School: Buckswood School | A-Level A*/A%: 29.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 20.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: East Sussex | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 95 | School: Worth School | A-Level A*/A%: 29.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 41.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 96 | School: Brockwood Park School | A-Level A*/A%: 28.21% | GCSE A*/A%: N/A | Gender: Co-ed | County: Hampshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 97 | School: Earlscliffe | A-Level A*/A%: 28.16% | GCSE A*/A%: 27.89% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Kent | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 98 | School: Salesian College | A-Level A*/A%: 28.16% | GCSE A*/A%: 60.80% | Gender: Boys | County: Hampshire | Boarding: Day, |
| 99 | School: Hurst Lodge School | A-Level A*/A%: 28.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 16.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Hampshire | Boarding: Day, |
| 100 | School: Prior’s Field School | A-Level A*/A%: 27.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 62.00% | Gender: Girls | County: Surrey | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
Important
- All exam result data is for results issued in the summer of 2025, unless otherwise stated. Data is compiled from reliable, official sources and updated when sufficient results have been acquired. Results are updated and amended whenever new information becomes available.
- U/A = results are unavailable. N/A = the school does not offer this curriculum.
- Rating exam results by % of entries at A*-A (A-level), % of entries at 7,8,9 (GCSE) or average IB score per candidate is common practice. However, the format in which the data is presented (specifically, the column headings and calculations conceived for subject-specific league tables and the BTEC league table) is the copyright material of Top School Guide and protected by database right. The content is for personal, non-commerical use only, and you may not reproduce, republish, copy, or otherwise use the format or content in any way.
- League tables should not be used in isolation to identify suitable schools. Every effort is made to verify the data within these tables, but Top School Guide does not accept any liability for your reliance on the information on this site, or any errors or ommissions. Please see our terms for further information.
- Amendments, corrections, and requests to republish can be submitted to hello@topschoolguide.com.
- Likewise, should you have any personal requests for data you cannot find in our league tables, we would be pleased for you to get in touch.
