The Best Schools in the South West
(Photo of Cheltenham Ladies' College)
The Best Schools in the South West
The Best Private Schools in the South West, based on 2025's A-level and GCSE results
Anyone who has been lucky enough visit Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire or the Bristol area will not be surprised to know that the South West region boasts some of the most beautiful independent schools in the world.
Alongside the South East, it is also the most popular region for boarding, with thousands of students coming down from the capital or from overseas.
Rankings in the table below are led by the percentage of A-Level entries awarded A* and A grades. You can also sort the table by GCSE results (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).
Please click on a school name for more information and add some to your shortlist. Submit an enquiry and TSG will be in touch to advise on suitability and help with next steps.
| Rank | School | A-Level A*/A% | GCSE A*/A% | Gender | County | Boarding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | School: Cheltenham Ladies’ College | A-Level A*/A%: 68.86% | GCSE A*/A%: 86.23% | Gender: Girls | County: Gloucestershire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 2 | School: Redmaids’ High School | A-Level A*/A%: 68.67% | GCSE A*/A%: 73.06% | Gender: Girls | County: Bristol | Boarding: Day, |
| 3 | School: Bristol Grammar School | A-Level A*/A%: 64.44% | GCSE A*/A%: 69.24% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Bristol | Boarding: Day, |
| 4 | School: King Edward’s School, Bath | A-Level A*/A%: 60.88% | GCSE A*/A%: 75.68% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Somerset | Boarding: Day, |
| 5 | School: The Maynard School | A-Level A*/A%: 60.19% | GCSE A*/A%: 75.15% | Gender: Girls | County: Devon | Boarding: Day, |
| 6 | School: St Mary’s Calne | A-Level A*/A%: 60.10% | GCSE A*/A%: 69.87% | Gender: Girls | County: Wiltshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 7 | School: Canford School | A-Level A*/A%: 55.42% | GCSE A*/A%: 72.22% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Dorset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 8 | School: Exeter School | A-Level A*/A%: 55.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 69.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Devon | Boarding: Day, |
| 9 | School: Queen Elizabeth’s Hospital | A-Level A*/A%: 53.04% | GCSE A*/A%: 65.39% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Bristol | Boarding: Day, |
| 10 | School: Truro School | A-Level A*/A%: 49.81% | GCSE A*/A%: 45.86% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Cornwall | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 11 | School: Badminton School | A-Level A*/A%: 49.77% | GCSE A*/A%: 74.86% | Gender: Girls | County: Bristol | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 12 | School: Marlborough College | A-Level A*/A%: 49.26% | GCSE A*/A%: 67.11% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Wiltshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 13 | School: Kingswood School, Bath | A-Level A*/A%: 48.66% | GCSE A*/A%: 78.46% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Somerset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 14 | School: Cheltenham College | A-Level A*/A%: 47.80% | GCSE A*/A%: 58.61% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Gloucestershire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 15 | School: Dauntsey’s School | A-Level A*/A%: 46.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 62.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Wiltshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 16 | School: Westonbirt School | A-Level A*/A%: 46.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 35.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Gloucestershire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 17 | School: Clifton College | A-Level A*/A%: 44.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 58.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Bristol | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 18 | School: West Buckland School | A-Level A*/A%: 44.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 43.15% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Devon | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 19 | School: The King’s School, Gloucester | A-Level A*/A%: 40.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 53.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Gloucestershire | Boarding: Day, |
| 20 | School: Sherborne Girls | A-Level A*/A%: 40.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 49.00% | Gender: Girls | County: Dorset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 21 | School: Collegiate School | A-Level A*/A%: 40.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 52.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Bristol | Boarding: Day, |
| 22 | School: Royal High School Bath | A-Level A*/A%: 38.69% | GCSE A*/A%: 68.04% | Gender: Girls | County: Somerset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 23 | School: Blundell’s School | A-Level A*/A%: 38.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 52.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Devon | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 24 | School: Talbot Heath School | A-Level A*/A%: 36.79% | GCSE A*/A%: 39.25% | Gender: Girls | County: Dorset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 25 | School: St Edward’s Cheltenham | A-Level A*/A%: 36.79% | GCSE A*/A%: 27.14% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Gloucestershire | Boarding: Day, |
| 26 | School: Monkton Combe School | A-Level A*/A%: 36.20% | GCSE A*/A%: 60.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Somerset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 27 | School: Prior Park College | A-Level A*/A%: 36.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 52.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Somerset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 28 | School: Kingsley School Devon | A-Level A*/A%: 35.20% | GCSE A*/A%: 35.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Devon | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 29 | School: Godolphin School, Salisbury | A-Level A*/A%: 35.00% | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Girls | County: Wiltshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 30 | School: Stonar School | A-Level A*/A%: 35.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 45.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Wiltshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 31 | School: Sherborne School | A-Level A*/A%: 33.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 54.00% | Gender: Boys | County: Dorset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 32 | School: Wells Cathedral School | A-Level A*/A%: 32.95% | GCSE A*/A%: 48.69% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Somerset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 33 | School: Plymouth College | A-Level A*/A%: 32.68% | GCSE A*/A%: 36.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Devon | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 34 | School: Sidcot School | A-Level A*/A%: 31.50% | GCSE A*/A%: 29.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Somerset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 35 | School: Clifton High School | A-Level A*/A%: 31.18% | GCSE A*/A%: 57.25% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Bristol | Boarding: Day, |
| 36 | School: Downside School | A-Level A*/A%: 31.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 49.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Somerset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 37 | School: Millfield School | A-Level A*/A%: 31.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 40.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Somerset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 38 | School: Wellington School | A-Level A*/A%: 30.57% | GCSE A*/A%: 33.75% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Somerset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 39 | School: Clayesmore School | A-Level A*/A%: 27.50% | GCSE A*/A%: 33.10% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Dorset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 40 | School: Bournemouth Collegiate School | A-Level A*/A%: 26.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 39.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Dorset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 41 | School: Shebbear College | A-Level A*/A%: 23.33% | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Co-ed | County: Devon | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 42 | School: Bath Academy | A-Level A*/A%: 23.00% | GCSE A*/A%: 28.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Somerset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 43 | School: Mount Kelly | A-Level A*/A%: 21.83% | GCSE A*/A%: 42.92% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Devon | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 44 | School: Trinity School Teignmouth | A-Level A*/A%: 12.00% | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Co-ed | County: Devon | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 45 | School: Leweston School | A-Level A*/A%: U/A | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Co-ed | County: Dorset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 46 | School: Bredon School | A-Level A*/A%: U/A | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Co-ed | County: Gloucestershire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 47 | School: Dean Close School | A-Level A*/A%: U/A | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Co-ed | County: Gloucestershire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 48 | School: Taunton School | A-Level A*/A%: U/A | GCSE A*/A%: 53.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Somerset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 49 | School: Bryanston School | A-Level A*/A%: U/A | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Co-ed | County: Dorset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 50 | School: Milton Abbey School | A-Level A*/A%: U/A | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Co-ed | County: Dorset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 51 | School: Truro High School for Girls | A-Level A*/A%: U/A | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Girls | County: Cornwall | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 52 | School: Kings Bournemouth | A-Level A*/A%: U/A | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Co-ed | County: Dorset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 53 | School: St John’s School | A-Level A*/A%: N/A | GCSE A*/A%: 26.88% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Devon | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 54 | School: King’s Bruton | A-Level A*/A%: U/A | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Co-ed | County: Somerset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 55 | School: Warminster School | A-Level A*/A%: U/A | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Co-ed | County: Wiltshire | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 56 | School: King’s College Taunton | A-Level A*/A%: U/A | GCSE A*/A%: 50.00% | Gender: Co-ed | County: Somerset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 57 | School: Queen’s College Taunton | A-Level A*/A%: U/A | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Co-ed | County: Somerset | Boarding: Day, Boarding |
| 58 | School: Stover School | A-Level A*/A%: U/A | GCSE A*/A%: U/A | Gender: Co-ed | County: Devon | 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.
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