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Houseroom Index 2026 · Academic sub-index

Best for academics

UK independent schools ranked on academic outcomes alone — A-level A*, GCSE 9-7, Oxbridge offer rates and Russell Group placement.

AcademicsWhole-childFuture-readyLeavers← Houseroom Index (aggregate)
  1. #1
    95.5

    St Paul's Girls' School

    Hammersmith and Fulham

    Independent girls senior school in Hammersmith and Fulham for ages 11–18. Selective entry, C of E ethos, top-tier London fees.

    SeniorGirlsDay
    £37,242 – £40,227/yr dayAggregate rank #2
  2. #2
    95.3

    Guildford High School

    Guildford

    Independent girls all-through school in Surrey for ages 4–18. Selective entry, Christian ethos.

    All ThroughGirlsDay
    £16,203 – £25,989/yr dayAggregate rank #3
  3. #3
    94.0

    Westminster School

    Westminster

    Independent boys senior school in Westminster for ages 13–18. Selective entry, Christian foundation ethos, top-tier London fees.

    All ThroughCo EdBoarding
    £32,529 – £49,950/yr dayAggregate rank #5
  4. #4
    93.7

    Winchester College

    Winchester

    Independent boys senior school in Hampshire for ages 13–18, day or boarding. Selective entry, top-tier London fees.

    SeniorCo EdBoth
    £44,400 – £45,954/yr dayAggregate rank #7
  5. #5
    93.6

    North London Collegiate School

    Harrow

    Independent girls all-through school in Harrow for ages 4–18. Selective entry.

    All ThroughGirlsDay
    £25,620 – £29,751/yr dayAggregate rank #1
  6. #6
    93.4

    Magdalen College School

    Oxford

    Independent co-ed all-through school in Oxford for ages 7–18. Selective entry, Christian ethos.

    SeniorCo EdDay
    £24,163 – £30,108/yr dayAggregate rank #10
  7. #7
    91.6

    King's College School

    Merton

    Independent boys all-through school in Merton for ages 7–19. Selective entry, C of E ethos.

    All ThroughBoysDay
    Fees TBC/yr day
  8. #8
    90.7

    South Hampstead High School

    Camden

    Independent girls' all-through day school in Hampstead for ages 4–18. Part of GDST, selective entry, top-20 academic performance.

    All ThroughGirlsDay
    £24,558 – £30,060/yr day
  9. #9
    90.1

    Eton College

    Windsor and Maidenhead

    Independent boys senior school in Windsor and Maidenhead for ages 13–18. Selective entry, Christian foundation ethos, established SEND provision.

    SeniorBoysBoarding
    £63,299/yr dayAggregate rank #4
  10. #10
    88.9

    City of London School

    City of London

    Independent boys senior school in City of London for ages 10–18. Selective entry.

    SeniorBoysDay
    £22,491 – £28,386/yr dayAggregate rank #8
  11. #11
    87.9

    Tonbridge School

    Tonbridge and Malling

    Independent boys senior school in Kent for ages 13–18, day or boarding. Selective entry, top-tier London fees.

    SeniorBoysBoth
    £44,358 – £46,578/yr dayAggregate rank #13
  12. #12
    87.8

    Highgate School

    Haringey

    Independent girls all-through school in Haringey for ages 3–19, day or boarding. Selective entry, Christian ethos.

    All ThroughCo EdDay
    £28,929 – £31,575/yr dayAggregate rank #14
  13. #13
    87.3

    The Manchester Grammar School

    Manchester

    Independent boys senior school in Manchester for ages 7–18. Selective entry.

    SeniorBoysDay
    £18,666 – £19,809/yr dayAggregate rank #15
  14. #14
    87.1

    Wycombe Abbey

    Buckinghamshire

    Independent girls senior school in Buckinghamshire for ages 11–18. Selective entry, Anglican ethos, top-tier London fees.

    SeniorGirlsBoth
    £46,800/yr dayAggregate rank #16
  15. #15
    86.2

    Wimbledon High School

    Merton

    Independent girls all-through school in Merton for ages 4–18. Selective entry.

    All ThroughGirlsDay
    £23,673 – £30,456/yr dayAggregate rank #9
  16. #16
    86.2

    St Paul's School

    Richmond upon Thames

    Independent boys all-through school in Richmond upon Thames for ages 7–18, day or boarding. Selective entry, C of E ethos, top-tier London fees.

    SeniorBoysBoth
    £9,551 – £35,847/yr dayAggregate rank #17
  17. #17
    86.0

    Hampton School

    Richmond upon Thames

    Independent boys senior school in Richmond upon Thames for ages 11–18. Selective entry.

    SeniorBoysDay
    £29,916/yr dayAggregate rank #20
  18. #18
    86.0

    The Perse School

    Cambridgeshire

    Independent co-ed all-through school in Cambridgeshire for ages 3–18. Selective entry.

    All ThroughCo EdDay
    £27,222/yr dayAggregate rank #21
  19. #19
    85.8

    Cardiff Sixth Form College

    Cardiff

    Independent co-ed sixth-form college in Cardiff for ages 16–19, day or boarding. Selective entry, other ethos, top-tier London fees.

    Sixth FormCo EdBoth
    £30,120 – £34,560/yr dayAggregate rank #12
  20. #20
    85.6

    Lady Eleanor Holles School

    Richmond upon Thames

    Independent girls' all-through day school in Hampton for ages 7–18. Selective, A-level focused, ISI Excellent (2025); co-curricular partnership with Hampton.

    All ThroughGirlsDay
    £25,470 – £31,953/yr dayAggregate rank #11
  21. #21
    85.3

    Reigate Grammar School

    Reigate and Banstead

    Independent co-ed senior school in Surrey for ages 11–18. Selective entry.

    All ThroughCo EdDay
    £15,750 – £28,545/yr dayAggregate rank #23
  22. #22
    85.3

    University College School

    Camden

    Independent boys' all-through day school in Hampstead for ages 4–16 with co-ed Sixth Form (16–18). Non-denominational, A-level focused, top 25 nationally.

    All ThroughBoysDay
    £27,495 – £32,913/yr day
  23. #23
    85.2

    Latymer Upper School

    Hammersmith and Fulham

    Independent co-ed senior school in Hammersmith and Fulham for ages 11–18. Selective entry.

    SeniorCo EdDay
    £31,095/yr dayAggregate rank #24
  24. #24
    85.0

    King Edward VI High School for Girls

    Birmingham

    Independent girls senior school in Birmingham for ages 11–18. Selective entry, Christian ethos.

    SeniorGirlsDay
    £17,836 – £17,862/yr dayAggregate rank #25
  25. #25
    85.0

    Surbiton High School

    Kingston upon Thames

    Independent co-ed all-through school in Kingston upon Thames for ages 4–18. Selective entry, Christian ethos.

    All ThroughGirlsDay
    £26,889/yr dayAggregate rank #33
  26. #26
    84.1

    Harrow School

    Harrow

    Independent boys senior school in Harrow for ages 13–18. Selective entry, Church of England ethos.

    SeniorBoysBoarding
    Fees TBC/yr dayAggregate rank #28
  27. #27
    83.7

    Concord College

    Shropshire

    Independent co-ed senior school in Shropshire for ages 13–19, day or boarding. Selective entry.

    SeniorCo EdBoth
    £21,600 – £22,500/yr dayAggregate rank #30
  28. #28
    83.5

    Bancroft's School

    Redbridge

    Independent boys all-through school in Redbridge for ages 7–18. Selective entry, C of E ethos.

    All ThroughBoysDay
    £16,740 – £27,840/yr dayAggregate rank #27
  29. #29
    82.7

    Nottingham High School

    Nottingham

    Independent boys all-through school in Nottingham for ages 3–18. Selective entry.

    All ThroughBoysDay
    £18,447 – £23,154/yr dayAggregate rank #19
  30. #30
    82.6

    Withington Girls' School

    Manchester

    Independent girls all-through school in Manchester for ages 7–18. Selective entry.

    All ThroughGirlsDay
    £11,875 – £19,998/yr dayAggregate rank #36
  31. #31
    82.5

    Alleyn's School

    Southwark

    Independent co-ed all-through school in Southwark for ages 4–18. Selective entry.

    All ThroughCo EdDay
    £19,320 – £27,000/yr dayAggregate rank #29
  32. #32
    82.4

    Royal Grammar School Guildford

    Guildford

    Independent boys all-through school in Surrey for ages 3–18. Selective entry, C of E ethos.

    All ThroughCo EdDay
    £14,103 – £28,080/yr dayAggregate rank #22
  33. #33
    82.2

    Brighton College

    Brighton and Hove

    Independent co-ed all-through school in Brighton and Hove for ages 3–18, day or boarding. Selective entry, top-tier London fees.

    All ThroughCo EdBoth
    £4,761 – £36,933/yr dayAggregate rank #31
  34. #34
    82.0

    James Allen's Girls' School

    Southwark

    Independent girls all-through school in Southwark for ages 4–18. Selective entry.

    All ThroughGirlsDay
    £29,352/yr day
  35. #35
    81.4

    City of London School for Girls

    City of London

    Independent girls senior school in City of London for ages 7–18. Selective entry.

    SeniorGirlsDay
    £30,247/yr dayAggregate rank #32
  36. #36
    81.2

    Trinity School

    Croydon

    Independent boys senior school in Croydon for ages 10–18. Selective entry.

    SeniorBoysDay
    £29,240 – £30,468/yr dayAggregate rank #39
  37. #37
    81.0

    Godolphin and Latymer School

    Hammersmith and Fulham

    Independent girls senior school in Hammersmith and Fulham for ages 11–18. Selective entry, top-tier London fees.

    SeniorGirlsDay
    £33,678 – £35,094/yr dayAggregate rank #34
  38. #38
    80.3

    Sevenoaks School

    Sevenoaks

    Independent co-ed all-through school in Kent for ages 11–18, day or boarding. Selective entry, top-tier London fees.

    SeniorCo EdBoth
    £35,925 – £38,202/yr dayAggregate rank #42
  39. #39
    79.4

    Wellington College

    Bracknell Forest

    Independent co-ed senior school in Bracknell Forest for ages 13–18, day or boarding. Selective entry, C of E ethos, top-tier London fees.

    SeniorCo EdBoth
    £28,050 – £45,750/yr dayAggregate rank #26
  40. #40
    79.4

    King Edward's School, Birmingham

    Birmingham

    Independent boys senior school in Birmingham for ages 11–18. Selective entry, Christian ethos.

    SeniorBoysDay
    £18,324/yr dayAggregate rank #35
  41. #41
    79.3

    Caterham School

    Tandridge

    Independent co-ed all-through school in Surrey for ages 3–18, day or boarding. Selective entry, Christian ethos.

    SeniorCo EdBoth
    £27,630 – £28,950/yr dayAggregate rank #6
  42. #42
    79.0

    Putney High School

    Wandsworth

    Independent girls all-through school in Wandsworth for ages 4–18. Selective entry.

    All ThroughGirlsDay
    £24,027 – £29,007/yr dayAggregate rank #18
  43. #43
    78.8

    Kingston Grammar School

    Kingston upon Thames

    Independent co-ed all-through school in Kingston upon Thames for ages 10–18. Selective entry.

    SeniorBoysDay
    £27,450 – £29,352/yr dayAggregate rank #38
  44. #44
    78.2

    Dulwich College

    Southwark

    Independent boys all-through school in Southwark for ages 0–18, day or boarding. Selective entry, top-tier London fees.

    All ThroughBoysBoth
    £23,796 – £32,118/yr dayAggregate rank #37
  45. #45
    77.1

    Cheltenham Ladies' College

    Cheltenham

    Independent girls school in Gloucestershire for ages 11–18. Selective entry, top-tier London fees.

    SeniorGirlsBoth
    £37,980/yr dayAggregate rank #27
  46. #46
    75.9

    The Haberdashers' Boys' School

    Hertsmere

    Independent boys all-through school in Hertfordshire for ages 4–18. Selective entry, top-tier London fees.

    All ThroughBoysDay
    £26,223 – £32,487/yr dayAggregate rank #42
  47. #47
    74.0

    Eltham College

    Bromley

    Independent boys all-through school in Bromley for ages 7–19, day or boarding. Selective entry, other ethos.

    All ThroughCo EdDay
    £24,657/yr dayAggregate rank #44
  48. #48
    73.5

    Abingdon School

    Vale of White Horse

    Independent co-ed all-through school in Oxfordshire for ages 4–18, day or boarding. Selective entry.

    SeniorCo EdBoth
    £28,500/yr dayAggregate rank #51
  49. #49
    73.2

    Benenden School

    Tunbridge Wells

    Independent girls senior school in Kent for ages 11–18, day or boarding. Selective entry, top-tier London fees.

    SeniorGirlsBoarding
    £35,415 – £42,495/yr dayAggregate rank #37
  50. #50
    71.1

    Oxford High School GDST

    Oxford

    Independent girls all-through school in Oxfordshire for ages 4–18. Selective entry.

    All ThroughGirlsDay
    £13,680 – £24,444/yr dayAggregate rank #41

About the Academic sub-index

The Academic sub-index re-weights three pillars of the Houseroom Index — Academic outcomes (raw exam metrics), Destinations (Oxbridge / Ivy / Russell Group placement) and Value-add (selectivity-adjusted) — to a single 0-100 scale. It deliberately excludes pastoral and future-readiness signals so it answers one question: which schools produce the strongest academic record?

Read the full methodology →