The top UK independent schools, scored openly
Nine pillars, transparent weights, multiple sources. The Houseroom Index blends academic outcomes, destinations, AI & future-readiness, pastoral care, value-add, access, parent sentiment and external consensus — see the methodology.
- #184.4
Guildford High School
Surreyvs Parent Power #5Academic93Whole-child86Future-ready55Academic outcomes96Destinations & outcomes92Future-readiness55Pastoral & wellbeing95Value-add88Access & breadth75Parent sentiment70External consensus70All ThroughGirlsDay4–18Independent girls all-through school in Surrey for ages 4–18. Selective entry, Christian ethos.
academically selective girls' day school 4-18strong focus on creativity and curiosityclose community with supportive pastoral care£16,203 – £25,989/yr day1,000 pupilsEst. 1888 - #282.6
North London Collegiate School
HarrowAcademic86Whole-child86Future-ready70Academic outcomes88Destinations & outcomes84Future-readiness70Pastoral & wellbeing95Value-add80Access & breadth75Parent sentiment70External consensus70All ThroughGirlsDay4–18Independent girls all-through school in Harrow for ages 4–18. Selective entry.
Ranked The Sunday Times Independent Secondary School of the Year 2026Offers both International Baccalaureate Diploma and A levelsStrong bursary and scholarship programmes£25,620 – £29,751/yr day1,050 pupilsEst. 1850 - #381.8
St Paul's Girls' School
Hammersmith and Fulhamvs Parent Power #6Academic92Whole-child79Future-ready55Academic outcomes96Destinations & outcomes88Future-readiness55Pastoral & wellbeing82Value-add88Access & breadth75Parent sentiment70External consensus70SeniorGirlsDay11–18Independent girls senior school in Hammersmith and Fulham for ages 11–18. Selective entry, C of E ethos, top-tier London fees.
No formal uniform — pupils dress in own clothes within a codeGustav Holst was Director of Music 1905-1934 and composed The Planets while teaching thereListed in The Schools Index as one of the world's 150 best private schools£37,242 – £40,227/yr day880 pupilsEst. 1904 - #481.0
Lady Eleanor Holles School
Richmond upon Thamesvs Parent Power #12Academic87Whole-child86Future-ready55Academic outcomes87Destinations & outcomes89Future-readiness55Pastoral & wellbeing95Value-add79Access & breadth75Parent sentiment70External consensus70All ThroughGirlsDay7–18Independent girls all-through school in Richmond upon Thames for ages 7–18. Selective entry, C of E ethos.
24-acre Hampton campus, exceptional for a London independentFounded 1710 — one of the oldest girls' schools in the countryPartnership with Hampton School delivering co-ed sixth-form lessons and societies£25,470 – £31,953/yr day800 pupilsEst. 1710 - #580.4
City of London School for Girls
City of Londonvs Parent Power #9Academic85Whole-child79Future-ready70Academic outcomes86Destinations & outcomes86Future-readiness70Pastoral & wellbeing82Value-add78Access & breadth75Parent sentiment70External consensus70SeniorGirlsDay7–18Independent girls senior school in City of London for ages 7–18. Selective entry.
selective admissionscity-centre locationforward-thinking and grounded education£30,247/yr day730 pupilsEst. 1894 - #679.1
Highgate School
Haringeyvs Parent Power #19Academic87Whole-child79Future-ready55Academic outcomes87Destinations & outcomes89Future-readiness55Pastoral & wellbeing82Value-add79Access & breadth75Parent sentiment70External consensus70All ThroughGirlsBoth3–19Independent girls all-through school in Haringey for ages 3–19, day or boarding. Selective entry, Christian ethos.
Sunday Times Independent School of the Decade 2021Co-educational since 2004 after 400+ years as a boys' school460-year history (founded 1565 by Sir Roger Cholmeley)£27,309 – £31,575/yr day1,321 pupilsEst. 1565 - #778.9
South Hampstead High School
Camdenvs Parent Power #16Academic83Whole-child86Future-ready55Academic outcomes84Destinations & outcomes84Future-readiness55Pastoral & wellbeing95Value-add76Access & breadth75Parent sentiment70External consensus70All ThroughGirlsDay4–18Independent girls all-through school in Camden for ages 4–18. Selective entry.
all-through 4-18girls-onlypart of Girls’ Day School Trust£24,558 – £30,060/yr day900 pupilsEst. 1876 - #877.6
Cheltenham Ladies' College
GloucestershireAcademic77Whole-child93Future-ready55Academic outcomes82Destinations & outcomes71Future-readiness55Pastoral & wellbeing95Value-add74Access & breadth90Parent sentiment70External consensus70GirlsBoarding11–18Independent girls school in Gloucestershire for ages 11–18. Selective entry, top-tier London fees.
£37,980 – £43,020/yr day833 pupils - #977.6
Wycombe Abbey
Buckinghamshirevs Parent Power #18Academic84Whole-child79Future-ready55Academic outcomes86Destinations & outcomes83Future-readiness55Pastoral & wellbeing82Value-add78Access & breadth75Parent sentiment70External consensus70SeniorGirlsBoarding11–18Independent girls senior school in Buckinghamshire for ages 11–18. Selective entry, Anglican ethos, top-tier London fees.
Top-three UK girls school170-acre parkland campusStrong full-boarding ethos£46,800/yr day650 pupilsEst. 1896 - #1076.1
Godolphin and Latymer School
Hammersmith and Fulhamvs Parent Power #4Academic81Whole-child79Future-ready55Academic outcomes81Destinations & outcomes83Future-readiness55Pastoral & wellbeing82Value-add73Access & breadth75Parent sentiment70External consensus70SeniorGirlsDay11–18Independent girls senior school in Hammersmith and Fulham for ages 11–18. Selective entry, top-tier London fees.
Selective girls' senior schoolOffers GCSE, A Level, and International BaccalaureateConsistently top 10 global IB rankings£33,672 – £35,094/yr day827 pupilsEst. 1861 - #1175.6
Putney High School
Wandsworthvs Parent Power #24Academic73Whole-child86Future-ready70Academic outcomes69Destinations & outcomes81Future-readiness70Pastoral & wellbeing95Value-add61Access & breadth75Parent sentiment70External consensus70All ThroughGirlsDay4–18Independent girls all-through school in Wandsworth for ages 4–18. Selective entry.
Rapid Prototyping Studio for product and app developmentJunior Forest SchoolBreathe environmental programme — RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medal for biophilia research£24,027 – £30,456/yr day740 pupilsEst. 1893 - #1275.6
Benenden School
KentAcademic73Whole-child93Future-ready55Academic outcomes75Destinations & outcomes72Future-readiness55Pastoral & wellbeing95Value-add67Access & breadth90Parent sentiment70External consensus70SeniorGirlsBoth11–18Independent girls senior school in Kent for ages 11–18, day or boarding. Selective entry, top-tier London fees.
extensive weekend activities included in fees24/7 medical care on-sitemeans-tested bursary support£35,415 – £42,495/yr day500 pupils - #1374.5
King Edward VI High School for Girls
BirminghamAcademic78Whole-child79Future-ready55Academic outcomes83Destinations & outcomes73Future-readiness55Pastoral & wellbeing82Value-add75Access & breadth75Parent sentiment70External consensus70SeniorGirlsDay11–18Independent girls senior school in Birmingham for ages 11–18. Selective entry, Christian ethos.
Telegraph UK Best Value Independent 2025National top 30 for sportTop 20 girls cricket£17,862 – £21,435/yr day665 pupilsEst. 1883 - #1472.8
Wimbledon High School
Mertonvs Parent Power #36Academic71Whole-child79Future-ready70Academic outcomes67Destinations & outcomes80Future-readiness70Pastoral & wellbeing82Value-add59Access & breadth75Parent sentiment70External consensus70All ThroughGirlsDay4–18Independent girls all-through school in Merton for ages 4–18. Selective entry.
Houses named after the four first girls to join the school in 1880Strong Body Strong Mind wellbeing frameworkSTEAM emphasis with c.50% of sixth formers studying Maths/Further Maths£23,673 – £30,456/yr day743 pupilsEst. 1880 - #1572.0
Withington Girls' School
Manchestervs Parent Power #35Academic73Whole-child79Future-ready55Academic outcomes82Destinations & outcomes63Future-readiness55Pastoral & wellbeing82Value-add74Access & breadth75Parent sentiment70External consensus70All ThroughGirlsDay7–18Independent girls all-through school in Manchester for ages 7–18. Selective entry.
academic selectivitystrong Junior to Senior School progressionexcellent A Level and GCSE results£11,875 – £19,998/yr day589 pupilsEst. 1890 - #1671.8
Roedean School
East SussexAcademic69Whole-child86Future-ready55Academic outcomes72Destinations & outcomes69Future-readiness55Pastoral & wellbeing95Value-add64Access & breadth75Parent sentiment70External consensus70SeniorGirlsBoth11–18Independent girls senior school in East Sussex for ages 11–18, day or boarding. Selective entry, top-tier London fees.
all-girls environmentboarding and day school optionsholistic learning experience£25,671 – £33,660/yr day615 pupils - #1771.7
Oxford High School GDST
Oxfordshirevs Parent Power #44Academic69Whole-child86Future-ready55Academic outcomes67Destinations & outcomes76Future-readiness55Pastoral & wellbeing95Value-add59Access & breadth75Parent sentiment70External consensus70All ThroughGirlsDay4–18Independent girls all-through school in Oxfordshire for ages 4–18. Selective entry.
all-through 4-18 all-girls schoolpart of the Girls' Day School Trust (GDST)strong focus on arts and STEM scholarships£13,680 – £24,444/yr day602 pupilsEst. 1875 - #1871.2
Channing School
Haringeyvs Parent Power #45Academic72Whole-child79Future-ready55Academic outcomes75Destinations & outcomes69Future-readiness55Pastoral & wellbeing82Value-add67Access & breadth75Parent sentiment70External consensus70All ThroughGirlsDay4–18Independent girls all-through school in Haringey for ages 4–18. Selective entry.
Unitarian heritage and ethos of free thinking200+ extracurricular clubs and 25 sports243-seat in-house theatre£24,660 – £27,570/yr day991 pupilsEst. 1885 - #1971.0
St Mary's School Ascot
BerkshireAcademic70Whole-child81Future-ready55Academic outcomes79Destinations & outcomes59Future-readiness55Pastoral & wellbeing82Value-add71Access & breadth80Parent sentiment70External consensus70SeniorGirlsBoarding11–18Independent girls senior school in Berkshire for ages 11–18. Selective entry, top-tier London fees.
full boarding schoolRoman Catholic ethossingle-sex girls' school£46,800/yr day380 pupils - #2070.1
Downe House
BerkshireAcademic66Whole-child86Future-ready55Academic outcomes71Destinations & outcomes62Future-readiness55Pastoral & wellbeing82Value-add63Access & breadth90Parent sentiment70External consensus70SeniorGirlsBoth11–18Independent girls senior school in Berkshire for ages 11–18, day or boarding. Selective entry, top-tier London fees.
Flexible boarding options (full, flexi, day)Strong pastoral careGirls-only education£33,588/yr day542 pupilsEst. 1907 - #2169.3
St Catherine's Bramley
SurreyAcademic68Whole-child79Future-ready55Academic outcomes75Destinations & outcomes60Future-readiness55Pastoral & wellbeing70Value-add67Access & breadth90Parent sentiment70External consensus70All ThroughGirlsBoth3–18Independent girls all-through school in Surrey for ages 3–18, day or boarding. Selective entry.
all-through 3-18strong academic resultsrich tradition combined with modern facilities£11,055 – £27,540/yr day31 pupils - #2269.0
Woldingham School
SurreyAcademic64Whole-child86Future-ready55Academic outcomes68Destinations & outcomes61Future-readiness55Pastoral & wellbeing82Value-add60Access & breadth90Parent sentiment70External consensus70SeniorGirlsBoth11–18Independent girls senior school in Surrey for ages 11–18, day or boarding. Selective entry, top-tier London fees.
all-girls schoolboarding and day optionsstate-of-the-art Sixth Form Centre£24,990 – £35,178/yr day534 pupilsEst. 1842
The Houseroom Index 2026 is computed from publicly verifiable sources plus Houseroom parent reviews. Scores update as data improves — read the methodology. Schools can claim their listing to fill data gaps.