GCSE Results 2025: Best Performing State Secondary Schools in England

The best performing state secondary schools in England for 2025 have been revealed, with some London pupils achieving exceptional results. Every single child studying GCSE English and Maths at Hampstead’s Henrietta Barnett School achieved a Grade 5 or above in the 2025/25 academic year, according to data released by the Department for Education. They were one of just 11 schools in England to achieve this feat.

Exceptional Performance by Wilson’s School

However, the boys at Wilson’s School, in Wallington, took it one step further. The selective grammar saw 100% of pupils achieve grade 5 or above in the English Baccalaureate – which measures performance across a wider set of core GCSE subjects. The impressive news comes a fortnight before parents in many areas face a deadline to submit for Year 7 places in September 2026.

Pupils across England received their exam results on August 21
(Image: Chris Ryan/Getty Images)

Missing Performance Indicator

However, one key performance indicator is missing from the league tables – pupil progress. This is because youngsters in the class of 2025 were not assessed at primary school due to the Covid lockdowns in 2020. As such, officials were unable to calculate an ‘added value’ score showing the extent to which schools had improved pupils’ performance over the course of their secondary school education. This helpful data will also be missing from next year’s school performance data for the same reason.

Comparing School Performance

Nonetheless, you can see how every school in England performed by using our interactive gadget. Type in the name of a school, or the local authority area, to see details of your school. Schools are ranked here by three metrics for Key Stage 4 education; the percentage of pupils achieving GCSE Grade 5 or above in English and Maths, the percentage of pupils of pupils achieving GCSE Grade 5 or above in the English Baccalaureate, and the average exam result for pupils in the school (which is based on an ‘Attainment’ score).

GCSE Results Trends

Overall, GCSE results were up slightly for the second year in a row for schools in England. The Grade-5 pass rate went up to 55 per cent from 54.6 per cent in 2024. That is also up on the pre-pandemic figure of 53.5 per cent. However, the Grade-5 pass rate for English and Maths was down on the previous year. The proportion of grades 7 to 9, which are equivalent to A*/A, rose by nearly 2 percentage points in 2025.

Regional Divide

The data for 2025 also showed a continued regional divide with just 17.8 per cent of GCSEs ranked at grade 7 or above in the North East of England, compared with 28.4 per cent in London.

Schools with 100% Grade 5 or Above in English and Maths

The following schools achieved 100% of pupils achieving Grade 5 or above in English and Maths:

• Colchester County High School for Girls
• Colchester Royal Grammar School *
• Kendrick School, Reading *
• King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford
• King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon *
• Newstead Wood School, Kent
• Reading School *
• St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School, Kent *
• Stratford Girls’ Grammar School
• The Henrietta Barnett School, Hampstead
• Wilson’s School, Sutton

Those marked with an asterisk have achieved 100% in this score for the second successive year.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the GCSE results for 2025 show a positive trend in overall performance, with some schools achieving exceptional results. However, the missing performance indicator of pupil progress and the regional divide in results are areas that need to be addressed. Parents and students can use the interactive gadget to compare school performance and make informed decisions about their education.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the English Baccalaureate?
A: The English Baccalaureate is a measure of performance across a wider set of core GCSE subjects.
Q: Why is pupil progress missing from the league tables?
A: Pupil progress is missing from the league tables because youngsters in the class of 2025 were not assessed at primary school due to the Covid lockdowns in 2020.
Q: How can I compare school performance?
A: You can compare school performance by using our interactive gadget, which ranks schools by three metrics for Key Stage 4 education.
Q: What is the regional divide in GCSE results?
A: The data for 2025 shows a continued regional divide with just 17.8 per cent of GCSEs ranked at grade 7 or above in the North East of England, compared with 28.4 per cent in London.
Q: How can I get more information about GCSE results and school performance?
A: You can subscribe to our daily newsletters for the latest and greatest updates from across London.