Buckinghamshire Council’s best secondary schools 2026

Trying to find the right school for your child in Buckinghamshire Council? You’re in the right place.

With so many options, many parents find themselves drowning in league tables and Ofsted reports. That’s exactly why we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Our expert team has analysed the latest 2024/2025 Department for Education data to bring you a list of the top-performing state secondary schools in Buckinghamshire Council.

We show two ranking tables, one for Progress 8 and one for GCSE 9–7 results, and also provide a complete list of all secondary schools in Buckinghamshire Council. This full list includes Progress 8 scores, GCSE 9–7 percentages, and Ofsted ratings where available. The schools in this table are ordered alphabetically rather than ranked, so you can easily see every school in one place, even if some data points are missing.

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Top secondary schools in Buckinghamshire Council by GCSE % 9–7

Wycombe Abbey in High Wycombe is currently ranked #1 in Buckinghamshire Council based on the percentage of GCSE grades awarded at 9–7. This measure highlights how many pupils achieve the very top exam results, giving a clear picture of each school’s academic excellence.

RankSchool nameTypeGenderProgress 8GCSE 9-7%Ofsted ᐧ Quality of educationOfsted ᐧ Behaviour & attitudesOfsted ᐧ Personal developmentOfsted ᐧ Leadership & management
1Wycombe AbbeyOther independent schoolGirls-98.6%----
2Dr Challoner's High SchoolAcademy converterGirls-82.7%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
3Beaconsfield High SchoolAcademy converterGirls-71.1%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
4Aylesbury High SchoolAcademy converterGirls-70.3%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
5Aylesbury Grammar SchoolAcademy converterBoys-67.2%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
6Royal Latin SchoolAcademy converterMixed-67.2%GoodOutstandingOutstandingGood
7Chesham Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-66.5%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
8Wycombe High SchoolAcademy converterGirls-66.2%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
9Sir Henry Floyd Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-66%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
10Sir William Borlase's Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-65.1%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
11The Royal Grammar School, High WycombeAcademy converterBoys-65.1%GoodOutstandingOutstandingGood
12Dr Challoner's Grammar SchoolAcademy converterBoys-64.9%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
13John Hampden Grammar SchoolAcademy converterBoys-61.7%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
14Burnham Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-55.6%----
15Thornton CollegeOther independent schoolGirls-48.7%----
16Pipers Corner SchoolOther independent schoolGirls-48.4%----
17St Mary's SchoolOther independent schoolGirls-45.1%----
18Stowe SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-39.3%----
19Thorpe House SchoolOther independent schoolBoys-36.4%----
20Cressex Community SchoolFoundation schoolMixed-23.7%----
21Pioneer Secondary AcademyFree schoolsMixed-21%GoodOutstandingOutstandingGood
22The Misbourne SchoolAcademy converterMixed-21%----
23St Michael's Catholic SchoolAcademy converterMixed-20.8%----
24Akeley Wood Senior SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-20.3%----
25Waddesdon Church of England SchoolAcademy converterMixed-19.6%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
26Amersham SchoolAcademy converterMixed-18.5%----
27Great Marlow SchoolAcademy converterMixed-17.9%----
28The Beaconsfield SchoolAcademy converterMixed-16.9%----
29John Colet SchoolAcademy converterMixed-16%----
30Holmer Green Senior SchoolAcademy converterMixed-15.5%----
31The Cottesloe SchoolFoundation schoolMixed-13.4%----
32Princes Risborough SchoolAcademy converterMixed-11.7%GoodGoodGoodGood
33The Aylesbury Vale AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-10.9%----
34The Mandeville SchoolAcademy converterMixed-10.5%InadequateRequires improvementGoodRequires improvement
35Buckingham SchoolCommunity schoolMixed-10.4%GoodRequires improvementGoodGood
36Chiltern Hills AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-10.3%----
37The Highcrest AcademyAcademy converterMixed-9.6%----
38The Chalfonts Community CollegeAcademy converterMixed-9.4%GoodGoodGoodGood
39Sir Thomas Fremantle SchoolFree schoolsMixed-8.5%----
40The Grange SchoolFoundation schoolMixed-7.5%GoodGoodGoodGood
41Sir William Ramsay SchoolAcademy converterMixed-7.1%Requires improvementInadequateRequires improvementInadequate
42E-Act Bourne End AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-6.5%GoodGoodGoodOutstanding
43Aylesbury UTCUniversity technical collegeMixed-4.2%Requires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvement
44Furze Down SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-0%----

Note: Rankings use 2024/2025 CSP data for state-funded schools and may not reflect recent changes, check school websites for the latest information.

Source

All secondary schools in Buckinghamshire Council

Below is the complete list of secondary schools in Buckinghamshire Council, including both state-funded and independent schools where data is available. This table provides an at-a-glance view of each school’s key performance metrics, including Progress 8 scores, the percentage of GCSE grades awarded at 9–7, and Ofsted ratings, where published.

School nameTypeGenderProgress 8GCSE 9-7%Ofsted ᐧ Quality of educationOfsted ᐧ Behaviour & attitudesOfsted ᐧ Personal developmentOfsted ᐧ Leadership & management
Akeley Wood Senior SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-20.3%----
Alfriston SchoolAcademy special converterGirls------
Amersham SchoolAcademy converterMixed-18.5%----
Ashfold SchoolOther independent schoolMixed------
Aylesbury Grammar SchoolAcademy converterBoys-67.2%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
Aylesbury High SchoolAcademy converterGirls-70.3%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
Aylesbury UTCUniversity technical collegeMixed-4.2%Requires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvement
Beaconsfield High SchoolAcademy converterGirls-71.1%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
Benjamin CollegeOther independent special schoolMixed------
Buckingham SchoolCommunity schoolMixed-10.4%GoodRequires improvementGoodGood
Burnham Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-55.6%----
Caldicott SchoolOther independent schoolBoys------
Chesham Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-66.5%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
Chiltern Hills AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-10.3%----
Chiltern Way AcademyAcademy special converterMixed--OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
Chiltern Wood SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed------
Cressex Community SchoolFoundation schoolMixed-23.7%----
Davenies SchoolOther independent schoolBoys------
Dr Challoner's Grammar SchoolAcademy converterBoys-64.9%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
Dr Challoner's High SchoolAcademy converterGirls-82.7%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
E-Act Bourne End AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-6.5%GoodGoodGoodOutstanding
Eton Dorney Independent Therapeutic SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Furze Down SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-0%----
Godstowe Preparatory SchoolOther independent schoolMixed------
Great Marlow SchoolAcademy converterMixed-17.9%----
Heritage House SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed------
Holmer Green Senior SchoolAcademy converterMixed-15.5%----
International School of Creative ArtsOther independent schoolMixed------
John Colet SchoolAcademy converterMixed-16%----
John Hampden Grammar SchoolAcademy converterBoys-61.7%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
Macintyre SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Pebble Brook SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed------
Pioneer Secondary AcademyFree schoolsMixed-21%GoodOutstandingOutstandingGood
Pipers Corner SchoolOther independent schoolGirls-48.4%----
Princes Risborough SchoolAcademy converterMixed-11.7%GoodGoodGoodGood
Progress Schools - BuckinghamshireOther independent special schoolMixed------
Red Kite SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Royal Latin SchoolAcademy converterMixed-67.2%GoodOutstandingOutstandingGood
Sir Henry Floyd Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-66%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
Sir Thomas Fremantle SchoolFree schoolsMixed-8.5%----
Sir William Borlase's Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed-65.1%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
Sir William Ramsay SchoolAcademy converterMixed-7.1%Requires improvementInadequateRequires improvementInadequate
St Mary's SchoolOther independent schoolGirls-45.1%----
St Michael's Catholic SchoolAcademy converterMixed-20.8%----
Stocklake Park Community SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed------
Stony Dean SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed------
Stowe SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-39.3%----
Swanbourne House SchoolOther independent schoolMixed------
Teikyo School UKOther independent schoolMixed------
The Aylesbury Vale AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-10.9%----
The Beacon SchoolOther independent schoolBoys------
The Beaconsfield SchoolAcademy converterMixed-16.9%----
The Chalfonts Community CollegeAcademy converterMixed-9.4%GoodGoodGoodGood
The Chalfonts Independent Grammar SchoolOther independent schoolMixed------
The Cottesloe SchoolFoundation schoolMixed-13.4%----
The Grange SchoolFoundation schoolMixed-7.5%GoodGoodGoodGood
The Highcrest AcademyAcademy converterMixed-9.6%----
The Kingsbrook SchoolFree schoolsMixed--GoodGoodOutstandingGood
The Mandeville SchoolAcademy converterMixed-10.5%InadequateRequires improvementGoodRequires improvement
The Misbourne SchoolAcademy converterMixed-21%----
The Pace CentreOther independent special schoolMixed------
The Royal Grammar School, High WycombeAcademy converterBoys-65.1%GoodOutstandingOutstandingGood
Thornton CollegeOther independent schoolGirls-48.7%----
Thorpe House SchoolOther independent schoolBoys-36.4%----
Unity CollegeOther independent special schoolMixed------
Waddesdon Church of England SchoolAcademy converterMixed-19.6%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
Wycombe AbbeyOther independent schoolGirls-98.6%----
Wycombe High SchoolAcademy converterGirls-66.2%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding

Source

Disclaimer

All data on this page is sourced from the Department for Education’s 2024/2025 Compare School Performance dataset. It includes state-funded and, where available, independent secondary schools. Please note that Progress 8 scores were not published by the DfE for the 2024/25 academic year, as this cohort did not have Key Stage 2 prior attainment data due to pandemic-related assessment cancellations.

Some schools may also be missing data for GCSE 9–7 results or Ofsted ratings due to unpublished or unavailable figures. Rankings are based only on schools with published data and may not reflect recent changes. Please check school websites for the latest information.

How we ranked the best schools in Buckinghamshire Council?

Why trust our rankings? Our analysis is based on the latest 2024/2025 data from the Department for Education’s Compare School Performance (CSP) database, which publishes official performance data for all secondary schools in England, including both state-funded and independent schools where available.

We’ve created separate tables to highlight top performers in three key areas:

  • Progress 8 (pupil progress from KS2 to GCSE)
  • GCSE 9–7 grades (academic excellence)
  • Overall school listings, with available Ofsted ratings

Schools are primarily ranked by their Progress 8 score. This clever metric doesn’t just reward schools with high-attaining intakes – it highlights the ones that genuinely support student growth by measuring progress from the end of primary school to GCSEs. It adjusts for prior attainment, making it one of the fairest ways to compare schools.

Where available, we also show the percentage of GCSE grades at 9–7 to reflect high academic achievement, and Ofsted ratings for added context. All figures come directly from CSP’s official dataset.

Where Progress 8 data is not available for any schools in Buckinghamshire Council, the corresponding table will not be shown. This simply means that no schools in this area had published Progress 8 scores at the time of the latest dataset, it does not reflect on the quality of the schools themselves.

How to support your child at home

Helping your child succeed at school doesn’t just happen in the classroom, the right support at home can make a big difference. Encourage a regular study routine, provide a quiet space for learning, and take an interest in what they’re covering in lessons. Even small actions, like checking in on homework or discussing what they learned that day, can build motivation and accountability.

If you’re looking for extra structure, our GCSE Revision Resources are designed to make studying easier. With expert-written notes, topic-by-topic exam questions, and mark schemes, your child can practise exactly what they need to know, when they need to know it.

Boosting confidence before exams

Confidence can make a huge difference to exam performance. Start by helping your child identify their strengths and weaknesses, then focus revision time on areas that need improvement. Practising under timed conditions can reduce exam-day nerves, while celebrating small wins along the way builds self-belief.

Our GCSE Exam Practice pages include hundreds of past-paper style questions and worked solutions, so students can walk into their exams knowing exactly what to expect. By building familiarity with the question styles and formats, they’ll feel prepared and ready to perform at their best.

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FAQs - best secondary schools in Buckinghamshire Council

Based on the latest Department for Education CSP data, the highest-rated secondary school in Buckinghamshire Council is Wycombe Abbey by GCSE 9–7 results. In the case of an exact tie across these measures, the first school in alphabetical order is shown here. For full details and to compare all schools, please refer to the performance tables above.
No. This guide covers state-funded secondary schools only, including grammar, comprehensive, academy, and free schools. Independent/private schools are not included in our rankings.
Applications are usually managed by Buckinghamshire Council local authority. You can find deadlines, admissions policies, and catchment area maps on the council’s official website.
Use Ofsted inspection reports, the Department for Education’s CSP performance tables, and our rankings to compare schools side by side. Visit schools during open days for first-hand impressions.
A Progress 8 score above 0 means students make better progress than the national average. Scores above +0.5 indicate well above average progress, while top-performing secondary schools typically achieve +0.7 or higher. The best schools in Buckinghamshire Council consistently score above +0.8.

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