Teacher Back-to-School Gift: Free Test Builder for September only! Unlock now

Westminster’s best secondary schools 2025

Trying to find the right school for your child in Westminster? 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 2023/2024 Department for Education data to bring you a list of the top-performing state secondary schools in Westminster.

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 Westminster. 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.

Top secondary schools in Westminster by Progress 8

Francis Holland School is currently ranked #1 in Westminster based on its published Progress 8 score of +1.18. Progress 8 is a headline accountability measure used by the Department for Education to show how much progress pupils make between the end of primary school and their GCSEs, compared to students with similar prior attainment nationally.

RankSchool nameTypeGenderProgress 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
1Francis Holland SchoolOther independent schoolGirls+1.18-76.56%
2Maida Vale SchoolOther independent schoolMixed+1.04-27.5%
3St Augustine's Federated Schools: CE High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed+0.85Good20.44%
4Westminster AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.72Good15.14%
5Westminster SchoolOther independent schoolMixed+0.69-97.09%
6Paddington AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.53Outstanding35.6%
7Fairley House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed+0.49-0%
8Abingdon House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed+0.48--
9St George's Catholic SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.27-27.63%
10Queen's College, LondonOther independent schoolGirls+0.16-68.3%
11Sylvia Young Theatre SchoolOther independent schoolMixed+0.11-32.04%
12Westminster City SchoolAcademy converterBoys-1.66Good20.56%

Note: Rankings use 2023/2024 CSP data for state-funded schools and may not reflect recent changes, check school websites for the latest information.

Source

Examiner-written GCSE revision resources that improve your grades 2x

  • Written by expert teachers and examiners
  • Aligned to exam specifications
  • Everything you need to know, and nothing you don’t

Top secondary schools in Westminster by GCSE % 9–7

Westminster School is currently ranked #1 in Westminster 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 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
1Westminster SchoolOther independent schoolMixed+0.69-97.09%
2Francis Holland SchoolOther independent schoolGirls--83.33%
3Francis Holland SchoolOther independent schoolGirls+1.18-76.56%
4Queen's College, LondonOther independent schoolGirls+0.16-68.3%
5The Grey Coat HospitalAcademy converterGirls-Outstanding54.72%
6London Park School Mayfair and London Park School SixthOther independent schoolMixed--52.11%
7Wetherby Senior SchoolOther independent schoolBoys--48.21%
8The St Marylebone CofE SchoolAcademy converterGirls--42.1%
9Ark King Solomon AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-Outstanding40%
10Kensington Park SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--37.91%
11Paddington AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.53Outstanding35.6%
12Portland Place SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--34.93%
13Sylvia Young Theatre SchoolOther independent schoolMixed+0.11-32.04%
14Marylebone Boys' SchoolFree schoolsBoys-Good28.57%
15St George's Catholic SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.27-27.63%
16Maida Vale SchoolOther independent schoolMixed+1.04-27.5%
17Pimlico AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-Good26.66%
18Harris Academy St John's WoodAcademy sponsor ledMixed-Good25.23%
19Westminster City SchoolAcademy converterBoys-1.66Good20.56%
20St Augustine's Federated Schools: CE High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed+0.85Good20.44%
21Westminster AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.72Good15.14%
22Bales CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--13.16%
23The St Marylebone Church of England Bridge SchoolFree schools specialMixed-Good0%
24Fairley House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed+0.49-0%

Note: Rankings use 2023/2024 CSP data for state-funded schools and may not reflect recent changes, check school websites for the latest information.

Source

All secondary schools in Westminster

Below is the complete list of secondary schools in Westminster, 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 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
Abercorn SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
Abingdon House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed+0.48--
Ark King Solomon AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-Outstanding40%
Arnold House SchoolOther independent schoolBoys---
Bales CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--13.16%
Brighton College Prep KensingtonOther independent schoolMixed---
College Park SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-Good-
Eaton Square Prep SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
Eifa International SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
Fairley House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed+0.49-0%
Francis Holland SchoolOther independent schoolGirls--83.33%
Francis Holland SchoolOther independent schoolGirls+1.18-76.56%
Halcyon London International SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
Harris Academy St John's WoodAcademy sponsor ledMixed-Good25.23%
ICS LondonOther independent schoolMixed---
Kensington Park SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--37.91%
London Park School Mayfair and London Park School SixthOther independent schoolMixed--52.11%
Maida Vale SchoolOther independent schoolMixed+1.04-27.5%
Marylebone Boys' SchoolFree schoolsBoys-Good28.57%
Paddington AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.53Outstanding35.6%
Pimlico AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-Good26.66%
Portland Place SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--34.93%
Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-Good-
Queen's College, LondonOther independent schoolGirls+0.16-68.3%
Southbank International School WestminsterOther independent schoolMixed---
St Augustine's Federated Schools: CE High SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed+0.85Good20.44%
St George's Catholic SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.27-27.63%
Sylvia Young Theatre SchoolOther independent schoolMixed+0.11-32.04%
The American School in LondonOther independent schoolMixed---
The Grey Coat HospitalAcademy converterGirls-Outstanding54.72%
The St Marylebone Church of England Bridge SchoolFree schools specialMixed-Good0%
The St Marylebone CofE SchoolAcademy converterGirls--42.1%
Unity Girls High SchoolOther independent schoolGirls---
Westminster Abbey Choir SchoolOther independent schoolBoys---
Westminster AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.72Good15.14%
Westminster Cathedral Choir SchoolOther independent schoolBoys---
Westminster City SchoolAcademy converterBoys-1.66Good20.56%
Westminster SchoolOther independent schoolMixed+0.69-97.09%
Westminster Under SchoolOther independent schoolBoys---
Wetherby Preparatory SchoolOther independent schoolBoys---
Wetherby Senior SchoolOther independent schoolBoys--48.21%

Source

Disclaimer

All data on this page is sourced from the Department for Education’s 2023/2024 Compare School Performance dataset. It includes state-funded and, where available, independent secondary schools. Some schools may be missing data for Progress 8 scores, 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 Westminster?

Why trust our rankings? Our analysis is based on the latest 2023/2024 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 Westminster, 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.

Share this article

FAQs - best secondary schools in Westminster

Based on the latest Department for Education CSP data, the highest-rated secondary school in Westminster is Francis Holland School by Progress 8 and Westminster School 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 Greater London County Council. 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.
Ofsted rates secondary schools as Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate. Outstanding secondary schools excel in teaching quality, student behaviour, leadership, and outcomes.
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 Westminster consistently score above +0.8.

Explore our GCSE study tools