Shropshire’s best secondary schools 2026

Trying to find the right school for your child in Shropshire? 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 Shropshire.

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 Shropshire. 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 Shropshire by GCSE % 9–7

Concord College in Acton Burnell is currently ranked #1 in Shropshire 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
1Concord CollegeOther independent schoolMixed-85.7%----
2Shrewsbury SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-56.1%----
3Shrewsbury High SchoolOther independent schoolGirls-50%----
4Moreton Hall SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-47.9%----
5Thomas Telford SchoolCity technology collegeMixed-31.9%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingGood
6Wrekin CollegeOther independent schoolMixed-30.9%----
7Oswestry SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-29.8%----
8The Priory SchoolAcademy converterMixed-29.4%GoodOutstandingOutstandingGood
9Ellesmere CollegeOther independent schoolMixed-28.2%----
10Adcote School for GirlsOther independent schoolGirls-22.6%----
11Bettws LifehouseOther independent special schoolMixed-21.4%----
12The Corbet SchoolAcademy converterMixed-18.4%----
13Sir John Talbot's SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-17.1%GoodGoodOutstandingOutstanding
14Church Stretton SchoolAcademy converterMixed-16.9%----
15Holy Trinity AcademyVoluntary aided schoolMixed-16.8%----
16Madeley AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-16.5%GoodGoodOutstandingGood
17The Marches SchoolAcademy converterMixed-16.3%GoodGoodGoodGood
18The Lacon Childe SchoolAcademy converterMixed-16.1%Requires improvementRequires improvementGoodRequires improvement
19Meole Brace SchoolAcademy converterMixed-15.2%GoodGoodGoodGood
20Oldbury Wells SchoolAcademy converterMixed-14%----
21Bridgnorth Endowed SchoolAcademy converterMixed-13.6%GoodGoodGoodGood
22The Community College, Bishop's CastleFoundation schoolMixed-13.3%----
23Belvidere SchoolAcademy converterMixed-12.6%Requires improvementRequires improvementGoodGood
24William Brookes SchoolAcademy converterMixed-12.6%Requires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvement
25Idsall SchoolAcademy converterMixed-12.3%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
26New Road AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-12.3%Requires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvement
27Lakelands AcademyAcademy converterMixed-12%GoodGoodGoodGood
28The Thomas Adams SchoolAcademy converterMixed-11.9%GoodGoodGoodGood
29Charlton SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-11.7%GoodGoodGoodGood
30Hadley Learning Community - Secondary PhaseAcademy converterMixed-11.6%----
31Ludlow Church of England SchoolAcademy converterMixed-10.8%Requires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvement
32Ercall Wood AcademyAcademy converterMixed-10.6%GoodGoodGoodGood
33Mary Webb School and Science CollegeAcademy converterMixed-10.3%GoodGoodGoodGood
34St Martins School (3-16 Learning Community)Academy sponsor ledMixed-9.6%GoodGoodGoodGood
35Haberdashers' Abraham DarbyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-8.6%GoodRequires improvementGoodGood
36The Grove SchoolAcademy converterMixed-8.6%GoodRequires improvementGoodGood
37Shrewsbury AcademyAcademy converterMixed-6.3%Requires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvement
38The Telford Langley SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-4.6%Requires improvementRequires improvementGoodRequires improvement
39The Telford Park SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-4.2%Requires improvementInadequateInadequateInadequate
40Southall SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-2.1%----
41QueenswayAcademy special sponsor ledMixed-0%GoodGoodGoodGood
42The Keystone AcademyFree schools specialMixed-0%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood

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 Shropshire

Below is the complete list of secondary schools in Shropshire, 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
Access SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Acorn WoodOther independent special schoolMixed------
Adcote School for GirlsOther independent schoolGirls-22.6%----
Aspris Telford SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Belvidere SchoolAcademy converterMixed-12.6%Requires improvementRequires improvementGoodGood
Bettws LifehouseOther independent special schoolMixed-21.4%----
Birchfield SchoolOther independent schoolMixed------
Bridgnorth Endowed SchoolAcademy converterMixed-13.6%GoodGoodGoodGood
Charlton SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-11.7%GoodGoodGoodGood
Church Stretton SchoolAcademy converterMixed-16.9%----
Compass Community School Vicarage ParkOther independent special schoolMixed------
Concord CollegeOther independent schoolMixed-85.7%----
Ellesmere CollegeOther independent schoolMixed-28.2%----
Ercall Wood AcademyAcademy converterMixed-10.6%GoodGoodGoodGood
Esland Shropshire SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Haberdashers' Abraham DarbyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-8.6%GoodRequires improvementGoodGood
Hadley Learning Community - Secondary PhaseAcademy converterMixed-11.6%----
Harlescott House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Holy Trinity AcademyVoluntary aided schoolMixed-16.8%----
Idsall SchoolAcademy converterMixed-12.3%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
Lakelands AcademyAcademy converterMixed-12%GoodGoodGoodGood
Lamledge SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Ludlow Church of England SchoolAcademy converterMixed-10.8%Requires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvement
Madeley AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-16.5%GoodGoodOutstandingGood
Mary Webb School and Science CollegeAcademy converterMixed-10.3%GoodGoodGoodGood
Meole Brace SchoolAcademy converterMixed-15.2%GoodGoodGoodGood
Moor Park SchoolOther independent schoolMixed------
Moreton Hall SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-47.9%----
New Road AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-12.3%Requires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvement
Oldbury Wells SchoolAcademy converterMixed-14%----
Options HigfordOther independent special schoolMixed------
Oswestry SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-29.8%----
Overley Hall SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Overton SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Packwood Haugh SchoolOther independent schoolMixed------
Physis AcademyOther independent special schoolGirls------
Prestfelde SchoolOther independent schoolMixed------
QueenswayAcademy special sponsor ledMixed-0%GoodGoodGoodGood
Rodenhurst SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Severndale Specialist AcademyAcademy special converterMixed--GoodGoodGoodGood
Shrewsbury AcademyAcademy converterMixed-6.3%Requires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvement
Shrewsbury High SchoolOther independent schoolGirls-50%----
Shrewsbury SchoolOther independent schoolMixed-56.1%----
Sir John Talbot's SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-17.1%GoodGoodOutstandingOutstanding
Smallbrook SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
Southall SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-2.1%----
St Martins School (3-16 Learning Community)Academy sponsor ledMixed-9.6%GoodGoodGoodGood
The Bridge at HLCCommunity special schoolMixed--OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingOutstanding
The Community College, Bishop's CastleFoundation schoolMixed-13.3%----
The Corbet SchoolAcademy converterMixed-18.4%----
The Fitzroy AcademyOther independent special schoolMixed------
The Gables Learning CentreOther independent special schoolMixed------
The Grove SchoolAcademy converterMixed-8.6%GoodRequires improvementGoodGood
The Henslow and Evolution SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
The Keystone AcademyFree schools specialMixed-0%Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
The Lacon Childe SchoolAcademy converterMixed-16.1%Requires improvementRequires improvementGoodRequires improvement
The Marches SchoolAcademy converterMixed-16.3%GoodGoodGoodGood
The Priory SchoolAcademy converterMixed-29.4%GoodOutstandingOutstandingGood
The RetreatOther independent schoolGirls------
The Seeds SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed------
The Telford Langley SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-4.6%Requires improvementRequires improvementGoodRequires improvement
The Telford Park SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-4.2%Requires improvementInadequateInadequateInadequate
The Thomas Adams SchoolAcademy converterMixed-11.9%GoodGoodGoodGood
Thomas Telford SchoolCity technology collegeMixed-31.9%OutstandingOutstandingOutstandingGood
William Brookes SchoolAcademy converterMixed-12.6%Requires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvementRequires improvement
Woodlands SchoolAcademy special sponsor ledMixed--Requires improvementGoodGoodGood
Wrekin CollegeOther independent schoolMixed-30.9%----

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 Shropshire?

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 Shropshire, 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 Shropshire

Based on the latest Department for Education CSP data, the highest-rated secondary school in Shropshire is Concord College 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 Shropshire 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 Shropshire consistently score above +0.8.

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