Shropshire’s best secondary schools 2025

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 2023/2024 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.

Top secondary schools in Shropshire by Progress 8

Church Stretton School in Church Stretton is currently ranked #1 in Shropshire based on its published Progress 8 score of +0.44. 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%
1Church Stretton SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.44Good20.86%
2Thomas Telford SchoolCity technology collegeMixed+0.43Good30.04%
3The Priory SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.38Good25.04%
4The Corbet SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.36Good20.26%
5Sir John Talbot's SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.18Good18.79%
6Mary Webb School and Science CollegeAcademy converterMixed+0.08Good14.52%
7Ercall Wood AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.12-6.19%
8Hadley Learning Community - Secondary PhaseAcademy converterMixed-0.21Good11.73%
9Holy Trinity AcademyVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.22Good13.43%
10Meole Brace SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.22Good16.65%
11The Community College, Bishop's CastleFoundation schoolMixed-0.22Good14.36%
12Bridgnorth Endowed SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.24Good14.95%
13The Lacon Childe SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.28Requires improvement16.53%
14Madeley AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.29Good18.2%
15The Marches SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.29Good15.2%
16Charlton SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.41Good10.16%
17Oldbury Wells SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.44Good15.16%
18Belvidere SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.44-13.28%
19Ludlow Church of England SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.47-8.74%
20The Grove SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.48Requires improvement7.37%
21The Thomas Adams SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.5Good14.59%
22St Martins School (3-16 Learning Community)Academy sponsor ledMixed-0.52Good3.51%
23Shrewsbury AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.55Requires improvement8.27%
24Lakelands AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.63Good8.6%
25Haberdashers' Abraham DarbyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.74Requires improvement11.66%
26Idsall SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.85-11.76%
27The Telford Park SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.88-4.66%
28William Brookes SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.95Requires improvement11.03%
29The Telford Langley SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-1.04Requires improvement6.5%
30The Telford Priory SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-1.06-6.49%
31Southall SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.4Good0%
32QueenswayAcademy special sponsor ledMixed-2.13Good0%
33Woodlands SchoolAcademy special sponsor ledMixed-2.4Requires improvement0%

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

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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 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
1Concord CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--88.06%
2Moreton Hall SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--59.53%
3Shrewsbury SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--51.77%
4Shrewsbury High SchoolOther independent schoolGirls--38.56%
5Wrekin CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--34.1%
6Oswestry SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--32.35%
7Adcote School for GirlsOther independent schoolGirls--31.5%
8Thomas Telford SchoolCity technology collegeMixed+0.43Good30.04%
9Ellesmere CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--25.35%
10The Priory SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.38Good25.04%
11Church Stretton SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.44Good20.86%
12The Corbet SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.36Good20.26%
13Sir John Talbot's SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.18Good18.79%
14Madeley AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.29Good18.2%
15Meole Brace SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.22Good16.65%
16The Lacon Childe SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.28Requires improvement16.53%
17The Marches SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.29Good15.2%
18Oldbury Wells SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.44Good15.16%
19Bridgnorth Endowed SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.24Good14.95%
20The Thomas Adams SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.5Good14.59%
21Mary Webb School and Science CollegeAcademy converterMixed+0.08Good14.52%
22The Community College, Bishop's CastleFoundation schoolMixed-0.22Good14.36%
23Holy Trinity AcademyVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.22Good13.43%
24Belvidere SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.44-13.28%
25Idsall SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.85-11.76%
26Hadley Learning Community - Secondary PhaseAcademy converterMixed-0.21Good11.73%
27Haberdashers' Abraham DarbyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.74Requires improvement11.66%
28William Brookes SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.95Requires improvement11.03%
29Bedstone CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--10.91%
30Charlton SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.41Good10.16%
31Ludlow Church of England SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.47-8.74%
32Lakelands AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.63Good8.6%
33Shrewsbury AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.55Requires improvement8.27%
34The Grove SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.48Requires improvement7.37%
35Bettws LifehouseOther independent special schoolMixed--6.67%
36The Telford Langley SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-1.04Requires improvement6.5%
37The Telford Priory SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-1.06-6.49%
38Ercall Wood AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.12-6.19%
39The Telford Park SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.88-4.66%
40St Martins School (3-16 Learning Community)Academy sponsor ledMixed-0.52Good3.51%
41QueenswayAcademy special sponsor ledMixed-2.13Good0%
42Southall SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.4Good0%
43Woodlands SchoolAcademy special sponsor ledMixed-2.4Requires improvement0%
44Access SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
45Lamledge SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
46Physis AcademyOther independent special schoolGirls--0%
47Smallbrook SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
48The Henslow and Evolution SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--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 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 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
Access SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
Acorn WoodOther independent special schoolMixed---
Adcote School for GirlsOther independent schoolGirls--31.5%
Aspris Telford SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Bedstone CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--10.91%
Belvidere SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.44-13.28%
Bettws LifehouseOther independent special schoolMixed--6.67%
Birchfield SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
Bridgnorth Endowed SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.24Good14.95%
Charlton SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.41Good10.16%
Church Stretton SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.44Good20.86%
Compass Community School Vicarage ParkOther independent special schoolMixed---
Concord CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--88.06%
Ellesmere CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--25.35%
Ercall Wood AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.12-6.19%
Esland Shropshire SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Haberdashers' Abraham DarbyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.74Requires improvement11.66%
Hadley Learning Community - Secondary PhaseAcademy converterMixed-0.21Good11.73%
Harlescott House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Holy Trinity AcademyVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.22Good13.43%
Idsall SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.85-11.76%
Lakelands AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.63Good8.6%
Lamledge SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
Ludlow Church of England SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.47-8.74%
Madeley AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.29Good18.2%
Mary Webb School and Science CollegeAcademy converterMixed+0.08Good14.52%
Meole Brace SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.22Good16.65%
Moor Park SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
Moreton Hall SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--59.53%
New Road AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-Requires improvement-
Oldbury Wells SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.44Good15.16%
Options HigfordOther independent special schoolMixed---
Oswestry SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--32.35%
Overley Hall SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Overton SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Packwood Haugh SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
Physis AcademyOther independent special schoolGirls--0%
Prestfelde SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
QueenswayAcademy special sponsor ledMixed-2.13Good0%
Rodenhurst SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Severndale Specialist AcademyAcademy special converterMixed---
Shrewsbury AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.55Requires improvement8.27%
Shrewsbury High SchoolOther independent schoolGirls--38.56%
Shrewsbury SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--51.77%
Sir John Talbot's SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.18Good18.79%
Smallbrook SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
Southall SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-1.4Good0%
St Martins School (3-16 Learning Community)Academy sponsor ledMixed-0.52Good3.51%
The Bridge at HLCCommunity special schoolMixed-Outstanding-
The Community College, Bishop's CastleFoundation schoolMixed-0.22Good14.36%
The Corbet SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.36Good20.26%
The Fitzroy AcademyOther independent special schoolMixed---
The Gables Learning CentreOther independent special schoolMixed---
The Grove SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.48Requires improvement7.37%
The Henslow and Evolution SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
The Keystone AcademyFree schools specialMixed---
The Lacon Childe SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.28Requires improvement16.53%
The Marches SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.29Good15.2%
The Priory SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.38Good25.04%
The RetreatOther independent schoolGirls---
The Seeds SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
The Telford Langley SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-1.04Requires improvement6.5%
The Telford Park SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-Inadequate-
The Telford Park SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.88-4.66%
The Telford Priory SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-1.06-6.49%
The Thomas Adams SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.5Good14.59%
Thomas Telford SchoolCity technology collegeMixed+0.43Good30.04%
William Brookes SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.95Requires improvement11.03%
Woodlands SchoolAcademy special sponsor ledMixed-2.4Requires improvement0%
Wrekin CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--34.1%

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 Shropshire?

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 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 Church Stretton School by Progress 8 and 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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