Shropshire Council’s best secondary schools 2025

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

Top secondary schools in Shropshire Council by Progress 8

Church Stretton School in Church Stretton is currently ranked #1 in Shropshire Council 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%
2The Priory SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.38Good25.04%
3The Corbet SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.36Good20.26%
4Sir John Talbot's SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.18Good18.79%
5Mary Webb School and Science CollegeAcademy converterMixed+0.08Good14.52%
6Meole Brace SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.22Good16.65%
7The Community College, Bishop's CastleFoundation schoolMixed-0.22Good14.36%
8Bridgnorth Endowed SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.24Good14.95%
9The Lacon Childe SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.28Requires improvement16.53%
10The Marches SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.29Good15.2%
11Oldbury Wells SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.44Good15.16%
12Belvidere SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.44-13.28%
13Ludlow Church of England SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.47-8.74%
14The Grove SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.48Requires improvement7.37%
15The Thomas Adams SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.5Good14.59%
16St Martins School (3-16 Learning Community)Academy sponsor ledMixed-0.52Good3.51%
17Shrewsbury AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.55Requires improvement8.27%
18Lakelands AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.63Good8.6%
19Idsall SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.85-11.76%
20William Brookes SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.95Requires improvement11.03%
21Woodlands 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 Council by GCSE % 9–7

Concord College in Acton Burnell is currently ranked #1 in Shropshire 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 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%
5Oswestry SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--32.35%
6Adcote School for GirlsOther independent schoolGirls--31.5%
7Ellesmere CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--25.35%
8The Priory SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.38Good25.04%
9Church Stretton SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.44Good20.86%
10The Corbet SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.36Good20.26%
11Sir John Talbot's SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.18Good18.79%
12Meole Brace SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.22Good16.65%
13The Lacon Childe SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.28Requires improvement16.53%
14The Marches SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.29Good15.2%
15Oldbury Wells SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.44Good15.16%
16Bridgnorth Endowed SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.24Good14.95%
17The Thomas Adams SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.5Good14.59%
18Mary Webb School and Science CollegeAcademy converterMixed+0.08Good14.52%
19The Community College, Bishop's CastleFoundation schoolMixed-0.22Good14.36%
20Belvidere SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.44-13.28%
21Idsall SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.85-11.76%
22William Brookes SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.95Requires improvement11.03%
23Bedstone CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--10.91%
24Ludlow Church of England SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.47-8.74%
25Lakelands AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.63Good8.6%
26Shrewsbury AcademyAcademy converterMixed-0.55Requires improvement8.27%
27The Grove SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.48Requires improvement7.37%
28Bettws LifehouseOther independent special schoolMixed--6.67%
29St Martins School (3-16 Learning Community)Academy sponsor ledMixed-0.52Good3.51%
30Woodlands SchoolAcademy special sponsor ledMixed-2.4Requires improvement0%
31Access SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
32Lamledge SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
33Physis AcademyOther independent special schoolGirls--0%
34Smallbrook SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
35The 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.

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All secondary schools in Shropshire Council

Below is the complete list of secondary schools in Shropshire 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 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
Access SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
Acorn WoodOther independent special schoolMixed---
Adcote School for GirlsOther independent schoolGirls--31.5%
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%
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%
Esland Shropshire SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Harlescott House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
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%
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%
Oldbury Wells SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.44Good15.16%
Options HigfordOther independent special schoolMixed---
Oswestry SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--32.35%
Overton SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Packwood Haugh SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
Physis AcademyOther independent special schoolGirls--0%
Prestfelde SchoolOther independent 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%
St Martins School (3-16 Learning Community)Academy sponsor ledMixed-0.52Good3.51%
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 Thomas Adams SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.5Good14.59%
William Brookes SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.95Requires improvement11.03%
Woodlands SchoolAcademy special sponsor ledMixed-2.4Requires improvement0%

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 Council?

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 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.

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FAQs - best secondary schools in Shropshire Council

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

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