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.
| Rank | School name | Type | Gender | Progress 8 | Ofsted rating | GCSE 9-7% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Church Stretton School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.44 | Good | 20.86% |
| 2 | The Priory School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.38 | Good | 25.04% |
| 3 | The Corbet School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.36 | Good | 20.26% |
| 4 | Sir John Talbot's School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.18 | Good | 18.79% |
| 5 | Mary Webb School and Science College | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.08 | Good | 14.52% |
| 6 | Meole Brace School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.22 | Good | 16.65% |
| 7 | The Community College, Bishop's Castle | Foundation school | Mixed | -0.22 | Good | 14.36% |
| 8 | Bridgnorth Endowed School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.24 | Good | 14.95% |
| 9 | The Lacon Childe School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.28 | Requires improvement | 16.53% |
| 10 | The Marches School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.29 | Good | 15.2% |
| 11 | Oldbury Wells School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.44 | Good | 15.16% |
| 12 | Belvidere School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.44 | - | 13.28% |
| 13 | Ludlow Church of England School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.47 | - | 8.74% |
| 14 | The Grove School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.48 | Requires improvement | 7.37% |
| 15 | The Thomas Adams School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.5 | Good | 14.59% |
| 16 | St Martins School (3-16 Learning Community) | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.52 | Good | 3.51% |
| 17 | Shrewsbury Academy | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.55 | Requires improvement | 8.27% |
| 18 | Lakelands Academy | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.63 | Good | 8.6% |
| 19 | Idsall School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.85 | - | 11.76% |
| 20 | William Brookes School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.95 | Requires improvement | 11.03% |
| 21 | Woodlands School | Academy special sponsor led | Mixed | -2.4 | Requires improvement | 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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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.
| Rank | School name | Type | Gender | Progress 8 | Ofsted rating | GCSE 9-7% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Concord College | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 88.06% |
| 2 | Moreton Hall School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 59.53% |
| 3 | Shrewsbury School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 51.77% |
| 4 | Shrewsbury High School | Other independent school | Girls | - | - | 38.56% |
| 5 | Oswestry School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 32.35% |
| 6 | Adcote School for Girls | Other independent school | Girls | - | - | 31.5% |
| 7 | Ellesmere College | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 25.35% |
| 8 | The Priory School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.38 | Good | 25.04% |
| 9 | Church Stretton School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.44 | Good | 20.86% |
| 10 | The Corbet School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.36 | Good | 20.26% |
| 11 | Sir John Talbot's School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.18 | Good | 18.79% |
| 12 | Meole Brace School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.22 | Good | 16.65% |
| 13 | The Lacon Childe School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.28 | Requires improvement | 16.53% |
| 14 | The Marches School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.29 | Good | 15.2% |
| 15 | Oldbury Wells School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.44 | Good | 15.16% |
| 16 | Bridgnorth Endowed School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.24 | Good | 14.95% |
| 17 | The Thomas Adams School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.5 | Good | 14.59% |
| 18 | Mary Webb School and Science College | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.08 | Good | 14.52% |
| 19 | The Community College, Bishop's Castle | Foundation school | Mixed | -0.22 | Good | 14.36% |
| 20 | Belvidere School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.44 | - | 13.28% |
| 21 | Idsall School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.85 | - | 11.76% |
| 22 | William Brookes School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.95 | Requires improvement | 11.03% |
| 23 | Bedstone College | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 10.91% |
| 24 | Ludlow Church of England School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.47 | - | 8.74% |
| 25 | Lakelands Academy | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.63 | Good | 8.6% |
| 26 | Shrewsbury Academy | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.55 | Requires improvement | 8.27% |
| 27 | The Grove School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.48 | Requires improvement | 7.37% |
| 28 | Bettws Lifehouse | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | 6.67% |
| 29 | St Martins School (3-16 Learning Community) | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.52 | Good | 3.51% |
| 30 | Woodlands School | Academy special sponsor led | Mixed | -2.4 | Requires improvement | 0% |
| 31 | Access School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | 0% |
| 32 | Lamledge School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | 0% |
| 33 | Physis Academy | Other independent special school | Girls | - | - | 0% |
| 34 | Smallbrook School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | 0% |
| 35 | The Henslow and Evolution School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | 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.
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 name | Type | Gender | Progress 8 | Ofsted rating | GCSE 9-7% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Access School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | 0% |
| Acorn Wood | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Adcote School for Girls | Other independent school | Girls | - | - | 31.5% |
| Bedstone College | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 10.91% |
| Belvidere School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.44 | - | 13.28% |
| Bettws Lifehouse | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | 6.67% |
| Birchfield School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Bridgnorth Endowed School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.24 | Good | 14.95% |
| Church Stretton School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.44 | Good | 20.86% |
| Compass Community School Vicarage Park | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Concord College | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 88.06% |
| Ellesmere College | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 25.35% |
| Esland Shropshire School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Harlescott House School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Idsall School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.85 | - | 11.76% |
| Lakelands Academy | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.63 | Good | 8.6% |
| Lamledge School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | 0% |
| Ludlow Church of England School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.47 | - | 8.74% |
| Mary Webb School and Science College | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.08 | Good | 14.52% |
| Meole Brace School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.22 | Good | 16.65% |
| Moor Park School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Moreton Hall School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 59.53% |
| Oldbury Wells School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.44 | Good | 15.16% |
| Options Higford | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Oswestry School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 32.35% |
| Overton School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Packwood Haugh School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Physis Academy | Other independent special school | Girls | - | - | 0% |
| Prestfelde School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Severndale Specialist Academy | Academy special converter | Mixed | - | - | - |
| Shrewsbury Academy | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.55 | Requires improvement | 8.27% |
| Shrewsbury High School | Other independent school | Girls | - | - | 38.56% |
| Shrewsbury School | Other independent school | Mixed | - | - | 51.77% |
| Sir John Talbot's School | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | +0.18 | Good | 18.79% |
| Smallbrook School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | 0% |
| St Martins School (3-16 Learning Community) | Academy sponsor led | Mixed | -0.52 | Good | 3.51% |
| The Community College, Bishop's Castle | Foundation school | Mixed | -0.22 | Good | 14.36% |
| The Corbet School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.36 | Good | 20.26% |
| The Fitzroy Academy | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| The Gables Learning Centre | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | - |
| The Grove School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.48 | Requires improvement | 7.37% |
| The Henslow and Evolution School | Other independent special school | Mixed | - | - | 0% |
| The Keystone Academy | Free schools special | Mixed | - | - | - |
| The Lacon Childe School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.28 | Requires improvement | 16.53% |
| The Marches School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.29 | Good | 15.2% |
| The Priory School | Academy converter | Mixed | +0.38 | Good | 25.04% |
| The Thomas Adams School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.5 | Good | 14.59% |
| William Brookes School | Academy converter | Mixed | -0.95 | Requires improvement | 11.03% |
| Woodlands School | Academy special sponsor led | Mixed | -2.4 | Requires improvement | 0% |
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.
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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.
Explore the best secondary schools in other areas
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