By Gabriel Princewill-
The latest edition of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide has unveiled the best-performing secondary state and independent schools in London, offering an authoritative insight into the country’s educational landscape.
The guide, now in its 31st edition, showcases schools that excel in academic performance and embrace initiatives focused on mental health and holistic development.
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Key findings from the guide highlighted the increasing focus on mental health within leading schools, where mentoring systems, talks from motivational speakers, and stress-anxiety workshops are integral to the educational experience.
It notably credits schools which are incorporating career advice into their curriculum, with inspiring initiatives such as inviting visiting speakers, including industry leaders and alumni.
Among the notable recognitions in the guide, Wilson’s School in Wallington secured the title of Secondary School of the Year for Academic Performance 2024.
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The school ranked third on the grammar school league tables in 2023 after coming second in 2022, but topped the list of schools by the Times. It is noted for its academic excellence and sporting success.
It last Ofsted inspection in 2022 saw it rated outstanding in its quality of education, good behaviour of pupils and leadership.
Its top ranking by the Sunday Times suggests its standards has not diminished, but is rather only getting stronger.
Williamson School gets top spot in Times ranking
The comprehensive category saw Lady Margaret School in Parsons Green was named Comprehensive School of the Year 2024.
The school, which embodies spiritual development through its partly theological curriculum, is reputed for its holistic training of its pupils, encouraging them to discuss and explore various philosophies and belief systems, sometimes leading to healthy debates.
Lady Margaret School is an impressive school for girls
Trained to be passionate advocates for justice, mutual love and empathy is an admirable quality if this school, which seeks to instill a rounded individual in all its pupils
In the independent sector, James Allen’s Girls School and Eltham College emerged as joint winners for the Best Independent School of the Year 2024.
St Paul’s Girls’ School claimed the top spot as the Independent School of the Year for Academic Performance 2024. Its pupils have long been high achievers, and generally end up at the tip universities in the Uk.
A spokesperson for the school told The Eye Of Media.Com:” we are very proud and honoured to have been ranked highly by the Sunday Times Parent Power.
We strive to instill strong values in our students through positive influence and insoiration.
The Sunday Times Parent Power National Awards recognized King’s Maths School in London as the Sixth Form College of the Year. These accolades underline the diverse strengths and achievements across London’s educational landscape.
The guide includes a comprehensive list of the top state secondary schools in London, showcasing institutions that prioritize academic excellence and student development.
Other leading performers include Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet, and The Henrietta Barnett School in Hampstead Garden Suburb .
Helen Davies, editor of Parent Power, emphasized the significance of these rankings in providing parents with a reliable guide to academic achievement in schools post-pandemic.
She acknowledged the challenges within the educational landscape and celebrated schools not just at the top but those rising, innovating, and fostering student flourishing.
Davies stated, “Being a teenager is hard enough, and the past few years since Covid have made life even harder. It is heartening to highlight the achievements of so many students and schools across the UK.”
The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide aims to present a more holistic view of academic excellence by incorporating details on extracurricular clubs, wellbeing initiatives, and school lunch menus.
The guide, available online and as a print supplement, continues to be a valuable resource for parents navigating the educational choices for their children.
Ambitious parents like to put their children in the best schools in order to maximize their chances of future success for their children.
Methodology of Parent Power
‘Schools are ranked by performance at A-level and GCSE in summer 2023. The number of A*, A and B grades gained are expressed as a percentage of the total number of A-level entries overall. This is double-weighted, Parent Power says.
‘The number of 9, 8, 7, A* and A grades gained at GCSE is expressed as a percentage of the total number of GCSE entries overall.
‘We include IGCSEs sat in independent schools. This is single-weighted. School rankings are based on their combined performance in these examinations.
*Parent Power ranks 400 of the best state secondary and grammar schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, the top 100 state schools in Scotland, 50 11-16 schools and 50 sixth form colleges. Parent Power ranks the top 300 independent schools in the UK, and 35 IB schools.
* If a school does not appear on the Parent Power league table it is most likely because it did not respond to our requests for its A-level and GCSE results, and the results could not be found in the public domain.
The Sunday Times is reputed for ranking schools and universities, and also has a longstanding reputation for ranking the rich list in the Uk.
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