London Private Schools | Top 10 Revealed

Finding the best private school in London for your child is an extremely difficult decision, the consequences are huge and there are a lot of different independent schools available. Your child’s future may well hinge on attending the right school, which is why you want to make sure you find the best fit for their needs. London, UK, hosts the highest number, and highest quality of private schools anywhere in the country. Below we have rated the 10 best independent schools in London and nearby home counties by grade performance.

1. North London Collegiate School
2. Westminster School
3. St Paul’s School
4. Wycombe Abbey School
5. City of London School for Girls
6. Guildford High School for Girls
7. Royal Grammar School
8. King’s College School
9. Eton
10. City of London School

While assembling this list of Top 10 London Private Schools we have primarily taken into account published GCSE grades. Generally, there is not a great deal of deviation between GCSE and A-level performance (< 1% in most cases), though you may want to check with that specific school if it makes your personal shortlist.

We have used the Independent Schools Table as the source of our statistics. Some schools choose not to publish their grades on this table, and in this case if we could not ascertain and verify the gradings from that school then they will not have made the list, despite having the stats to do so.

Though the achieved grades were the most important attribute to a school’s ranking on the list, we have also taken into account student happiness, student welfare and school facilities are secondary motivators where academic grades between schools have been very close.

1. North London Collegiate School

98.06% A*-A grades

North London Collegiate School is a highly acclaimed private school in Edgware, London. Rated highly in both student welfare and extra-curricular opportunities, entry is competitive and spaces are generally limited.

• Area: Edgware
• Day Fees: £5,530 – £6,545 per term
• Boarding Fees: N/A
• Entrance Exam: Yes – Make sure you pass, find out more…

2. Westminster School

97.86% A*-A grades

Westminster School is a well-known school near many of the city’s most famous landmarks, which was founded by Benedictine monks from Westminster Abbey in 1179. It consistently places amongst the best schools in the country with high grades and levels of student welfare.

Area: Westminster
Day Fees: £8,710 per term
Boarding Fees: £12,580 per term
Entrance Exam: Yes – Make sure you pass, find out more…

3. St Paul’s School

97.58% A*-A grades

St Paul’s School has been educating children for over 500 years. It was founded in 1509 to educated boys from all over the world indifferently, regardless of race, creed or social background. At the time this was unheard of, and St Paul’s carries on this attention to equality and fairness to this day.

Area: Barnes
Day Fees: £6,476 – £8,101 per term depending on age
Boarding Fees: £12,133 per term
Entrance Exam: Yes – Make sure you pass, find out more…

4. Wycombe Abbey School

97.39% A*-A grades

Wycombe Abbey School is a world leader in girls’ boarding education, with the school placing a special emphasis on academic excellence, empathy and integrity.

Area: High Wycombe
Day Fees: £9,450 per term
Boarding Fees: £12,600 per term
Entrance Exam: Yes – Make sure you pass, find out more…

5. City of London School for Girls

96.6% A*-A grades

City of London School for Girls is a non-denominational independent day school based in the London Square Mile. The school opened in 1894 and has resided at its present location in the Barbican since 1969.

Area: London
Day Fees: £5,727 per term
Boarding Fees: N/A
Entrance Exam: Yes – Make sure you pass, find out more…

6. Guildford High School for Girls

96.31% A*-A grades

Guild High School for Girls is situated on London Road, Guildford, and has close ties with the local Royal Grammar School. Founded in 1888, the school has long had a progressive view to girls’ education and this may contribute to their very high exam results on average. The school has produced several notable pupils in its time, including modern business and social leaders.

Area: Guildford
Day Fees: £10,314 – £16,728 per term depending on age
Boarding Fees: N/A
Entrance Exam: Yes – Make sure you pass, find out more…

7. Royal Grammar School

96.26% A*-A grades

Royal Grammar School was founded in 1509 and still maintains its Tudor school house from that time period, lovingly kept and maintained by the school. A boys-only school, Royal Grammar School inspires a strong sense of community within the student populace – including a school-hymn.

Area: Guildford
Day Fees: £5,865 per term, with £274 per term lunch charge for First and Second Forms
Boarding Fees: N/A
Entrance Exam: Yes – Make sure you pass, find out more…

8. King’s College School

95.7% A*-A grades

King’s College School was founded in 1829, and occupies a site in Wimbledon, London. A member of the Eton Group, it is a boys-only school who accept girls into their Sixth Form. Their school motto Sancte et Sapienter translates to With Holiness and Wisdom and reflects well their general school outlook.

Area: Wimbledon
Day Fees: £5,750 – £6,995 per term
Boarding Fees: N/A
Entrance Exam: Yes – Make sure you pass, find out more…

9. Eton

95.56% A*-A grades

Eton is among the most well-known and south-after schools in the world, responsible for educating many current and prior members of parliament, prime ministers, members of the royal family and other notable people.

Area: Windsor
Day Fees: N/A
Boarding Fees: £12,354 per term
Entrance Exam: Yes – Make sure you pass, find out more…

10. City of London School

92.54% A*/A

City of London School is an independent day school for boys, and was founded in 1442 for the benefit of local children. It had a radical approach, allowing pupils of various religions to join and allowed science in the curriculum long before it was standard to see those things in the education system.

Area: London
Day Fees: £5,577 per term
Boarding Fees: N/A
Entrance Exam: Yes – Make sure you pass, find out more…