Best Secondary Schools in London: A Borough-by-Borough Guide (2026)

London has over 500 state secondary schools across 33 boroughs — the most competitive school market in England. From high-performing comprehensives in Sutton and Kingston to specialist academies in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, the range of options can be overwhelming. This guide helps you navigate the landscape by understanding what makes a school strong beyond its Ofsted rating, and how to use PickMySchool to compare schools across borough boundaries.

London admissions are coordinated by your home borough but you can apply to schools in any borough. You get up to 6 preferences on the Pan-London system. Key things to know: • Grammar schools: concentrated in Sutton (5), Bromley, Kingston, Enfield, Barnet, and Bexley • Faith schools: significant numbers in every borough — Catholic, Church of England, Jewish, Muslim • Selective schools: some non-grammar schools use banding tests to ensure a balanced intake • Distance: in inner London, admission distances can be under 500 metres for popular schools

On PickMySchool, enter your postcode and set a radius of 2–5 miles. London families often commute further than suburban families for a good school. Use these filters: • Sort by Attainment 8 score for GCSE results • Sort by Progress 8 to see which schools add the most value • Filter by Grammar or Selective for selective schools • Check the SEN tab for SEND provision strength The PKS score combines all these metrics into a single 0–10 rating for easy comparison.

Some standout boroughs for secondary results: • Sutton — highest GCSE averages, multiple grammar schools • Barnet — strong mix of grammars and comprehensives • Kingston — excellent comprehensives and one grammar • Hackney — dramatic improvement over 15 years, several Ark and Harris academies • Tower Hamlets — strongest Progress 8 scores, schools adding enormous value • Bromley — large borough with grammars and strong academies But don't overlook smaller boroughs — Richmond, Hammersmith, and Wandsworth all have individual schools that compete with the best nationally.

Ready to find the right school?