The best performing secondary state and independent schools in London have been revealed by The Sunday Times. 

The anticipated list comes as the UK’s highest-achieving secondary schools have been ranked by the first true set of post-pandemic examination results in the 31st edition of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide.

The guide is widely acknowledged as the most authoritative survey of the country’s top schools.

The latest edition found conversations around mental health are now ingrained in the leading schools with many offering mentoring systems, talks from motivational speakers and workshops offering study tips and techniques to help with stress and anxiety.

The guide also discovered good schools embed career advice into the curriculum and inspire pupils by inviting visiting speakers, from industry leaders to alumni.

You can see the full Parent Power Guide table published in The Sunday Times here.

See the best schools in London from The Sunday Times list

Wilson's School in Wallington was awarded the Secondary School of the Year for Academic Performance for 2024.

Elsewhere, Lady Margaret School in Parsons Green was named the Comprehensive School of the Year 2024.

James Allen’s Girls School and Eltham College were announced by The Sunday Times as joint winners for the best Independent School of the Year 2024. 

St Paul's Girls' School was named the top Independent School of the Year for Academic Performance 2024. 

There were also London winners in The Sunday Times Parent Power National Awards. 

King's Maths School in London was named Sixth Form College of the Year.

Top state secondary schools in London

  1. Wilson's School- Wallington, Sutton
  2. Queen Elizabeth's School-Barnet
  3. The Henrietta Barnett School- Hampstead Garden Suburb
  4. St Olave's Grammar School- Orpington
  5. The Tiffin Girls' School- Kingston
  6. Tiffin School- Kingston
  7. The Latymer School- Edmonton
  8. St Michael's Catholic Grammar School- Finchley
  9. Newstead Wood School- Orpington
  10. Sutton Grammar School-Sutton

Helen Davies, editor of Parent Power, said: “The educational landscape continues to be challenging across both the state and independent sectors, and this is the first true assessment of post-pandemic exam results.

“We believe these rankings – and all the additional information on offer in Parent Power – provide parents with a more reliable guide to academic achievement in schools today.

“The guide showcases academic excellence but also celebrates schools who may not be right at the top but are rising, innovating and helping pupils flourish."

She added: "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.

“This year Parent Power includes details on extracurricular clubs, wellbeing initiatives and school lunch menus – chicken katsu seems to be the dish of the day.”

The fully searchable national database of over 1,000 schools by name, local authority, town and postcode, is available online from Friday, December 1 and as a print supplement with The Sunday Times on Sunday, December 3.