Introduction

Welcome to the 2011 edition of The Sunday Times Parent Power, a fully searchable database of Britain's leading schools. Parent Power has been designed to enable you to quickly search and compare the top 2,000 state and independent schools, all ranked by their recent examination results in the unique Parent Power tables. There are two main ways to access the schools' information -

Via the league tables – listed beneath the image on the home page or accessed via the LEAGUE TABLES button on the main navigation bar.
Via the SEARCH button on the main navigation bar.

Searching by Parent Power tables

The Parent Power tables are divided into four broad categories: state primary, state secondary, independent secondary and independent preparatory schools. Within each of these groupings, there are several sub-groupings of schools. For example, in addition to our table of the top 500 state secondary schools, there are smaller tables for the top 50 state secondary schools without sixth forms, the top 50 sixth form colleges, the top 50 state secondary schools in Scotland, and the top state secondaries offering the International Baccalaureate. The full menu of 14 league tables available on this website is shown on the home page. To view our selection of the best schools from each of these categories simply click on the relevant section. The database will compile the table (which may take a few seconds) and display the results in rank order.

From this point, you have a number of options:

Access a school's details by clicking on its title in the table
Refine the table you have called up in a number of ways.

You can re-rank all of our tables by clicking on any of the columns or by using the small arrows in each column header. For example, by clicking on "town" at the head of the relevant column you can sort the schools alphabetically by location. This will help you identify the schools closest to the area you are interested in (although using the website's search engine will perform the same task more efficiently, see below). The schools can also be sorted alphabetically by clicking on "name". Where two sets of examination results are combined to produce an overall ranking for a school (A-levels and GCSEs, or Highers and Standard Grade/Intermediate 2), rankings for each of the examinations individually can be produced by clicking at the head of the A-level/GCSE/Higher/Standard Grade Rank column. So clicking on the A-level rank column will produce a table of schools ranked solely on performance in A-level examinations. This will display in ascending order (from the bottom of the table up) in the first instance, but clicking on the column header a second time will rank the schools in descending order (from the best down).

For A-levels, following the introduction of the new A* grade, schools can be ranked by attainment at A* and A*/A as well as the ranking formula A*-B – again by clicking on the relevant column.

The formulae by which the various tables are ranked is outlined below. Both state and independent secondary schools are ranked equally where examination data is identical to one decimal place.

The number of pupils taking the examinations separates state primary schools that share the same aggregate SAT score. So, a school with 30 children achieving Key Stage 2, level 4 will rank above a school where 25 children have reached this standard.

Gender classification

The gender by which schools are classified on this website is the predominant gender of the main intake. Only schools that are fully mixed throughout are classified mixed. So a senior girls school with a mixed prep department will be shown in tables as a girls school, although its Parent Power listing page will contain the additional information to show there is a mixed prep department. Where it is indicated there is a mixed nursery, this means there is a mixed intake to the age of 4, a mixed pre prep school has a mixed intake to the age of 7, while a school with a mixed prep department has a mixed intake up to the age of 11 or 13. So, a girls school that takes boys into its nursery (2-4), pre prep school (4-7) and prep department (7-11/13) would be classified as girls, mixed prep under gender of entry on its listing page, but show as a girls' school in any tables.

The Parent Power tables explained

The 14 school league tables are compiled to unique Sunday Times formulae that identify the highest achieving schools academically by the performance of pupils in recent public examinations.

Independent secondary (432 schools)

Schools are ranked by performance at A-level and GCSE in summer 2011. The number of A*, A and B grades gained is expressed as a percentage of the total number of A-level entries overall. This is double-weighted. The number of A* and A grades gained at GCSE is expressed as a percentage of the total number of GCSE entries overall. This is single weighted. School rankings are based on their combined performance in these examinations. Rankings based on performance at A-level or GCSE alone can be found by clicking on the relevant columns displayed in the league table. A number of schools have neither released examination data to The Sunday Times this year or published it on their website. These schools have been excluded from our rankings. The schools (and their most recent Parent Power ranking in brackets where applicable) include:

Abbotsholme School, Uttoxeter
Adcote School for Girls
Bruton School for Girls (270=)
Dover College
Dunottar School (254)
Frensham Heights (368)
GEMS Bolitho School (371)
Halliford School (424)
Hethersett Old Hall School (369)
Mander Portman Woodward (359)
Milton Abbey School, Blandford
Monkton Combe School, Bath
More House School, Farnham (439)
Pangbourne College (396=)
Reed School, Selby
Rishworth School, Sowerby Bridge
Royal Wolverhampton School (358)
St Mary's College, Liverpool (364=)
Sherborne School (181)
Shiplake College
St Christopher's School, Letchworth (344)
St David's College, Llandudno (442)
The Park School, Yeovil (360)
The Peterborough School (288)
Wellingborough School (321=)
Wycliffe College, Stonehouse (404)

Independent secondary (11-16)/(small sixth form) (50 schools)

Independent schools catering for 11-16-year-olds or those with small sixth forms (with 10 or fewer A-level candidates in 2011) are ranked by performance at GCSE examinations alone in summer 2011. The number of A* and A grades gained at GCSE is expressed as a percentage of the total number of GCSE entries overall. A-level results achieved in those schools with a small sixth form have been disregarded. All rankings in this category ignore GCSE performance of the schools in the main independent secondary league table. They are rankings solely among independent schools with small or no sixth forms.

Scottish independent secondary (Higher/Standard) (28 schools)

Independent schools in Scotland following the Scottish examination system are ranked on performance in Higher and Advanced Higher by the end of S6 and on Standard and Intermediate 2 examinations taken in S4 in summer 2011. The number of A and B grades gained is expressed as a percentage of the total number of Higher and Advanced Higher entries overall. This is double-weighted. The combined number of Standard grade 1s and Intermediate 2 grade As is expressed as a percentage of the combined total number of Standard and Intermediate 2 entries overall. This is single weighted. School rankings are based on their combined performance in these examinations. Rankings based on performance at Highers or Standard/Intermediate 2 alone can be found by clicking on the relevant columns displayed in the league table.

Scottish independent secondary (A-level/GCSE) (7 schools)

Schools are ranked by performance at A-level and GCSE in summer 2011. The number of A*, A and B grades gained is expressed as a percentage of the total number of A-level entries overall. This is double-weighted. The number of A* and A grades gained at GCSE is expressed as a percentage of the total number of GCSE entries overall. This is single weighted. School rankings are based on their combined performance in these examinations and the seven schools are included in the main UK independent secondary school table. Rankings based on performance at A-level or GCSE alone can be found by clicking on the relevant columns displayed in the league table.

The top independent secondary schools (International Baccalaureate) (46 schools)

Schools are ranked by the average number of points gained in International Baccalaureate examinations in summer 2011. The maximum score is 45 points. The league table also displays the proportions of entries gaining the top two or top three IB grades (7 and 6 or 7, 6 and 5). The proportion of students achieving an IB diploma pass and the proportion of sixth formers entered for IB are also listed. The latter indicates how widespread the IB is within a school. Rankings based on all these outcomes can be obtained by clicking on the relevant columns.

The top independent secondary schools (Pre-U) (18 schools)

This table was introduced last year following the first sitting of this new diploma-style examination in summer 2010. Introduced by Cambridge University, it is designed to be more academically stretching than A-levels with attainment at the top end (Distinction 1 (D1) well ahead of the highest A* A-level grade. Performance is measured at three levels, each divided into three section – Distinction (D1, D2 and D3), Merit (M1, M2 and M3) and Pass (P1, P2 and P3). We have ranked schools on the proportion of Pre-U entries in summer 2011 achieving one of the three Distinction grades. At present, only a few schools have adopted the Pre-U en masse – most notably Westminster School and Winchester College. Schools with 10 candidates or fewer for the examination are excluded from our table. Where schools also offer A-levels, the A-level ranking will appear at the head of the school’s results page, but the school’s presence in the Pre-U rankings should be indicated in the Comments field.

Independent preparatory and junior (150 schools)

Prep schools whose pupils take Standard Assessment Tests (Sats) are ranked on their aggregated performance at Key Stage 2, level 5 for English, maths and science in 2008, 2009 and 2010. Rankings based on performance in each year can be obtained by clicking on the head of the respective columns in the league table.

State secondary (501 schools)

State secondary (11-16) (50 schools)

Sixth form colleges are ranked on their performance in public examinations in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The total number of level 3 points earned on average each year is aggregated to produce an overall three-year score for each college. Rankings based on performance in 2008, 2009 and 2010 alone can be produced by clicking on the relevant columns displayed in the league table.

Sixth form colleges (50 schools)

Scottish state secondary (50 schools)

Scottish state secondary schools are ranked on performance over three years (2008, 2009 and 2010) in Highers taken by the end of S6 and in Standard and Intermediate 2 examinations in S4. The percentage of the S4 roll gaining five or more A-C grades at Highers by the end of S6 is double-weighted. The percentage of the S4 roll gaining five or more Standard grades 1 and 2 or Intermediate 2 grades A-C in S4 is single weighted. School rankings are based on their combined performance in these examinations. Rankings based on performance at Highers or Standard/Intermediate 2 alone can be found by clicking on the relevant columns displayed in the league table.

The top state secondary schools (International Baccalaureate) (21 schools)

State primary (500 schools)

Primary schools are ranked on their aggregated performance in Standard Assessment Tests (Sats) in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The proportion of pupils achieving level 4 at Key Stage 2 (taken by 11-year-olds) in both English and maths in each of those three years are taken to produce an overall aggregate score on which schools are then ranked. Rankings based on performance in each year can be obtained by clicking on the head of the respective columns in the league table. Only those schools where 20 or more pupils on average have taken these examinations are included. Where scores are level, rankings are determined by the average number of children entered for the tests over the three-year period. Although, last year’s rankings are published, the two years’ results are not directly comparable. Rankings for 2010 and previously were based on aggregating the proportion of children achieving KS2, level 4 separately in English, maths and science, giving a score out of 300 each year and an aggregate score out of 900 over the three years. This year, we look at the proportion of children achieving the KS2, level 4 SAT in both English and maths, giving a score out of 100 for the year therefore and an aggregate score out of 300 over the three years, 2008-10. The abolition of the science SAT in 2010 has triggered our shift in methodology. About one in five primary schools now boycott SATs, so our table is based only on those who continue to enter their children for assessment.

Small state primary (50 schools)

Small primary schools are ranked on their aggregated performance in Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) in 2008, 2009 and 2010. The proportion of pupils achieving level 4 at Key Stage 2 (taken by 11-year-olds) in both English and maths in each of those three years are taken to produce an overall aggregate score on which schools are then ranked. Rankings based on performance in each year can be obtained by clicking on the head of the respective columns in the league table. Where scores are level, rankings are determined by the average number of children entered for the tests over the three-year period. Schools where more than 10 but fewer than 20 pupils on average have taken these examinations are included in this table. Although, last year’s rankings are published, the two years’ results are not directly comparable. Rankings for 2010 and previously were based on aggregating the proportion of children achieving KS2, level 4 separately in English, maths and science, giving a score out of 300 each year and an aggregate score out of 900 over the three years. This year, we look at the proportion of children achieving the KS2, level 4 SAT in both English and maths, giving a score out of 100 for the year therefore and an aggregate score out of 300 over the three years, 2008-10. The abolition of the science SAT in 2010 has triggered our shift in methodology. About one in five primary schools now boycott SATs, so our table is based only on those who continue to enter their children for assessment.

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