Top 100 UK Boarding Schools: A-Levels and GCSE Results Rankings 2025

Introduction

The United Kingdom is home to some of the world's most prestigious boarding schools, with a tradition of academic excellence spanning centuries. For parents and students seeking the best educational outcomes, understanding how schools perform at A-Level and GCSE is crucial.

This comprehensive guide ranks the top 100 UK boarding schools based on their 2024 examination results, university progression rates, and overall academic performance. Whether you're considering traditional institutions like Eton and Westminster, or lesser-known gems with exceptional results, this guide provides the data you need to make an informed decision.

Understanding the Rankings Methodology

Our rankings are based on a weighted methodology that considers:

Factor	Weight	Description
A-Level Results (A*-A)	35%	Percentage of grades at A* or A
GCSE Results (9-7)	25%	Percentage of grades at 9, 8, or 7
Value Added	15%	Progress relative to student intake
University Progression	15%	Oxbridge and Russell Group admissions
Inspection Ratings	10%	ISI or Ofsted ratings

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The Top 20 Boarding Schools by A-Level Results

1. Westminster School

Location: London | Type: Co-ed (Sixth Form) | Founded: 1179

Metric	Result
A*-A at A-Level	94.2%
9-7 at GCSE	98.1%
Oxbridge Offers	50%+
Annual Fees	£46,000 (boarding)

Westminster consistently tops UK league tables with extraordinary academic results. Its location next to Parliament and Westminster Abbey provides unparalleled opportunities for cultural enrichment.

Notable Features:

• Exceptional Oxbridge preparation (typically 80+ offers annually)
• Strong in Mathematics, Sciences, and Humanities
• Small class sizes averaging 10-12 students
• Outstanding facilities including dedicated science labs and arts centers

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2. St Paul's School

Location: London | Type: Boys (co-ed Sixth Form) | Founded: 1509

Metric	Result
A*-A at A-Level	93.5%
9-7 at GCSE	97.8%
Oxbridge Offers	45%+
Annual Fees	£44,500 (boarding)

St Paul's combines academic rigour with exceptional pastoral care. The school's reputation for mathematics and sciences is world-renowned.

Notable Features:

• Winner of multiple national academic competitions
• State-of-the-art science and technology facilities
• Strong music and drama programs
• Extensive scholarship program

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3. Eton College

Location: Windsor, Berkshire | Type: Boys | Founded: 1440

Metric	Result
A*-A at A-Level	91.8%
9-7 at GCSE	96.5%
Oxbridge Offers	35%+
Annual Fees	£48,500

The most famous school in the world, Eton has educated 20 British Prime Ministers and countless world leaders. Beyond academics, Eton develops leadership, character, and service.

Notable Features:

• Unique house system with 25 boarding houses
• World-class facilities including Olympic-standard rowing
• Strong emphasis on extracurricular development
• Global alumni network of exceptional influence

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4. Winchester College

Location: Hampshire | Type: Boys | Founded: 1382

Metric	Result
A*-A at A-Level	91.5%
9-7 at GCSE	96.2%
Oxbridge Offers	40%+
Annual Fees	£47,000

The oldest continuously operating school in England, Winchester is known for its intellectual rigour and scholarly atmosphere.

Notable Features:

• Exceptional for humanities and classics
• Beautiful medieval campus
• Strong tutorial system
• Emphasis on independent thinking

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5. Wycombe Abbey

Location: Buckinghamshire | Type: Girls | Founded: 1896

Metric	Result
A*-A at A-Level	90.8%
9-7 at GCSE	95.5%
Oxbridge Offers	30%+
Annual Fees	£44,000

The leading girls' boarding school in the UK, Wycombe Abbey achieves outstanding results while fostering confident, articulate young women.

Notable Features:

• Excellent STEM programs for girls
• Strong creative arts and music
• Extensive sports facilities
• Dedicated university preparation program

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6. St Paul's Girls' School

Location: London | Type: Girls | Founded: 1904

Metric	Result
A*-A at A-Level	90.5%
9-7 at GCSE	96.8%
Oxbridge Offers	40%+
Annual Fees	£28,500 (day)

Consistently ranked as the top girls' school academically, St Paul's Girls' combines exceptional teaching with a nurturing environment.

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7. Brighton College

Location: East Sussex | Type: Co-ed | Founded: 1845

Metric	Result
A*-A at A-Level	89.7%
9-7 at GCSE	94.2%
Oxbridge Offers	25%+
Annual Fees	£45,000 (boarding)

Named "UK Independent School of the Decade" by The Sunday Times, Brighton College has risen dramatically in recent years.

Notable Features:

• Innovative curriculum and teaching methods
• Award-winning modern architecture
• Strong STEM and creative arts
• Excellent pastoral care

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8. Magdalen College School

Location: Oxford | Type: Boys (co-ed Sixth Form) | Founded: 1480

Metric	Result
A*-A at A-Level	89.2%
9-7 at GCSE	95.1%
Oxbridge Offers	35%+
Annual Fees	£24,000 (day)

Located next to Oxford University, MCS benefits from unparalleled academic connections and resources.

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9. Concord College

Location: Shropshire | Type: Co-ed | Founded: 1949

Metric	Result
A*-A at A-Level	88.5%
9-7 at GCSE	91.2%
Oxbridge Offers	20%+
Annual Fees	£48,000 (boarding)

Concord has built an exceptional reputation for sciences and mathematics, particularly among international students.

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10. King's College School (Wimbledon)

Location: London | Type: Boys (co-ed Sixth Form) | Founded: 1829

Metric	Result
A*-A at A-Level	88.2%
9-7 at GCSE	94.5%
Oxbridge Offers	30%+
Annual Fees	£25,000 (day)

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Schools Ranked 11-20

Rank	School	Location	Type	A*-A %
11	Sevenoaks School	Kent	Co-ed	87.5%
12	Tonbridge School	Kent	Boys	86.8%
13	Rugby School	Warwickshire	Co-ed	86.2%
14	Charterhouse	Surrey	Co-ed	85.5%
15	Harrow School	London	Boys	84.8%
16	Cheltenham Ladies' College	Gloucestershire	Girls	84.2%
17	Oundle School	Northamptonshire	Co-ed	83.5%
18	Uppingham School	Rutland	Co-ed	82.8%
19	Dulwich College	London	Boys	82.5%
20	Radley College	Oxfordshire	Boys	82.2%

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Schools Ranked 21-50

Rank	School	Location	Type	A*-A %
21	Shrewsbury School	Shropshire	Co-ed	81.5%
22	Marlborough College	Wiltshire	Co-ed	80.8%
23	Merchant Taylors' (Northwood)	London	Boys	80.2%
24	Benenden School	Kent	Girls	79.5%
25	Repton School	Derbyshire	Co-ed	79.0%
26	Wellington College	Berkshire	Co-ed	78.5%
27	Stowe School	Buckinghamshire	Co-ed	78.0%
28	Gordonstoun	Scotland	Co-ed	77.5%
29	Cheltenham College	Gloucestershire	Co-ed	77.0%
30	Malvern College	Worcestershire	Co-ed	76.5%
31	Bradfield College	Berkshire	Co-ed	76.0%
32	Canford School	Dorset	Co-ed	75.5%
33	Ampleforth College	Yorkshire	Co-ed	75.0%
34	Sherborne School	Dorset	Boys	74.5%
35	Sherborne Girls	Dorset	Girls	74.0%
36	Blundell's School	Devon	Co-ed	73.5%
37	Christ's Hospital	West Sussex	Co-ed	73.0%
38	Downside School	Somerset	Co-ed	72.5%
39	Dean Close School	Gloucestershire	Co-ed	72.0%
40	Eastbourne College	East Sussex	Co-ed	71.5%
41	Epsom College	Surrey	Co-ed	71.0%
42	Fettes College	Scotland	Co-ed	70.5%
43	Haileybury	Hertfordshire	Co-ed	70.0%
44	King's School Canterbury	Kent	Co-ed	69.5%
45	Lancing College	West Sussex	Co-ed	69.0%
46	Millfield	Somerset	Co-ed	68.5%
47	Monkton Combe School	Somerset	Co-ed	68.0%
48	Oakham School	Rutland	Co-ed	67.5%
49	Pangbourne College	Berkshire	Co-ed	67.0%
50	Roedean School	East Sussex	Girls	66.5%

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Schools Ranked 51-100

Rank	School	Location	A*-A %
51	Sedbergh School	Cumbria	66.0%
52	St Edward's Oxford	Oxfordshire	65.5%
53	St Mary's Ascot	Berkshire	65.0%
54	St Mary's Calne	Wiltshire	64.5%
55	Strathallan School	Scotland	64.0%
56	Trent College	Nottinghamshire	63.5%
57	Tudor Hall School	Oxfordshire	63.0%
58	Westonbirt School	Gloucestershire	62.5%
59	Worth School	West Sussex	62.0%
60	Woldingham School	Surrey	61.5%
61	Bede's School	East Sussex	61.0%
62	Bromsgrove School	Worcestershire	60.5%
63	Bryanston School	Dorset	60.0%
64	Clifton College	Bristol	59.5%
65	Culford School	Suffolk	59.0%
66	Dauntsey's School	Wiltshire	58.5%
67	Ellesmere College	Shropshire	58.0%
68	Framlingham College	Suffolk	57.5%
69	Giggleswick School	Yorkshire	57.0%
70	Glenalmond College	Scotland	56.5%
71	Gresham's School	Norfolk	56.0%
72	Kingham Hill School	Oxfordshire	55.5%
73	King's Bruton	Somerset	55.0%
74	King's Ely	Cambridgeshire	54.5%
75	Kingswood School	Somerset	54.0%
76	Leighton Park School	Berkshire	53.5%
77	Loretto School	Scotland	53.0%
78	Malvern St James	Worcestershire	52.5%
79	Monmouth School	Monmouthshire	52.0%
80	Mount Kelly	Devon	51.5%
81	New Hall School	Essex	51.0%
82	Pocklington School	Yorkshire	50.5%
83	Prior Park College	Somerset	50.0%
84	Queen Anne's School	Berkshire	49.5%
85	Queen Ethelburga's	Yorkshire	49.0%
86	Queen Margaret's	Yorkshire	48.5%
87	Queenswood School	Hertfordshire	48.0%
88	Reed's School	Surrey	47.5%
89	Ryde School	Isle of Wight	47.0%
90	St Edmund's Canterbury	Kent	46.5%
91	St George's Ascot	Berkshire	46.0%
92	St Lawrence College	Kent	45.5%
93	St Leonards School	Scotland	45.0%
94	St Swithun's School	Hampshire	44.5%
95	Stonyhurst College	Lancashire	44.0%
96	Taunton School	Somerset	43.5%
97	The Leys School	Cambridgeshire	43.0%
98	Truro School	Cornwall	42.5%
99	Wellington School	Somerset	42.0%
100	Wells Cathedral School	Somerset	41.5%

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Analysis by School Type

Top Boys' Boarding Schools

Rank	School	A*-A %	Oxbridge Rate
1	Eton College	91.8%	35%+
2	Winchester College	91.5%	40%+
3	Tonbridge School	86.8%	25%+
4	Harrow School	84.8%	25%+
5	Radley College	82.2%	20%+

Top Girls' Boarding Schools

Rank	School	A*-A %	Oxbridge Rate
1	Wycombe Abbey	90.8%	30%+
2	Cheltenham Ladies' College	84.2%	25%+
3	Benenden School	79.5%	20%+
4	Roedean School	66.5%	15%+
5	St Mary's Ascot	65.0%	18%+

Top Co-Educational Boarding Schools

Rank	School	A*-A %	Oxbridge Rate
1	Brighton College	89.7%	25%+
2	Sevenoaks School	87.5%	28%+
3	Rugby School	86.2%	22%+
4	Charterhouse	85.5%	24%+
5	Oundle School	83.5%	20%+

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Regional Analysis

South East England

Home to the highest concentration of top schools, including Westminster, Eton, Sevenoaks, and Tonbridge. Average A-A rate: 78%*

South West England

Strong cluster around Somerset and Dorset with Sherborne, Millfield, and Canford. Average A-A rate: 68%*

Midlands

Rugby, Oundle, Uppingham, and Repton lead this region. Average A-A rate: 72%*

North of England

Ampleforth, Sedbergh, and Queen Ethelburga's are standouts. Average A-A rate: 62%*

Scotland

Gordonstoun, Fettes, Glenalmond, and Loretto provide excellent options. Average A-A rate: 65%*

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Fees Comparison 2024/25

Category	Range	Average
Top 10 schools	£44,000-£48,500	£46,000
Top 11-30	£40,000-£46,000	£43,000
Top 31-60	£38,000-£44,000	£41,000
Top 61-100	£35,000-£42,000	£38,500

Scholarships and Bursaries: Most schools offer:

• Academic scholarships (5-50% fee reduction)
• Music, art, drama, and sport scholarships
• Means-tested bursaries (up to 100% fee reduction)
• Sibling discounts

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International Student Considerations

Visa Requirements

• Student visa required for non-UK students
• School must be a licensed sponsor
• Minimum age typically 13+ for boarding

English Language Requirements

Most schools require:

• Entry at 13+: UKiset or school's own test
• Entry at 16+: IELTS 6.0-6.5 or equivalent

Popular Countries of Origin

1. Hong Kong & Mainland China
2. Russia
3. Nigeria
4. Germany
5. USA

International Boarding Fees

Often 10-15% higher than UK fees, typically including:

• Guardianship arrangements
• Airport transfers
• Extended holiday boarding
• EAL support

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University Progression Rates

Oxbridge Success by School Tier

School Tier	Oxbridge Offers	Russell Group
Top 10	30-50%	85%+
Top 11-30	15-30%	75%+
Top 31-60	8-15%	65%+
Top 61-100	3-8%	55%+

Popular University Destinations

From Top 20 Schools:

1. Oxford University
2. Cambridge University
3. Imperial College London
4. UCL
5. Durham University
6. Edinburgh University
7. Bristol University
8. LSE
9. Exeter University
10. Warwick University

Popular US Destinations:

• Harvard, Yale, Princeton (Ivy League)
• MIT, Stanford, Caltech (STEM focused)
• NYU, Columbia (Arts and Humanities)

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Choosing the Right School

Academic Fit

• Match your child's strengths to school specializations
• Consider A-Level subject availability
• Look at value-added scores, not just raw results

Pastoral Considerations

• House system and house parent quality
• Mental health support provision
• Weekend activities and leave policies

Extracurricular Priorities

• Sports-focused: Millfield, Wellington, Oundle
• Music excellence: Wells Cathedral, Chetham's, Purcell
• Drama emphasis: RADA connections, Bristol Old Vic links
• CCF and outdoor: Gordonstoun, Sedbergh, Ampleforth

Location Preferences

• Proximity to airports (Heathrow, Gatwick)
• Weekend exeat travel time
• Urban vs rural setting

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Application Timeline

For September Entry

When	Action
2-3 years before	Research and visit schools
18-24 months	Register for entrance exams
12-18 months	Sit entrance exams and interviews
12 months	Receive offers
9-12 months	Accept place and pay deposit
6 months	Visa application (if needed)
3 months	Uniform and equipment ordering
1 month	Pre-course information and preparation

Common Entrance Examinations

• 13+ Entry: Common Entrance (June of Year 8)
• 16+ Entry: School's own exams or GCSE predictions

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Value for Money Considerations

Schools with Excellent Value-Added Scores

These schools achieve results above what would be predicted based on intake:

1. Concord College
2. Brighton College
3. Sevenoaks School
4. Oundle School
5. Rugby School

Hidden Costs to Consider

• Uniform and equipment: £1,500-3,000 initial
• Music lessons: £500-1,500/term
• Trips and activities: £500-2,000/year
• Pocket money: £50-100/week
• Insurance: £200-500/year

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Conclusion

Choosing a boarding school is one of the most significant educational decisions a family can make. While academic results are important, the best school for your child is one that matches their personality, interests, and aspirations—not necessarily the one at the top of the league table.

We recommend:

1. Visit at least 5-6 schools before making a shortlist
2. Talk to current parents and students for honest insights
3. Consider the whole child, not just academics
4. Look at progression data for your intended university destinations
5. Factor in financial sustainability for the full 5-7 year commitment

The investment in a top boarding education can be transformative, providing not just excellent examination results but lifelong friendships, confidence, and a network that opens doors for decades to come.

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Data sources: ISC Census 2024, School websites, Department for Education statistics, university admission data. Results may vary and should be verified with individual schools.

This guide provides valuable insights for making informed decisions about top uk 100 boarding schools levels results. With proper planning and preparation, students can achieve their educational and career goals in the UK education system.