Ripon Grammar School has been named Secondary School of the Year for academic performance in the north – for the tenth year running.
The school claimed the top spot – again – in Parent Power, The Sunday Times Schools Guide 2023, published online today and in print on Sunday.
Ripon Grammar School headmaster Jonathan Webb said:
“We were delighted with this year’s results, given the disruption our students faced to their education during the two years of intermittent lockdown. They coped superbly well with the blended demands of remote learning and face-to-face schooling.
“My congratulations go to the students who worked so well and the dedicated staff this school is so fortunate to have.
“Our results at A-level actually strengthened on 2020’s and 2021’s results, while GCSE results were on a par with those years, despite the fact that grading was recalibrated nationally to a mid-point between 2019-21.
Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate, at Thorpe Underwood, was named Independent Secondary School of the Year in the North for academic performance.
The other northern winners in the ranking were: Prince Henry’s Grammar School, Otley (Comprehensive School of the Year); and Sheffield High School for Girls (Independent School of the Year).
Nationally, schools in London and the south east outperformed the rest of the country. Wycombe High School in Buckinghamshire, St Peter’s Catholic School in Guildford and Francis Holland School in London were named Secondary School of the Year, Comprehensive School of the Year, and Independent School of the Year respectively.
Henrietta Barnett School, a grammar school for girls in Hampstead, was named the overall top secondary school for academic performance, and St Paul’s Girls’ School took the equivalent title in the independent sector.
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Godolphin and Latymer, Hammersmith was named International Baccalaureate School of the Year.
The Sunday Times Parent Power guide has been published annually since 1993 and has a searchable online database of 1,600 schools across the UK.
Helen Davies, editor of The Sunday Times Parent Power guide, said:
“These have been a challenging few years for teachers, pupils and their parents, and the success of many in our league table is testament to the stamina and support shown by all concerned.
“It is also clear that more attention is being placed on well-being and mental health – from meditation rooms to counselling support, even therapy dogs – and schools are being proactive to bring about positive changes.
“League tables are not the only criteria a parent can use when choosing a school, but they are a good starting point. We want to celebrate excellence. We want to champion schools that are doing wonderful work.”
