Key Points
- Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet has been crowned State Secondary School of the Year 2026 in The Sunday Times Parent Power National Awards, also claiming the top London state secondary title, along with awards for Academic Excellence and A-level results.
- The school, founded in 1573, is a selective state-funded grammar school for boys, rated Outstanding by Ofsted in its last six inspections.
- Closely following in the London state secondary league table are St Olave’s Grammar School in Orpington, The Tiffin Girls’ School in Kingston upon Thames, and The Henrietta Barnett School in Barnet.
- Headmaster Neil Enright congratulated the boys, governors, colleagues, parents, and Old Elizabethans, emphasising that success extends beyond exam results to co-curricular programmes like QE Flourish, QE Futures, pastoral care, and QE Connect alumni network.
- London outperforms the rest of the country across every major category, from State Secondary and Primary School of the Year to Faith School of the Year, reinforcing its status as England’s academic powerhouse.
Inverted Pyramid Structure
Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet has swept the board in the 2026 league tables, securing the title of State Secondary School of the Year nationally and in London through The Sunday Times Parent Power National Awards. The selective grammar school also won accolades for Academic Excellence and A-level results, outshining competitors amid London’s continued dominance in education rankings. This triumph underscores the capital’s position as an academic powerhouse, surpassing the rest of England in key categories including state primaries and faith schools.
Which School Topped London’s State Secondaries in 2026?
Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet leads the London state secondary league table following its comprehensive victories in The Sunday Times Parent Power National Awards 2026. As reported in the Evening Standard, the north London state school claimed the national State Secondary School of the Year title alongside London supremacy, Academic Excellence, and top A-level performance. Founded in 1573, this boys-only selective state-funded grammar school has maintained an Outstanding rating from Ofsted across its last six inspections, highlighting sustained excellence.
Neil Enright, Headmaster at Queen Elizabeth’s School, celebrated the achievement by stating:
“I would firstly congratulate the boys, governors, my colleagues, parents, and Old Elizabethans of all generations – in fact, all those in our wide Elizabethan community who have played a part in this tremendous success.”
He further explained:
“However, winning the State Secondary School of the Year award once again demonstrates that it is not all about exam results at QE. Instead, what goes on beyond the classroom goes hand in hand with these academic outcomes.”
Enright detailed the QE Flourish co-curricular programme, noting it
“is not in tension with our academic high standards; rather, it complements boys’ studies.”
The headmaster elaborated on holistic support, including
“QE Futures, which helps our pupils find their path into the best degree courses and careers; a bespoke programme of pastoral care to build and sustain wellbeing; and very active engagement from our QE Connect alumni network.”
He concluded:
“All of this supports academic achievement and rounded personal development, helping us to realise the boundless potential of our pupils.”
These statements, as covered by the Evening Standard, reflect the school’s balanced approach to education.
Who Followed Queen Elizabeth’s in the Rankings?
St Olave’s Grammar School in Orpington secured second place in the London state secondary league table, with The Tiffin Girls’ School in Kingston upon Thames and The Henrietta Barnett School in Barnet trailing closely, according to the Evening Standard’s reporting on The Sunday Times rankings. These institutions demonstrate the competitive depth within London’s grammar sector, all maintaining high academic standards. No specific statements from leaders of these schools were detailed in the coverage, but their positions affirm Barnet and surrounding boroughs’ strength.
The Evening Standard noted that Queen Elizabeth’s closely followed rivals include these schools, reinforcing north and south London’s grammar traditions. This clustering at the top illustrates selective admissions’ role in driving performance, as evidenced by the league tables’ metrics on GCSEs and A-levels.
Why Does London Dominate National School Rankings?
London continues to outperform the rest of the country across every major category, from State Secondary School of the Year to State Primary School of the Year and Faith School of the Year, as highlighted in the Evening Standard. The article linked this to prior trends, such as Wilson’s School in Wallington topping earlier Sunday Times education rankings, cementing the capital’s academic powerhouse status. This dominance spans state, faith, and independent sectors, with no comparable national sweep.
The Evening Standard emphasised:
“The capital continues to outperform the rest of the country across every major category — from State Secondary and Primary School of the Year to Faith School of the Year — reinforcing London’s status as the academic powerhouse of England.”
Such breadth suggests systemic factors like funding, teacher quality, and selective policies contribute significantly.
What Makes Queen Elizabeth’s School Stand Out Historically?
Established in 1573, Queen Elizabeth’s School operates as a selective state-funded grammar for boys, with its Ofsted Outstanding ratings spanning six inspections, per the Evening Standard. This longevity and consistency underpin its 2026 awards in The Sunday Times Parent Power National Awards. The school’s model integrates rigorous academics with extracurriculars, as articulated by Headmaster Enright.
Neil Enright of Queen Elizabeth’s School, as quoted in the Evening Standard, tied historical ethos to modern success:
“Our extensive QE Flourish co-curricular programme… complements boys’ studies. Similarly, the broader QE experience.”
This fusion positions the school as a benchmark for state education.
How Do Co-Curriculars Boost Academic Success at Top Schools?
Headmaster Neil Enright stressed that achievements at Queen Elizabeth’s transcend exams, with programmes like QE Flourish enhancing studies, according to the Evening Standard. He described:
“QE Futures, which helps our pupils find their path into the best degree courses and careers; a bespoke programme of pastoral care to build and sustain wellbeing; and very active engagement from our QE Connect alumni network.”
These elements foster “rounded personal development,” directly supporting rankings.
The Evening Standard reported Enright’s view that such initiatives prove “it is not all about exam results at QE,” aligning co-curriculars with Academic Excellence and A-level awards. This approach may explain London’s edge, blending wellbeing and ambition.
Which Primaries and Faith Schools Excelled in London?
While specifics on 2026 primary and faith winners remain tied to The Sunday Times Parent Power National Awards, the Evening Standard confirmed London claimed State Primary School of the Year and Faith School of the Year alongside secondaries. This sweep across categories underscores comprehensive capital superiority. Further details from the awards supplement Queen Elizabeth’s dominance.
The Evening Standard’s coverage affirmed London’s sweep:
“From State Secondary and Primary School of the Year to Faith School of the Year,”
without naming primaries explicitly beyond the category win. This pattern echoes past years, like Wilson’s prominence.
What Do Rankings Mean for London Families?
Parents in Barnet, Orpington, Kingston upon Thames, and beyond gain clear signals from The Sunday Times tables, spotlighting Queen Elizabeth’s and peers, as per the Evening Standard. Headmaster Enright’s congratulations to the “wide Elizabethan community” invite communal pride. London’s outperformance offers families robust choices amid national variances.
Such league tables, rooted in exam data, guide decisions, with the Evening Standard noting the capital’s “academic powerhouse” reinforcement. Neutral analysis reveals selection and resources as key drivers.
How Selective Grammars Shape London’s Education Landscape?
Queen Elizabeth’s, St Olave’s, Tiffin Girls’, and Henrietta Barnett exemplify grammar prowess, all state-funded yet selective, driving London’s leads per the Evening Standard. Ofsted’s repeated Outstanding for Queen Elizabeth’s validates this model. No counter-statements appear, but rankings prioritise attainment.
The Evening Standard detailed these as “closely followed” in London tables, highlighting borough concentrations like Barnet. This structure sustains high outcomes, complementing Enright’s holistic vision.
