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, plus separate awards for Academic Excellence and A-level results.
- The school, a selective state-funded grammar for boys founded in 1573, holds an Outstanding rating from Ofsted across its last six inspections.
- Closely following in the London state secondary league table: 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 community dedication, academic supremacy, and holistic programmes like QE Flourish, QE Futures, pastoral care, and QE Connect alumni network.
- London outperforms the rest of England across major categories, including State Secondary, Primary, and Faith School of the Year, solidifying its status as the nation’s academic powerhouse.
A north London state school has swept the board in this year’s league tables, claiming the title of best in the capital and the country after a standout performance for academic excellence. Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet tops the rankings as reported in The Sunday Times Parent Power National Awards 2026, securing State Secondary School of the Year alongside London’s top state secondary honour, plus accolades for Academic Excellence and A-level results. This selective grammar school for boys, established in 1573 and rated Outstanding by Ofsted in its last six inspections, exemplifies sustained excellence. The capital’s dominance persists, outshining national competitors in every key category from state primaries to faith schools.
Which School Claimed State Secondary School of the Year 2026?
Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet leads as State Secondary School of the Year 2026, as detailed in The Sunday Times Parent Power National Awards league tables. The institution also captured the top London state secondary position, with additional triumphs in Academic Excellence and A-level results categories. Founded in 1573, this selective state-funded grammar school for boys maintains an Outstanding Ofsted rating from its previous six inspections, underscoring decades of rigorous standards.
As reported by journalists covering the awards for The Sunday Times, Queen Elizabeth’s performance marks it as the nation’s pinnacle, surpassing all others in comprehensive metrics. Headmaster Neil Enright celebrated the achievement, 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 added:
“This recognition reflects the dedication and aspiration of our community. Academically, we are second to none.”
What Makes Queen Elizabeth’s School Stand Out Beyond Exams?
Headmaster Neil Enright of Queen Elizabeth’s School emphasised that success extends far beyond exam results, as quoted in coverage of The Sunday Times awards:
“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.”
The school’s QE Flourish co-curricular programme complements high academic standards, fostering well-rounded growth. Enright highlighted:
“Our extensive QE Flourish co-curricular programme, is not in tension with our academic high standards; rather, it complements boys’ studies.”
Further programmes include QE Futures for guiding pupils towards top degree courses and careers, a bespoke pastoral care system for wellbeing, and active QE Connect alumni engagement. Enright noted:
“Similarly, the broader QE experience. We have 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 elements position Queen Elizabeth’s as a holistic leader, as affirmed across award analyses.
Which Schools Follow Queen Elizabeth’s in London’s State Secondary Rankings?
St Olave’s Grammar School in Orpington trails closely behind Queen Elizabeth’s in the London state secondary league table, per The Sunday Times Parent Power National Awards 2026. The Tiffin Girls’ School in Kingston upon Thames secures third, followed by The Henrietta Barnett School in Barnet. These institutions reflect Barnet and outer London boroughs’ strength in selective grammars.
Journalists reporting for The Sunday Times noted the tight competition, with these schools demonstrating consistent high attainment in GCSEs and A-levels. London’s selective state sector, particularly grammars, drives this cluster at the top, outperforming non-selective peers nationally. No specific headteacher quotes emerged for these runners-up in the primary award coverage, but their placements underscore regional academic rigour.
Why Does London Dominate National School League Tables?
London 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, as highlighted in Evening Standard analysis linked to prior Sunday Times rankings. This reinforces the capital’s status as England’s academic powerhouse, with north and outer boroughs like Barnet leading state provision. Selective grammars and high-performing comprehensives contribute to elevated Progress 8 scores and attainment gaps over national averages.
As reported in Evening Standard education coverage, London’s edge persists year-on-year, with institutions like Queen Elizabeth’s exemplifying state-funded excellence without private fees. Factors include intense competition, diverse pupil intakes, and robust local authority support, though challenges like funding pressures remain. The Sunday Times Parent Power tables, covering 2026 results, cement this supremacy across over 2,000 schools assessed on rigorous metrics.
How Do Primary and Faith Schools Fit into London’s Success?
While secondary dominance grabs headlines, London sweeps primaries and faith categories too, per The Sunday Times Parent Power National Awards 2026 referenced in Evening Standard reports. State primaries in the capital claim top national spots, mirroring secondary trends with standout key stage 2 results. Faith schools, often oversubscribed, excel in value-added measures, blending academic focus with community ethos.
Coverage attributes this to London’s unique demographics: high parental aspiration, tutoring prevalence, and targeted interventions in boroughs like Barnet and Kingston. Evening Standard journalists previously noted similar sweeps, linking to Wilson’s School in Wallington as a benchmark, though 2026 elevates Queen Elizabeth’s further. No 2026 primary or faith winners named explicitly in the Barnet-focused dispatch, but London’s clean sweep across categories is unequivocal.
What Do These Rankings Mean for Parents and Pupils?
The Sunday Times Parent Power National Awards 2026, as covered extensively, guide families seeking elite state options amid rising private school costs post-VAT changes. Queen Elizabeth’s Barnet triumph signals grammar accessibility for high-achievers, with entry via 11-plus exams. Parents value the blend of academics and extras, as Enright articulated, aiding university and career pathways.
Neutral observers note leagues prioritise raw results, potentially overlooking socio-economic contexts, yet Ofsted’s Outstanding for Queen Elizabeth’s validates quality. London’s lead prompts national debate on levelling up, with policymakers eyeing capital models. For East London families, nearby grammars like those in Redbridge offer inspiration, though Barnet’s pole position sets the standard.
How Were the 2026 League Tables Compiled?
The Sunday Times Parent Power National Awards evaluate via GCSE, A-level, and Progress 8 data, weighted for excellence and improvement, as standard in annual tables. Queen Elizabeth’s swept multiples due to top percentiles across metrics. Evening Standard reporting ties this to prior years, confirming methodology rigour independent of government tables.
Journalists stress transparency, using verified Department for Education stats. Awards like Academic Excellence reward consistent outperformance. This year’s results, published December 2025, reflect 2024-25 outcomes, positioning Barnet’s grammar as unbeatable.
London’s schools, led by Queen Elizabeth’s, affirm state education’s peak potential. Ongoing coverage tracks if this streak endures amid reforms.
