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Best schools in the UK 2026

Best schools in the UK 2026

Five students pose in front of a green chalkboard filled with mathematical equations and diagrams.

PARENT POWER

School league tables 2026: the best UK secondary schools revealed
Two boys from Nicol Mere School, Wigan, standing on a wooden play structure.
A parent’s guide to primary school, from reception to year 7

Top tips and secrets of success — here’s everything you need to know for your child (and yourself) from reception to year 7

Brighton College with students walking and sitting outside the school building.
The best private schools in the UK
Secondary schools
Illustration of the Big Bang, showing a bright, colorful explosion of light and particles against a dark, starry background.
Stem was the future, but has it gone too far?
Three girls and a therapy dog lying on beanbags, reading a book together.
Three girls and a therapy dog lying on beanbags, reading a book together.
Meet the therapy dogs helping children to read
Two girls in school uniform playing and laughing.
Two girls in school uniform playing and laughing.
Top 1,000 primary schools in England
Collage of a boy looking confused while studying and two children with backpacks facing away.
Collage of a boy looking confused while studying and two children with backpacks facing away.
Is the 11-plus making your child stupid?
Collage of a child in a beekeeper suit interacting with a black alpaca, and an elderly woman with a young girl laughing.
Collage of a child in a beekeeper suit interacting with a black alpaca, and an elderly woman with a young girl laughing.
32 lovely innovative things happening in schools
Illustration of the Big Bang, showing a bright, colorful explosion of light and particles against a dark, starry background.
Illustration of the Big Bang, showing a bright, colorful explosion of light and particles against a dark, starry background.
Stem was the future, but has it gone too far?
Illustration of the Big Bang, showing a bright, colorful explosion of light and particles against a dark, starry background.
Illustration of the Big Bang, showing a bright, colorful explosion of light and particles against a dark, starry background.
Stem was the future, but has it gone too far?
Three girls and a therapy dog lying on beanbags, reading a book together.
Three girls and a therapy dog lying on beanbags, reading a book together.
Meet the therapy dogs helping children to read
Three girls and a therapy dog lying on beanbags, reading a book together.
Three girls and a therapy dog lying on beanbags, reading a book together.
Meet the therapy dogs helping children to read
Two girls in school uniform playing and laughing.
Two girls in school uniform playing and laughing.
Top 1,000 primary schools in England
Two girls in school uniform playing and laughing.
Two girls in school uniform playing and laughing.
Top 1,000 primary schools in England
Collage of a boy looking confused while studying and two children with backpacks facing away.
Collage of a boy looking confused while studying and two children with backpacks facing away.
Is the 11-plus making your child stupid?
Collage of a boy looking confused while studying and two children with backpacks facing away.
Collage of a boy looking confused while studying and two children with backpacks facing away.
Is the 11-plus making your child stupid?
Collage of a child in a beekeeper suit interacting with a black alpaca, and an elderly woman with a young girl laughing.
Collage of a child in a beekeeper suit interacting with a black alpaca, and an elderly woman with a young girl laughing.
32 lovely innovative things happening in schools
Collage of a child in a beekeeper suit interacting with a black alpaca, and an elderly woman with a young girl laughing.
Collage of a child in a beekeeper suit interacting with a black alpaca, and an elderly woman with a young girl laughing.
32 lovely innovative things happening in schools
Two boys from Nicol Mere School, Wigan, standing on a wooden play structure.
Illustration of a well-dressed schoolchild telling their ragged parents they learned about VAT at their independent school.
FIRST PERSON
We’re almost broke and still paying for private school

One couple — she works for the NHS and he for the RAF — are doing everything they can to give their children an independent education

Illustration of a well-dressed schoolchild telling their ragged parents they learned about VAT at their independent school.
FIRST PERSON
We’re almost broke and still paying for private school
GUIDE
How we chose the best schools 2026 — and how to choose yours
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