The best state and grammar schools in our region

Benefits of a state or grammar school

Parents with school age children have always been prepared to pay a premium to live near the best state schools in England. Many have exam results that rival the best private schools, so if you’re lucky enough to live in one of those areas, or move into one, your child can get a great education without paying any school fees at all.

Properties near schools with good Ofsted ratings are extremely popular for buyers with children, and it is always worth having a conversation with our property experts about catchment areas as they are not always an exact science. Sometimes you can get a place in your preferred grammar or state school even if you do live outside the stated catchment area.

Whether you need a primary school, secondary school, or grammar, we have outstanding schools in our area. On our Michael Graham website, every property listed for sale or rent comes with details of the local schools in their catchment area. The following gives an overview of some of the most sought-after non-feepaying schools across our region:

 

Best State and Grammar Schools in Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire's education system offers many strong grammar and comprehensive schools - more grammar schools than any other county, and favourites include:

The Royal Latin in Buckingham, Aylesbury Grammar School for Boys and Aylesbury High School for Girls.

Dr. Challoner’s Grammar School in Amersham is one of the top boys' grammar schools in the country, offering excellent academic opportunities and extracurricular programs.

Dr. Challoner’s High School in Little Chalfont is the girls' equivalent of Dr. Challoner's Grammar School, and known for its emphasis on developing leadership skills and community involvement.

The Misbourne School in Great Missenden is a high achieving comprehensive school with a strong focus on academic success and personal development.

The Beaconsfield School is a good all-around comprehensive with strong academic performance and a focus on student well-being.

Waddesdon Church of England School is a high-performing Church of England comprehensive with a strong academic record and an excellent reputation for pastoral care.

Great Marlow School is a well-regarded comprehensive school known for its strong pastoral care and good academic outcomes, with a particular focus on the arts and sports.

 

Best State Schools in Bedfordshire

In Bedfordshire there are several highly regarded state schools, offering strong academic programs and extracurricular opportunities:

Bedford Free School (Bedford) emphasizes a traditional curriculum and has strong academic results.

The Samuel Whitbread Academy is a mixed secondary school with a great reputation in Bedfordshire and provides a broad curriculum with good exam results and strong pastoral care.

Redborne Upper School & Community College in Ampthill is a large secondary school with a strong academic curriculum along with excellent extracurricular activities, particularly in sports.

Sharnbrook Academy in Sharnbrook is a popular upper school with a solid academic record, offering a broad curriculum including strong provision for both arts and sciences.

Mark Rutherford School in Bedford is known for its comprehensive curriculum and community engagement, this school performs well academically and has good pastoral support.

 

Bedford is known for The Harpur Trust, a charity that has been providing education and supporting the community since 1566. Over the past 10 years, it has awarded over £11 million in grants to local organisations and individuals, including supporting local state schools through a range of education projects and grants. The county does not have traditional grammar schools.

 

Best State and Grammar Schools in Hertfordshire

 

In this county, eight out of the ten regions have at least one outstanding secondary school.

Dame Alice Owen's School in Potters Bar is a top-performing mixed comprehensive school, consistently ranking among the best state schools in the UK. Known for its strong academic results and wide range of extracurricular activities, it is also highly competitive.

Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet is a highly competitive and top-performing boys’ grammar school, with a strong emphasis on academic excellence and holistic education.

The Bishop’s Stortford High School is a top-rated secondary boy’s school with a co-ed sixth form, rated outstanding by Ofsted in every area. The school’s sporting facilities are among the best in the country with six football and rugby pitches, and three cricket pitches. 

Hitchin Girl’s School is a secondary school with academy status in Hitchin. The school is in a consortium for sixth form teaching with Hitchin Boys' School and The Priory School.

Hitchin Boy’s School is an 11–18 boys academy-status secondary school with sixth form, located in Hitchin.

Hockerill Anglo-European College in Bishop's Stortford is a state boarding school which specialises in modern languages and offers the International Baccalaureate. The school is known for its academic results and international focus.

Watford Grammar School for Boys and Watford Grammar School for Girls are known for their academic excellence, particularly in sciences and mathematics. They offer selective places based on academic ability, along with a strong focus on extracurricular activities.

 

Best State Schools in Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire doesn’t have any grammar schools, but there are several highly-regarded state schools. The following are of some of the best in the area, based on academic performance, Ofsted ratings, and local reputation:

 

Northampton School for Boys is an incredibly popular and high-achieving school, known for its academic success, especially in STEM subjects, and strong extracurricular programs in music, arts, and sports. Northampton School for Girls has an equally strong ranking.

The Duston School in Northampton has been rising in academic achievement and is known for its supportive environment and comprehensive education from early years to sixth form.

Campion School in Bugbrooke is a well-regarded school with a strong focus on academic achievement and personal development, offering a broad curriculum and strong community engagement.

Bishop Stopford School in Kettering is a high-performing Church of England school with excellent academic results and a focus on values and personal development. It's extremely popular in the local area.

Prince William School is in the picturesque town of Oundle, this school provides a balanced and broad education, with good academic outcomes and a wide range of extracurricular activities.

 

If proximity to good schooling is a key factor in your property search, then please do give us a call. Our team of property experts live and work locally and know all the family homes in their area, and the available schools in their catchment. If you’re thinking of moving and would like to know more about the schools in your chosen area, call us today for a no-obligation chat, or if you’re thinking of selling, we’d love to offer you a free valuation of your home.