Gloucestershire is positioned as an educational powerhouse for the south west in The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2025, with the county's state and independent schools leading the league tables in the latest edition.
Released on Friday 6 December 2024, the 32nd edition of the guide — which is widely considered to be the most authoritative survey of the country's best schools — recognises the highest achieving primary and secondary schools in the UK.
Best schools in the south west in 2025
Gloucestershire schools top The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2025 league tables in four of the six categories for the south west:
- State secondary school of the year in the south west: Stroud High School
State secondary school of the year in the south west for academic excellence: Pate's Grammar School, Cheltenham
Comprehensive school of the year in the south west: The Cotswold School, Bourton-on-the-Water
Independent secondary school of the year in the south west for academic excellence: Cheltenham Ladies' College
Meanwhile, The Maynard School in Exeter takes the crown for the south west's overall independent school of the year; and St Ives Primary and Nursery School in Hampshire wins primary school of the year in the region.
UK-wide, London schools continue to dominate the league tables — but Pate's ranks number five in the top state secondary schools nationally.
Helen Davies, editor of Parent Power, said: 'The educational landscape is challenging — teacher shortages, rising student mental health issues and special educational needs, and the VAT rise in fees — but there is also so much to celebrate from the hard work of passionate and committed teachers who are finding ever more innovative and impactful ways to boost their students and give them the very best start in life.
'As well as celebrating the academic excellence of the top schools it is fantastic to see how they are shaping their students to be ready for the 21st century.'
See the full Parent Power Guide 2025 at thetimes.com/best-schools-league-table.
