In 2025, there’s still a real divide between the exam results that students achieve in the North of England, and the grades that people get in the South. But pupils at the best state schools in the North are getting just as good grades as students at famous UK private schools.
According to TES, 32.1 per cent of London students got A*s or As in their A-Levels in 2025, but only 22.9 per cent of pupils in the North East did. There are plenty of super academic UK state schools where students do get just as good exams results as top private schools. But a very, very large amount of these schools are in London or in the home counties. Here’s a rundown of the best state schools in the North of England, which actually get the same grades as fancy private schools in the South.
Please keep in mind that all five state schools on this list are selective. As far as I can find, the non-selective state school in the North with the best GCSE grades in 2025 is High Storrs School in Sheffield, where 46 per cent of GCSE entries were a 7 or higher. Yay for them.
5. The Liverpool Blue Coat School, Liverpool
View this post on Instagram
In 2025, nearly 80 per cent of GCSE exams were graded a 9, 7 or 8. That’s the same as plenty of private schools in the south of England, including Colfe’s School in London, St Albans School in Hertfordshire, St George’s Weybridge in Surrey, and St Helen’s School in London. The Liverpool Blue Coat’s schools results were only a smidge below those at the very traditional all girls’ boarding school Downe House, where the Princess of Wales / Kate Middleton went for a bit.
4. Heckmondwike Grammar School, West Yorkshire
84 per cent of GCSEs were graded above a 7 in 2025. Sir William Perkins’s School, an all-girls’ private school in Runnymede, got the same results.
Ta-da
(Credit: Betty Longbottom)
3. Altrincham Grammar School for Girls, Greater Manchester
86 per cent of GCSE results were between 9 and 7 in 2025. The same proportion of students got these grades at the fancy Oxfordshire all-boys boarding school Radley College (the most notable alumnus of which is surely Jamie Laing).
2. Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, Greater Manchester
87 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2024. That’s the exact same as the GCSE results were at the boujie Sevenoaks School in Kent, where boarding fees now reach a whopping £64,257.
1. The Blue Coat School, Greater Manchester
Today wasn’t just about results, it was about moments.
Another huge well done to all our students, we’re so proud of you!#ProudToBeBlue #GCSEresultsday pic.twitter.com/6WaFhcd1c4— The Blue Coat School (@BCOldham) August 21, 2025
Nearly 90 per cent of GCSEs were graded 9 to 7 in 2025. That’s a super amazing result. Last year, 92.7 per cent of GCSEs at the mega-famous and mega-posh Eton College were between 9 and 7. There’s really not a lot of difference between The Blue Coat School’s results and Eton College’s.
For more like this, follow The Tab on Instagram.
Featured image of Liverpool Blue Coat school by Rodhullandemu.
