A prestigious national ranking has confirmed the Midlands as a powerhouse of secondary education, with six of its schools securing places among the elite top 50 in the country.
Midlands Schools Shine in National Spotlight
The highly anticipated Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026 has been published, providing a definitive league table of the UK's best-performing schools. This year's list highlights the exceptional standard of education in the Midlands region, where competition for places at the top institutions is notoriously fierce.
Unsurprisingly, the leading positions are occupied by selective grammar schools and fee-paying private institutions with established reputations for excellence. These settings often attract some of the brightest pupils, frequently from more affluent backgrounds, giving them a natural advantage in academic league tables.
The Top Performers from the Region
Topping the regional list and crowned the best in the Midlands is the illustrious King Edward VI School in Stratford-upon-Avon. This school, which counts William Shakespeare among its former pupils, achieved an impressive 12th place nationally. It was rated "outstanding in all areas" during its last Ofsted inspection in November 2021, securing a perfect score.
The full list of Midlands schools that earned a spot in the national top 50 is:
- King Edward VI School, Stratford-upon-Avon (12th nationally)
- King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls (17th)
- Stratford Girls' Grammar School (27th)
- King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys (40th)
- Bishop Vesey's Grammar School (41st)
- Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls (49th)
Notably, three of the top four schools in the Midlands itself are part of the King Edward VI foundation, demonstrating its dominant position in the region's educational landscape.
Honourable Mentions Just Outside the Top Tier
The guide also highlighted two other high-achieving Midlands schools that narrowly missed the top 50 cut. King Edward VI Five Ways School in Birmingham was ranked 54th nationally, while Wolverhampton Girls' High School followed closely in 61st place.
The Sunday Times emphasises that its Parent Power Guide is widely recognised as the definitive ranking of UK schools and remains an essential resource for parents determined to secure the best possible education for their children. The strong showing from the Midlands underscores the region's commitment to academic excellence and the intense demand for places at its most prestigious institutions.
