Two Birmingham schools in England's top 15 for GCSEs, led by Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls

Two Birmingham schools have been named among the 15 best in England for GCSE results in the latest exam league tables, with Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls leading the way.

The rankings, based on Department for Education performance data, were reported by Birmingham Live on 9 November. King Edward VI Handsworth School also made the top 15, alongside Rugby High School in Warwickshire.

Near-perfect results in Sutton Coldfield

At Sutton Coldfield Grammar School for Girls, every pupil passed at least five GCSEs, and 99.4% achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths. Grade 5 is described as a "strong pass" under the numbered GCSE system, and English and maths at that level is one of the main measures used to compare schools.

The results put the school among the top 15 in the country for GCSE performance this year. As the newspaper noted, the top of the table was dominated by grammar and independent schools, including some of the most prestigious in the country.

"A keen desire to do well"

The school's success is not just about exam scores. At its most recent inspection, in 2022, Ofsted said: "Pupils at this school have a keen desire to do well. They rise to the high expectations set by staff."

Inspectors also praised the school's culture. "Pupils are well cared for and enjoy positive relationships with both staff and their peers. The school's character education programme helps pupils to fulfil their potential and 'be your best self'," the report said, adding: "Pupils behave extremely well. In lessons, pupils listen attentively and participate fully in their learning."

Handsworth's girls among the best

King Edward VI Handsworth School, a girls' grammar school in the north west of the city, is part of the King Edward VI Foundation, the family of Birmingham schools that traces its roots back to the 16th century. Its place in the top 15 means two of the country's highest-achieving schools this year are in Birmingham.

A note on the tables

League tables measure only part of what schools do, and selective schools admit pupils through the 11-plus, so their results are not directly comparable with comprehensive schools. Birmingham's comprehensive schools have their own success stories in the same tables, and the progress pupils make from their starting points is often a better guide to how well a school teaches.

But for the pupils who sat their exams last summer, and for the teachers who prepared them, a place among the best in England is something to celebrate. Families looking at secondary schools for next year can find every school's results, including progress scores, on the government's compare school performance website.