The Best Schools in London (2022 Guide)

When choosing an area to live, there is so much to consider. For families, this also involves researching the best spots for educational opportunities.

While budget is inevitably a factor for most, finding a reputable school that your children will be happy at is, of course, a top priority. There are a great number of primary and secondary schools that offer a high standard of education across London, and Ofsted (the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills) inspect and rate schooling facilities to assist parents in finding the right school for their family.

To assist parents in their search, we’ve taken ten of the best primary and secondary schools, as rated by Ofsted, and listed them alongside some additional information to include the average price of homes in their respective areas.

Best primary schools in London

1. Hugh Myddelton Primary

Address: Myddelton St. London

Area: Clerkenwell

Last Ofsted inspection: June 2017

Rating: Outstanding

Average house price in the area: 899,677

Larger than most primary schools, Hugh Myddelton has 464 pupils. It also serves a greater proportion of students from minority ethnic groups, as well as those with disabilities and/or special educational needs. According to Ofsted, ‘improvement since the previous inspection has been exceptional,’ and the headteacher is ‘an inspirational leader.’

2. Hampden Gurney CofE Primary

Address: 13 Nutford Place, London, W1H 5HA

Area: Westminster

Last Ofsted inspection: May 2009

Rating: Outstanding

Average house price in the area: 1,727,098

Multi-award winning school of average size (220 pupils), and serving a socially and culturally diverse community. Outstanding management and leadership are central to this school’s continued success and high achievement.

3. Oratory Roman Catholic Primary

Address: Bury Walk, Cale St. Chelsea, London

Area: Chelsea

Last Ofsted inspection: July 2010

Rating: Outstanding

Average house price in the area: 2,203,774

School of 205 pupils serving an ethnically diverse community, with the largest group being White British. Hosts a lower proportion of students with disabled and/or special educational needs than other schools.

4. The Cathedral School of St. Saviour & St. Mary Overie

Address: Redcross Way, Southwark, London

Area: Southwark

Last Ofsted inspection: October 2008

Rating: Outstanding

Average house price in the area: 667,137

With 216 pupils, the Cathedral School of St. Saviour & St. Mary Overy serves an ethnically mixed community including one-third White British backgrounds and one-third from Black African heritages. The school hosts a particularly high proportion of pupils with disabilities and learning difficulties.

5. Christ Church CofE Primary

Address: 1 Robinson St. London

Area: Chelsea

Last Ofsted inspection: June 2013

Rating: Outstanding

Average house price in the area: 1,725,032

With 210 pupils, this school is led by an outstanding headteacher, with teachers challenging pupils with high expectations. Around the school, behaviour is exemplary, and a strong sense of community is promoted. An average number of disabled and special educational needs pupils attend this school.

6. Vauxhall Primary

Address: Vauxhall St. London, SE11 5LG

Area: Vauxhall

Last Ofsted inspection: October 2018

Rating: Outstanding

Average house price in the area: 789,063

This average sized school (244 pupils) is primarily comprised of students from minority ethnic backgrounds. The most recent inspection in 2018 was a check-up and confirmed that the school continues to deserve an outstanding rating.

7. St. Clement Danes CofE Primary

Address: 118 Drury Lane, Covent Garden, London, WC2B 5SU

Area: Covent Garden

Last Ofsted inspection: June 2020

Rating: Outstanding

Average house price in the area: 1,495,650

This primary school serves a broadly average proportion of both special educational needs and disabled children, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. According to Ofsted, St. Clement Danes takes full advantage of its location, with pupils ‘visiting a wide range of places of historical interest and importance.’

8. St. Vincent’s Catholic Primary

Address: St Vincent Street, London, W1U 4DF

Area: Marylebone

Last Ofsted inspection: October 2010

Rating: Outstanding

Average house price in the area: 1,727,098

With 222 pupils, St. Vincent’s Catholic Primary serves a socially and culturally diverse inner London community. According to Ofsted, this primary school is ‘an outstandingly effective school’ that demonstrates ‘remarkable leadership.’

9. Winton Primary

Address: Killick Street, Pentonville Road, London, N1 9AZ

Area: Islington

Last Ofsted inspection: February 2018

Rating: Good

Average house price in the area: 917,517

Winton Primary has achieved a consistently ‘good’ rating from Ofsted. Reportedly, the pupils make ‘strong progress in reading, writing and mathematics,’ and pupils are expected to complete a high standard of work in most classes, although consistency in this across the school could be improved.

10. Copenhagen Primary

Address: Treaty St, London, N1 0WF

Area: Islington

Last Ofsted inspection: May 2017

Rating: Good

Average house price in the area: 917,517

Almost all of the 225 pupils attending Copenhagen Primary are from various minority ethnic backgrounds, with the largest group being of Black African heritages. Ofsted’s key findings include strong headteacher leadership, an improving quality of teaching, particularly in mathematics and writing.

Best secondary schools in London

1.Notre Dame Roman Catholic Girls’ School

Address: 118 St George's Road, London, SE1 6EX

Area: Elephant and Castle

Last Ofsted inspection: November 2012

Rating: Outstanding

Average house price in Elephant and Castle: 536,596

Notre Dame Roman Catholic Girls’ School is a large school of 624 pupils. According to the Ofsted report, the teaching is outstanding, and the pupils make excellent progress regardless of the background or level of academic ability they arrive with. The report states that, ‘students’ attitudes to learning and behaviour are exemplary.’

2. St. Marylebone CofE

Address: 13 Nutford Pl. London, W1H 5HA

Area: Westminster

Last Ofsted inspection: April 2014

Rating: Outstanding

Average house price in Marylebone: 1,727,098

Ofsted’s glowing review of this large girls’ school (with a substantial 1,072 pupils) states that the St. Marylebone CofE school is ‘an exceptional place, where students flourish both academically and personally within a strong spiritual ethos.’ The largest proportion of students are of White British ethnicity, while the proportion of students with disabilities and/or special educational needs is below average. Students achieve a high level of academic results.

3. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School

Address: Donegal Street, Islington, London, N1 9QG

Area: Islington

Last Ofsted inspection: January 2015

Rating: Outstanding

Average house price in Islington: 917,517

According to Ofsted, this girls’ school of 823 pupils is led by an outstanding headteacher with an ‘uncompromising determination to improve the life chances of every single girl in the school.’ The school also offers a rich, extensive programme extra-curricular of activities

4. Central Foundation Boys’ School

Address: Cowper Street, City Road, London, EC2A 4SH

Area: Shoreditch

Last Ofsted inspection: February 2015

Rating: Outstanding

Average house price in the area: 917,517

912 pupils attend this boys’ school, 80% of whom are from minority ethnic groups - well above the national average. The students achieve well-above-average academic standards, and, according to Ofsted, the current headteacher’s ‘inspired leadership has been vital in raising the expectations of both staff and students.’ Richard Cloudesley School

5. Richard Cloudesley School

Address: Tudor Rose Building, 1 Prebend Street, London, N1 8RE

Area: Islington

Last Ofsted inspection: July 2018

Rating: Outstanding

Average house price in Islington: 917,517

The latest inspection of the Richard Cloudesley School concluded that it continues to be worthy of its outstanding rating. According to Ofsted, the school’s senior leadership team continues to work exceptionally well together, and ‘staff have the highest ambition for all pupils - only the best will do.’

6. Sacred Heart Catholic School

Address: Camberwell New Road, London, SE5 0RP

Area: Camberwell, Southwark

Last Ofsted inspection: December 2012

Rating: Outstanding

Average house price in Camberwell: 597,096

According to Ofsted, this school’s body of staff take a collective, consistent ‘no excuses’ approach, creating a highly successful environment in which all students make ‘outstanding progress'. 752 students attend Sacred Heart, the majority of whom are from minority ethnic groups (the largest proportion being of Black African heritage).

7. Harris Academy Battersea

Address: 401 Battersea Park Road, London, SW11 5AP

Area: Battersea

Last Ofsted inspection: January 2018

Rating: Outstanding

Average house price in the area: 936,243

898 students attend the Harris Academy, benefiting from the principal’s ‘outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment to every pupil.’ Consequently, according to Ofsted, this results in pupils making outstanding progress and inspires them to hold the highest aspirations for themselves.

8. Tuke School

Address: Daniel Gardens, Peckham, London, SE15 6ER

Area: Peckham

Last Ofsted inspection: May 2009

Rating: Outstanding

Average house price in Peckham: 629,132

Following the latest check-up, Ofsted continues to rate Tuke school as an outstanding place of education, calling it ‘a very special place.’ The school’s staff and leaders reportedly inspire the very highest of expectations for all students, working hard to address any individual needs through a broad and innovatively planned curriculum.

9. North Bridge House Canonbury School

Address: 6-9 Canonbury Place, London, N1 2NQ

Area: Islington

Last Ofsted inspection: May 2015

Rating: Outstanding

Average house price in the area: 917,517

Students of this secondary school are reportedly fully engaged and progress exceptionally well in their achievements. Ofsted’s findings conclude that the leadership and management team are outstanding, with the headteacher making a ‘highly positive impact in establishing high standards in all areas of the school’s work.’

10. Westminster Academy

Address: The Naim Dangoor Centre, 255 Harrow Road, London, W2 5EZ

Area: Westminster

Last Ofsted inspection: July 2014

Rating: Outstanding

Average house price in the area: 1,031,889

According to Ofsted’s report, the students of Westminster Academy make outstanding progress, and their social, moral, cultural and spiritual development is significantly advanced by an exceptional range of extra-curricular activities.

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