Secondary Schools
State secondary schools and academies
3,964 secondary schools in England, Scotland & Northern Ireland
Abbey Christian Brothers Grammar School
Abbey College, Ramsey
Abbey Community College
Abbeyfield School
Abbeyfield School
Abbey Grange Church of England Academy
Abbey Park School
Abbey View
Abbeywood Community School
Abbot Beyne School
Abbs Cross Academy and Arts College
Aberdeen Grammar School
Aboyne Academy
Academy21
Academy@Worden
Accrington Academy
Accrington St Christopher's Church of England High School
Acklam Grange School
Acland Burghley School
Acle Academy
How to choose a secondary school
Secondary schools take pupils from Year 7 (age 11) through to Year 11 (GCSEs), and many run a sixth form through to Year 13. Admissions are coordinated by your local authority and the secondary school application deadline is 31 October - missing it risks being allocated whatever place remains. Popular schools fill on distance, catchment area or banding tests, and some areas have selective grammar schools that require an 11 plus. Naming several realistic preferences in order gives you the best chance of a good offer.
The headline performance measures are Progress 8 (how much pupils improve from their starting point) and Attainment 8 (their average GCSE grade), which matter more than raw pass rates because they account for intake. Check the subjects offered, the sixth form, and university destinations to understand the school's ambitions for its leavers. Consider how each school supports the jump from primary and whether it has a specialism - science college, arts academy or faith school - that fits your child. Outstanding secondary schools often fill earliest, so start researching well before the autumn deadline.
Frequently asked questions
How many secondary schools are there in England?
School Signal lists 3,964 secondary schools in England. You can filter them by Ofsted rating, gender and location, and compare results, pupil numbers and catchment areas side by side.
How are secondary schools rated?
Schools in England are inspected by Ofsted and rated Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate. Independent schools are inspected by the ISI. Ratings sit alongside published exam results - Progress 8 and Attainment 8 for secondary schools, or KS2 SATs results for primary.
How do I apply for a school place?
Apply for a state school through your local authority's coordinated admissions process, naming your preferred schools by the national deadline. Independent schools run their own admissions, so contact them directly for entry requirements and fees.