Are state schools good in London?

Are state schools good in London?

The narrative that state schools in London are merely “good” is outdated. The evidence shows that many of them are outstanding, and in multiple respects, London leads the rest of England.

If your family is relocating to the UK from overseas, you might also want to explore this guide to family immigration on our sister site. It covers the essentials of bringing your family to the UK.

What the data tells us

• As of 31 August 2024, 90% of state‑funded schools in England were judged Good or Outstanding at their most recent Ofsted inspection – up slightly from 89% in 2023.
  • That includes ~92% of primary schools.

  • Secondary schools also saw improvement: rising from 82% to 84% being rated Good or Outstanding.

• In GCSE results for summer 2025:
  • 28.4% of in‑London entries achieved a grade 7/A or above — significantly ahead of any other region.
  • The standard pass (grade 4 or above) in London remains the highest among regions, though there was a small decline year‑on‑year to 71.6%

London’s edge & what underpins it

• Outstanding inspections: Certain London boroughs lead the country when you look at the percentage of state schools deemed Outstanding. For example, Richmond upon Thames tops the national table, with nearly 38% of its state schools rated Outstanding.
• Strong top grades: London students aren’t just passing — a large portion are achieving the very highest grades. The gap between London and lower performing regions in top grades continues to be striking.

Just as good as private — and sometimes better

It’s a common assumption that fee-paying schools offer the best education — but in London, many state schools rival (and sometimes outperform) their independent counterparts. According to the Sunday Times Parent Power 2023 guide:

• 9 of the top 10 state primary schools in the UK are in London.
• Several London comprehensive schools regularly appear alongside elite private institutions in academic league tables.
• Some state secondary schools in London outperform local private schools in GCSE and A-level results — without the hefty tuition fees.

Some caveats & challenges

Of course, it’s not all perfect. A few things to keep in mind:

• While London leads in top grades and the proportion of schools rated Good/Outstanding, the yearly pass rate has slipped slightly.
• Socio‑economic inequalities still affect outcomes. Areas of higher deprivation still face greater challenges. And inspection frameworks change over time, which means comparisons aren’t always apples‑to‑apples

The takeaway

London’s state schools aren’t just holding their own — they are outperforming almost every other region in England on key measures:

• A high proportion of schools are rated Good or Outstanding
• More students attain top grades (7/A or above)
• Certain boroughs show outstanding excellence

For families relocating to London, this offers a compelling proposition: access to high-quality education without the private price tag. It also means more flexibility in choosing where to live, as excellent state schools are spread across many boroughs — not just clustered in high-income postcodes.

If you’re considering moving to London, or relocating within it, this is a powerful selling point. The state school system here offers excellence, not just adequacy.

How Simply London can help

All of the schools experts at Simply London are based in London and have extensive knowledge of state schools in and around London. With our comprehensive school search service, we can help make the entire process as simple as possible for you.  Get in contact today.

Need help bringing your family to the UK? Our sister site Simply UK Visa offers expert guidance on family immigration. Because getting settled starts with getting here.

Article published in January 2023 and updated in September 2025.