The Perse earns 2025 Sunday Times regional school honour

The Perse School has once again been named top independent secondary school for academic performance in East Anglia in Parent Power, The Sunday Times Schools Guide.

Based on exam results, The Perse has retained the accolade in the 2025 edition of Parent Power, which identifies the highest-achieving schools in the UK, having also achieved the feat in the previous two editions.

Rankings have been determined by the percentage of exam entries gaining A* to B at A level and 9 to 7 (equivalent to the former A* to A grades) at GCSE or IGCSE. (The Perse only enters pupils for GCSEs which are regulated qualifications approved by Ofqual and the Department for Education. They are different to IGCSEs which are not regulated by Ofqual and have different content and assessment requirements. Although many league tables treat GCSE and IGCSE as the same, they are not).

The Perse led the way in the regional independent school standings this year with 94.5.% of entries graded A* to B at A level and 88.3% of GCSE results graded 9 to 7.

Head Ed Elliott commented: “This recognition is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our entire school community – our talented staff, supportive parents, and most importantly, our inspiring students.

“At our core, we are committed not only to academic excellence but also to nurturing well-rounded individuals through our vibrant extra-curricular programme. From music and drama to sport and outdoor education, these opportunities allow our students to discover their passions, build confidence, and thrive.

“This year 82% of A level entries were graded A*–A, with 78% of students going to their first-choice university, including 37 students taking up places at Oxbridge and many more with other prestigious Russell Group universities.

“I am grateful to everyone who plays a role in making our school such an outstanding environment for learning, growth, and creativity. This award is not just a celebration of our achievements but also a motivation to reach even greater heights in the future.”

Parent Power can be viewed online by Times and Sunday Times subscribers here while a Parent Power supplement will also be published with The Sunday Times on Sunday (8 December).

The top 10 independent schools in East Anglia for academic performance, together with their overall national placing in the combined rankings for independent and state schools, according to Parent Power can be found below.