December 5, 2025
The pupils and staff of Withington Girls’ School have once again been honoured in the prestigious Sunday Times Parent Power Guide, marking the seventh consecutive year of recognition since the School was named North West Independent School of the Year in the 2020 edition. In the Parent Power Guide for 2026, Withington has been awarded the title of Northwest Independent School of the Year for Academic Excellence.
“Each time we are recognised by The Sunday Times we are delighted, as it serves as a wonderful tribute to the efforts and commitment of that year’s GCSE and A Level students and their teachers,” says Headmistress, Mrs Sarah Haslam, who credits Withington’s consistently strong academic performance to an empowering environment in which each pupil is known as an individual and is offered tailored support.
“While our pupils come to us with enquiring minds and a love of learning, it’s the academic and pastoral know-how and expertise of our staff – who truly understand how to enable bright girls to not only fulfil their potential but also to thrive – that is the magic ingredient. While we are immensely proud of the results achieved by our amazing girls, both academically and in all other spheres of school life, their wellbeing always remains our first priority.”
The award is based on pupils’ academic performance in this year’s GCSE and A Level examinations, in which Withington’s A Level students achieved over 2-in-5 grades at A* (41.2%) and 3-in-4 grades (75.4%) at A*-A, while 58.1% of all GCSE grades were achieved at grade 9 and 82.2% at grade 8 or 9.
The Guide’s ranking of top performing secondary schools in the 2025 public examinations positions Withington 39th across all schools in the UK, both state and independent, and top in the North West. We are ranked 35th of all independent schools in the UK.
It is the ninth time Withington has earned a Sunday Times Schools Guide accolade; in addition to being named North West Independent Secondary School of the Decade for 2021, WGS was previously national Independent Secondary School of the Year for 2009, North West Independent Secondary School of the Year for 2012, 2020 and 2023, and was named top ranking independent school for academic results in the North West for 2022, 2024 and 2025.
The UK’s highest-achieving primary and secondary schools are featured in the 33rd edition of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026, which is available online and in print in a 28-page supplement on Sunday, December 7.
Parent Power ranks 400 of the best state secondary and grammar schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, 35 11-16 schools and 50 sixth form colleges, 30 IB state schools, and the top 100 state schools in Scotland. It also ranks the top 300 independent schools in the UK and 17 under Scotland’s Highers and Standards system, the 30 11-16 school, and 50 IB schools.
Credit: The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026
Hyperlink: https://www.thetimes.com/best-schools-league-table/secondary/article/secondary-schools-revealed-2026-g9w9n8rqw
