The top 20 best performing schools in the Black Country based on latest GCSE English and Maths

It is officially exam season, which means pupils up and down the country will be spending their time revising or in exam halls, before the anxious wait to results day begins.

Exam results in the core subjects of English and Maths are one of the key ways a school's performance is measured.

With that in mind, we have used Government data to rank the top performing schools in the Black Country boroughs comprising Walsall, Sandwell, Dudley and Wolverhampton.

The schools have been ranked according to what percentage of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths at the end of Key Stage 4 last year.

Grade 5 is a similar level of achievement to a high grade C or low grade B in the old grading system.

We have also included what percentage of pupils at these schools achieved Grade 4 or above, which is similar to achieving a grade C or above in the old grading.

The list does not however include fee-paying schools.

Wolverhampton

1. Wolverhampton Girls High School

Wolverhampton Girls High School is a grammar school located on Tettenhall Road.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 97.2 percent of its pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths, while 99.3 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

2. Highfields School

Highfields School is a mixed secondary school and Sixth Form near the Penn area of the city.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 56 per cent of its pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE, while 76.9 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

3. Heath Park

Heath Park is also a mixed secondary school. It is part of the Central Learning Partnership Trust and based in Heath Town.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, a total of 54.8 per cent of GCSE pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths, while 72.1 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

4. The Khalsa Academy Wolverhampton

The Khalsa Academy is based in Bilston.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 52 per cent of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE, while 72.4 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above. 

5. Thomas Telford University Technical College

Thomas Telford University Technical College is a mixed school and Sixth Form located on the Springfield Campus.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 51.6 per cent achieved Grade 5 or above while 84.8 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above in English and Maths GCSE.

Walsall

1. Queen Mary's Grammar School

Queen Mary's Grammar School is a boy's grammar school located near Walsall town centre.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 97.3 per cent of its pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE, while 100 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

2. Queen Mary's High School

Queen Mary's High School is a girl's grammar school, also based near Walsall town centre.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 97.3 per cent achieved Grade 5 or above, while 99.3 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above in English and Maths GCSE.

3. Barr Beacon School

Barr Beacon School is a mixed secondary school and sixth form based in Aldridge and forms part of the Matrix Academy Trust.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 60.5 per cent of GCSE pupils at Barr Beacon achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths, while 80.6 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

4. St Francis of Assisi Catholic College

St Francis of Assisi Catholic College is a Catholic, voluntary aided secondary school in Aldridge.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 52.7 per cent achieved Grade 5 of above while 77.1 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above in English and Maths GCSE.

5. Joseph Leckie Academy

Joseph Leckie Academy is a mixed secondary school based in The Delves area of Walsall.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 41.8 per cent of pupils at the school achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE, while 59.5 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above. 

Dudley

1. Old Swinford Hospital

Old Swinford Hospital is a secondary school based in Oldswinford, Stourbridge.

It does offer boarding for its pupils which requires a fee, however its education is state-funded and non-boarding places are available.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 69.3 per cent of pupils at Old Swinford Hospital achieved Grade 5 or above in GCSE Maths and English, while 86.4 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

2. Summerhill School

Summerhill School is a mixed, community secondary school in Kingswinford.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 63.9 per cent of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE while 80.3 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

3. Redhill School

Redhill School is a mixed secondary school which is part of the Stour Vale Academy Trust and based in Stourbridge.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 57.6 per cent of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE while 74.4 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above. 

4. Windsor High School and Sixth Form

Windsor High School and Sixth Form is a mixed secondary school which is part of Windsor Academy Trust and based in Halesowen.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 54.9 per cent of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE while 72.6 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

5. The Earls High School

The Earls High School is a mixed secondary school which is part of the Stour Vale Academy Trust and is also based in Halesowen.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 49.4 per cent achieved Grade 5 or above while 68.5 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above in English and Maths GCSE.

Sandwell

1. Q3 Academy Langley

Q3 Academy Langley is a mixed secondary school which is part of The Mercian Trust and based in Oldbury.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 59.5 per cent achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE, while 81 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

2. Shireland Collegiate Academy

Shireland Collegiate Academy is a mixed secondary school which forms part of the Shireland Collegiate Academy Trust and is based in Smethwick.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 48.8 per cent achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE, while 69.2 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

3. Sandwell Academy

Sandwell Academy is a mixed secondary school which forms part of the Thomas Telford Multi Academy Trust and is located in West Bromwich.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 47.5 per cent achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE while 70.2 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

4. Q3 Academy Great Barr

Q3 Academy Great Barr is a mixed secondary school which forms part of The Mercian Trust and is located in Great Barr.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 45.5 per cent achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE, while 71.1 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.

5. Bristnall Hall Academy

 Bristnall Hall Academy  is a mixed secondary school which forms part of the Academy Transformation Trust and is based in Oldbury.

At the end of Key Stage 4 in 2024, 43.8 per cent achieved Grade 5 or above in English and Maths GCSE while 62.5 per cent achieved Grade 4 or above.