The best performing secondary state and independent schools in the North East have been revealed by The Sunday Times, including establishments in Durham, Darlington, Newcastle, Hexham and beyond.

The anticipated list comes as the UK’s highest-achieving secondary schools have been ranked by the first true set of post-pandemic examination results in the 31st edition of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide.

The guide is widely acknowledged as the most authoritative survey of the country’s top schools.

The latest edition found conversations around mental health are now ingrained in the leading schools with many offering mentoring systems, talks from motivational speakers and workshops offering study tips and techniques to help with stress and anxiety.

The guide also discovered good schools embed career advice into the curriculum and inspire pupils by inviting visiting speakers, from industry leaders to alumni.

You can see the full Parent Power Guide table published in The Sunday Times here.

See the North East’s top schools announced by The Sunday Times

In the North East, Durham Johnston Comprehensive School was awarded Secondary School of the Year 2024.

Elsewhere, the Independent School of the Year 2024 award was received by Royal Grammar School in Newcastle.

The Northern Echo: Does your child attend Durham Johnston Comprehensive School?Does your child attend Durham Johnston Comprehensive School? (Image: Google Maps)

Top secondary state schools (grammar and comprehensive) in the North East

Here are the top secondary schools, both grammar and comprehensive in the region along with their national ranking, according to The Sunday Times:

  1. Durham Johnston Comprehensive School (177)
  2. Queen Elizabeth High School – Hexham (239)
  3. St Mary's Catholic School – Newcastle (249)
  4. Ponteland High School (281)
  5. Gosforth Academy (290)
  6. Carmel College – Darlington (321=)
  7. Framwellgate School Durham (339=)
  8. Whitley Bay High School (352)

Top independent schools in the North East

Here are the top independent schools in the region along with their national ranking, according to The Sunday Times:

  1. Royal Grammar School, Newcastle (51)
  2. Yarm School (109)
  3. Dame Allan's Girls' School, Newcastle (156)
  4. Dame Allan's Boys' School, Newcastle (174)
  5. Durham High School (188)
  6. Durham School (293)

Most expensive UK cities to buy a house in

Helen Davies, editor of Parent Power, said: “The educational landscape continues to be challenging across both the state and independent sectors, and this is the first true assessment of post-pandemic exam results.

“We believe these rankings – and all the additional information on offer in Parent Power – provide parents with a more reliable guide to academic achievement in schools today.

“The guide showcases academic excellence but also celebrates schools who may not be right at the top but are rising, innovating and helping pupils flourish."

She added: "Being a teenager is hard enough, and the past few years since Covid have made life even harder. It is heartening to highlight the achievements of so many students and schools across the UK.

“This year Parent Power includes details on extracurricular clubs, wellbeing initiatives and school lunch menus – chicken katsu seems to be the dish of the day.”

The fully searchable national database of over 1,000 schools by name, local authority, town and postcode, is available online from Friday, December 1 and as a print supplement with The Sunday Times on Sunday, December 3.