Our Methodology
Understanding how we calculate school rankings and scores to help you make informed decisions
Explore Our ProcessOur Rankings
FindMySchool does not produce a single “overall” score. Instead, we publish separate rankings for each performance category so you can compare schools on the measures that matter most to your family. A school might rank highly for A-levels but sit lower for GCSE results, or vice versa — our approach lets you see both.
Every ranking is built from official government data and covers all eligible schools in England. Click any card below to see exactly which metrics feed into that ranking.
Primary School Ranking
Based on KS2 SATs results, reading, writing, and maths performance for state-funded primary schools
GCSE Ranking
Top grades achieved, Attainment 8, Progress 8, and EBacc performance
A-Levels Ranking
Percentage of A*, A*-A, and A*-B grades achieved across all subjects
Combined A-Levels & GCSE
Blended ranking where A-level performance is weighted more heavily than GCSE
Oxbridge Ranking
Applications, offers, and acceptances to the University of Oxford and University of Cambridge
FMS Inspection Score
Our proprietary 1–10 quality metric combining Ofsted and ISI inspection data
What Goes Into Each Ranking
Primary School Ranking
Ranks state-funded primary schools by 2025 KS2 outcomes. We publish an academic rank and, where inspection data is available, an overall rank that combines academic performance with the FindMySchool inspection score.
- Combined reading, writing and maths outcomes at the expected and higher standards
- Individual high-attainment measures in reading, writing, maths and grammar, punctuation and spelling
- Science attainment and grammar, punctuation and spelling attainment
- Average scaled scores in reading, maths and grammar, punctuation and spelling
Academic rank: Some measures carry more weight than others, with broad reading, writing and maths performance treated as the core signal.
Small cohorts: We apply a small statistical adjustment so very small cohorts cannot dominate the league on a single year of luck. Every school is treated as having a few extra average pupils added before ranking; a school of 100 pupils is barely affected, while a school of six is nudged more strongly toward the national average.
Overall rank: The overall primary rank combines KS2 results with the FindMySchool inspection score. Academic performance carries the bigger share.
Historical ranks:Historical ranks are shown as originally published under that year's methodology and may use a different formula than the current year.
State schools only: Independent primary schools do not sit government KS2 SATs and therefore do not appear in this ranking.
GCSE Ranking
Ranks secondary schools by GCSE performance using the following metrics:
- Percentage of pupils achieving grades 9–7 (A*–A equivalent)
- Attainment 8 score
- Progress 8 score
- EBacc entry and attainment
A-Levels Ranking
Ranks sixth forms and schools with A-level provision by grade distribution:
- Percentage of entries achieving A* grades
- Percentage achieving A*–A combined
- Percentage achieving A*–B combined
Combined A-Levels & GCSE Ranking
A blended ranking for schools that offer both A-levels and GCSEs. It draws on the same metrics used in the individual A-level and GCSE rankings:
- A-level performance (weighted more heavily — roughly twice the influence of GCSE)
- GCSE performance
Note: Only schools with published data for both A-levels and GCSEs appear in this ranking.
Oxbridge Ranking
Ranks schools by their success in gaining places at the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge:
- Combined applications to Oxford and Cambridge
- Combined offers received and offer rate
In addition to these academic rankings, every school receives an FMS Inspection Score — a separate 1–10 quality metric based on Ofsted and ISI inspection data.
FMS Inspection Score
The FMS Inspection Score is FindMySchool's proprietary quality metric. It is not an official Ofsted or ISI rating. Instead, it provides a single comparable number across all ~25,000 schools in England, regardless of which inspection body assessed them.
What Data Feeds In
- Ofsted grades— overall effectiveness plus sub-categories (Quality of Education, Behaviour & Attitudes, Personal Development, Leadership & Management)
- ISI judgments— academic quality, personal development, plus Ofsted-equivalent sub-categories where available
- Inspection recency— when the latest graded inspection took place
The 1–10 Scale
Every school receives a numeric score from 1 to 10, mapped to five quality bands:
Why It Exists
Different inspection bodies use different grading systems. Ofsted uses a 4-point scale (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate), while ISI uses Met/Not Met judgments with qualitative descriptors. The FMS Inspection Score bridges this gap by converting both systems into a single standardised metric, allowing parents to compare any school in England on a like-for-like basis.
What It Doesn't Reveal
We do not publish the specific weightings used to calculate the score. This is intentional — disclosing exact weights could incentivise schools to optimise for the metric rather than genuine educational quality.
Disclaimer:The FMS Inspection Score is an independent analysis by FindMySchool. It is not endorsed by or affiliated with Ofsted or ISI. Always refer to the official Ofsted or ISI report for the full picture of a school's inspection outcome.
Data Sources
We use only official government data sources to ensure accuracy and reliability. All data is verified and cross-referenced to maintain the highest standards of integrity in our rankings.
Department for Education
Official school performance tables and examination results
Ofsted Reports
Latest inspection ratings and school improvement data
ISI Inspection Reports
Independent Schools Inspectorate reports and quality judgments for independent schools
Official School Websites
Published information including fees, admissions policies, and key dates
School Census Data
Student demographics, capacity, and admission information
Oxford & Cambridge Admissions Data
University-published admission statistics from official Oxford and Cambridge websites
Historical Performance Data
5-year trends in academic achievement and progress measures
Freedom of Information Requests
Data obtained through FOI requests to schools and universities
Updates & Transparency
We are committed to maintaining transparent and up-to-date rankings. Our data is refreshed annually when new government statistics are released, typically between December and February each year.
December - January
Government data release for previous academic year
January - February
Data processing and validation
February
Rankings updated and published
Ongoing
Ofsted ratings updated as new reports are published
All historical rankings are preserved, allowing you to track school performance over time. We maintain a comprehensive changelog documenting any adjustments to our methodology, ensuring complete transparency in our ranking process.
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