'The Top Schools in Northern Ireland' have today been named in the Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2025.
Friends’ School, Lisburn is crowned Secondary School of the Year in NI for Academic Excellence.
Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School, Belfast has been named Secondary School of the Year in NI. The state Secondary School of the Year is based on schools that have improved most over the last year, according to background from the Sunday Times.
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A total of 10 schools have been named in the list and have been given a regional rank in the guide published online on Friday.
A statement said: The UK’s highest-achieving schools are revealed in the 32nd edition of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2025.
"Recognised as the definitive ranking of the UK’s top state and independent schools, this guide remains an essential resource for parents seeking the very best in education for their children.
"The guide includes a fully searchable national database of over 2,000 schools by name, local authority, town and postcode. As well as an assessment of all academic results on a school-by-school basis, Parent Power enables parents to compare the performance of a given school with other schools in the same town, local authority or nationally."
Helen Davies, Editor of Parent Power, said: "The educational landscape is challenging – teacher shortages, rising student mental health issues and special educational needs and the Vat rise – but there is also so much to celebrate from the hard work of passionate and committed teachers who are finding ever more innovative and impactful ways to boost their students and give them the very best start in life.
"As well as celebrating the academic excellence of the top schools it is fantastic to see how they are shaping their students to be ready for the 21st century."
Top state secondary schools in Northern Ireland, according to the Sunday Times Parent Power Guide:
Regional rank | National rank | |
1 | Friends’ School Lisburn | 32 |
2= | Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School, Belfast | 34= |
2= | Strathearn School, Belfast | 34= |
4 | Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock | 41 |
5 | St Dominic’s Grammar School for Girls, Belfast | 50 |
6 | St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena | 51 |
7 | Rathmore Grammar School, Belfast | 52 |
8 | St Mary’s Grammar School, Magherafelt | 53 |
9 | Lumen Christi College, Derry | 56 |
10 | Sullivan Upper School, Holywood | 65 |
Schools are ranked by performance at A-level and GCSE in summer 2024.
You can find out more in the The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2025.
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