Where are the best Welsh Schools?

Welcome to School Entrance Tests‘ Top Welsh Schools 2023 Guide.

The most highly rated Welsh state schools 2023

1 Ysgol Bro Preseli, Crymych
2 Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Myrddin, Carmarthen
3 Cowbridge Comprehensive School
4 Y Pant Comprehensive School, Pontyclun
5 Radyr Comprehensive School, Cardiff
6 Olchfa School, Swansea
7 Ysgol Eirias, Colwyn Bay
8 Crickhowell High School
9 Bishop Vaughan Catholic School, Swansea
10 Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Plasmawr, Cardiff

Top 10 independent secondary schools in Wales

1 Cardiff Sixth Form College
2 St Michael’s School, Llanelli
3 St John’s College, Cardiff
4 The Cathedral School Llandaff
5 Rougemont School
6 Ruthin School
7 Howell’s School, Llandaff GDST
8 Rydal Penrhos School, Colwyn Bay
9 Christ College Brecon
10 St David’s College, Llandudno

How to get your child into the top nearby school?

Getting your child into the best Northern Ireland school for them is all about:

  • Researching which are the highest rated schools in your local area.
  • Planning alternatives in advance – since there is of course no guarantee of your first choice working out.
  • Realistically assessing your current financial situation.

Here’s our popular Passed Papers You Tube channel.

Rob Williams

Ask ROB your Northern Ireland education questions by emailing passedpapers@gmail.com

An Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, Rob Williams is a Chartered Psychologist with over 25 years of experience working and designing tests.
Rob has worked for the school entrance test publishers ISEB, Hodder and GL Assessment.

How do I interpret the Top schools’ league tables?

The Northern Ireland school league table rankings are based on the latest exam results.

These are usually the previous independent school year group’s GCSE exam results and A-Level exam results.

Ofsted Reports

What are Ofsted reports?

Plus, how well performance standards have been met across the independent school. There are three possible outcomes: under-achieving; achieving; or outstanding.

Well firstly these are something that you must check for each independent school of interest.

Each Ofsted report is an analysis of that school’s teachers’ professional competence.

Looking for your best local schools?