Just like last year, King’s is the only school in Worcester and Worcestershire to be named in the Top 10 and is ranked an impressive 173rd in the national table out of 900 secondary schools. The Parent Power 2023 report is the 30th edition of The Sunday Times guide to Britain’s highest-achieving primary and secondary schools in the state and independent sectors.
This year’s ranking is based on the most recent results in A levels and GCSEs from the summer of 2022, when pupils took public exams in a conventional form rather than receiving grades based on teachers’ assessments. Last year, the Sunday Times rankings were based on a three-year average of academic outcomes from 2017 to 2019, which were then used to produce a series of tables to reflect pre-pandemic performance in what would be classed as “normal” times.
Headmaster Gareth Doodes expressed his delight at the School’s recognition, “For almost all of our GCSE and A level pupils, these were the first public exams which they had ever taken, so maintaining our position is even more of an achievement. To be ranked in the Top 10 Independent Schools in the West Midlands, alongside traditionally academic big hitters like the two King Edward’s Schools in Birmingham, Shrewsbury, Warwick and Solihull Schools, and to be recognised as the leading school in Worcester and Worcestershire is tremendous news.
“This is a true reflection of the sheer hard work and dedication of our pupils and staff, whose resilience in the face of so much disruption and whose academic ambition has driven them on to outstanding success. The pupils have done incredibly well academically, but they have achieved so much in addition to this. They have embraced all the opportunities we have provided, and we are particularly proud of our music, drama, and sports successes.
“This also bodes so well for our enhanced Sixth Form provision, the first stage of which will be in place by September 2023 and will augment our exceptional academic provision with an enhanced qualification programme that will assist students as they enter Further Higher Education and the world of work, helping fulfil our Foundation’s strategic vision for our pupils to be curious, caring and confident. Alongside the new Sixth Form Centre, an enhanced Sixth Form Curriculum and Sixth Form Programme will create well-rounded, ambitious young adults, who are well equipped to take their next steps, whether into Higher Education, apprenticeships or straight into the world of work. It is fundamental to our School’s mission: to seek excellence in all we do and provide an outstanding preparation for life.”