Bootham Celebrates Top 10 Northern Ranking in The Sunday Times Parent Power Schools Guide 2026

Published by Bootham School on Tuesday 9th of December 2025

Bootham School is delighted to announce that it has been ranked in the top 10 independent secondary schools in the North in the 2026 edition of the Parent Power Schools Guide by The Sunday Times – an acknowledgement of the school’s continuing academic excellence and strong performance in recent examinations. 

What This Ranking Reflects 

Bootham students delivered strong results in the 2025 exam cycle:

• At A Level 71% of all grades awarded were A*/B.


• Over a quarter of A Level students achieved three A grades or better. 


• At GCSE, 59% of all results were the top grades 9-7 (equivalent to A*/A under the old grading). 


• Additionally, at GCSE 78% of grades were 9-6 (equivalent to A*/B), demonstrating broad overall achievement across the cohort. 

These results place Bootham firmly within the highest-achieving independent schools in the region – a testament to the dedication of the students, the quality of teaching and the school’s supportive academic environment. 

From our Head: Why Bootham’s Approach Matters

In our recent Head’s article ‘Why York? Why Bootham?’ our Head, Deneal Smith, highlighted what makes Bootham unique. He wrote:

“Bootham is a kind school. It is a calm school. It is a school where you can excel, but where effort is more highly prized than natural aptitude.” 

This principle underpins Bootham’s belief that academic success is built not just on talent, but on sustained effort, resilience and a supportive community. 

What this Means for our Community  

This year’s results, and Bootham’s ranking in the Parent Power guide, are a tribute to the hard work of our students, the professionalism and care of our staff, and the strength of the Bootham community as a whole.

We hope this announcement brings pride to current students, parents, alumni, the Bootham community – and reinforces Bootham’s place as a school where academic excellence, character and community come together.