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The Good Schools Guide

Helping you make confident choices for your child’s education

Navigating the world of education can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. We visit the best schools, interrogate the heads, speak to pupils and parents and challenge the marketing hype. The result? Impartial, straight-talking and thoroughly researched school reviews, for which we are famous.

We can help you choose the right school for your child. 

What makes The Good Schools Guide unique?

Each school in The Guide is selected on merit alone. Schools cannot pay to be included and have no influence over what we write. We always tell the truth. 


Help and Advice by The Good Schools Guide

Help and Advice

Articles written by our experts to help you with important education decisions.

Explore our articles »


The Good Schools Guide newsletter - Educational insight in your inbox. Read our latest:

 
 

Featured articles

Sir Keir Starmer speaking with his cabinet at 10 Downing St

THE GOOD SCHOOLS GUIDE BLOG
Private schools and VAT - The latest
The latest information on the Government's planned introduction of VAT on school fees. Who's affected, how are schools adapting their fees and talk of a legal challenge.
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Pupils in uniform and straw hats at Harrow School

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
UK private schools explained
Private, independent or public? Do you know the difference and, more importantly, do you know what kind of education they offer? We demystify UK private schools.
Read more

Illustration showing a hand placing coins in stacks with arrow in the background indicating growing investments

THE GOOD SCHOOLS GUIDE BLOG
How to pay for private education
With the introduction of VAT, school fees will jump considerably. Joe Askew of Selina Finance details the range of financial planning options available to parents.
Read more

A summer view of The Camden School for Girls

STATE SCHOOLS
Secondary schools admissions
With the October deadline fast approaching, how well-informed do you feel about your child's application to start secondary school in a year's time?
Read more

St Michael's Mount, Cornwall

CHOOSING A SCHOOL
The best schools in Cornwall
Whether a move to Cornwall is on the cards for your family or you're already living there, our new parents' guide to the best schools in the county is essential reading.
Read more

A pupil at St Geoge's Ascot dances in the school's dance studio

THE GOOD SCHOOLS GUIDE BLOG
9 top schools for dance
Do you want your child to learn pliés and jetés alongside oracy and algebra? In no particular order, we run through our favourite schools for nurturing young dancers.
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London North and South Guides - 8th Edition - £25.00+p&p

No school can buy their way into our good books. Which is why, now in their 8th editions, The Good Schools Guide London North and South are invaluable for parents navigating the fiercely competitive London education system.

Packed to the brim with everything you need to know about the London education scene, the books include the latest advice on school fees, entry requirements and 2022 exam results, academic rigour and, of course, more than 400 impartial, straight-talking and thoroughly researched school reviews for which we are famous.

‘I love the anecdotes and the independence – I feel as though I’m getting the “real deal”.’ – Parent

“One of the best aids to parents…informative, witty”- Financial Times

Buy Now

Boarding Schools from The Good Schools Guide

Boarding Schools from The Good Schools Guide: £40+p&p

All the latest details and trademark candid reviews of the UK’s top boarding schools. Now available. 

☑ More than 360 schools for children aged between 7-18
☑ Preps, independent secondaries and state boarding schools
☑ Academic and money matters
☑ Head teacher profiles
☑ Pastoral care, well-being and atmosphere
☑ Extra-curricular activities, games, the arts
☑ Entrance and exit information

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The 22nd edition of The Good Schools Guide

The Good Schools Guide 22nd Edition with a month's subscription - £60.00+p&p

“It is highly opinionated: the only guide that offers parents a genuine flavour of what a school is like.” The Daily Telegraph

Over 1,200 in-depth reviews of leading private and state schools, for children aged 3-18, in the UK. These cover everything you want, and need, to know about a school and you won't find this level of independent, honest detail anywhere else. Reviews are written by parents, for parents, to help you find the best school for your child. Need exam performance data? Hey that's what the subscription is for, find data for every school in the UK online.

Special offer: free one month subscription to our website (usual price £17.99) when you purchase the book. Subscription will activate on purchase .

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