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JFS and Immanuel shine in national school rankings
The Sunday Times also ranks JCoSS, Hasmonean and Yavneh College among the top schools in the country
Jewish schools have secured some of their strongest results in years in The Sunday Times Parent Power 2026 guide, with JFS named State Faith Secondary School of the Year and Immanuel College ranked as the country’s best-performing Jewish school.
The annual league tables are widely regarded as one of the most authoritative assessments of school performance across the UK. This year’s edition analyses exam results from more than 2,000 schools and includes a fully searchable database for parents comparing local and national performance.
Immanuel College, ranked at 116th nationally, was the highest placed Jewish school overall. JFS is listed as the second-highest comprehensive school in London, with editors recognising its sustained academic strength across both GCSE and A-level outcomes. Its national “Faith School of the Year” award reflects what the guide describes as consistently high standards across a challenging period for schools. It ranked at 195 on the overall list.
Hasmonean High School for Girls ranks eighth among London’s top comprehensives (301st nationally), while JCoSS also featured prominently, placing tenth among London’s top comprehensives (315th overall). Yavneh College came 318th, underlining strong results for the Jewish secondary sector.
Several high-performing schools in areas with significant Jewish populations also dominate the wider London rankings. Queen Elizabeth’s School in Barnet was named State Secondary School of the Year, as well as winning national awards for Academic Excellence and A-Level performance. It tops both the London and UK state secondary tables.
Helen Davies, editor of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide, said schools nationwide were operating amid “budget challenges, rising student mental health issues, special educational needs and an increasingly uncertain future”. Yet she said the guide also captured “so much to celebrate from the dedication of teachers who are finding ever more innovative and impactful ways to enrich their students and give them the very best start in life”.
Hasmonean Primary school was the top ranked Jewish primary school on the Sunday Times list, in 175th place. The school’s headteacher, Hayley Gross, said the institution was “deeply honoured”, and that the achievement “reflects the dedication of our staff, the curiosity and resilience of our pupils, and the unwavering support of our community”.
Beyond the Jewish sector, North London Collegiate – a school with a significant number of Jewish pupils – takes the title of national and London Independent School of the Year.
This year’s supplement also includes features on STEM education, advice for parents applying to selective schools, and guidance on scholarships and school choice.
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