Find the best school for your child
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.
The Good Schools Guide newsletter - Educational insight in your inbox. Read our latest:
Featured articles
THE GOOD SCHOOLS GUIDE BLOG
Private schools and VAT - the latest
The Government imposed VAT on private school fees at the start of 2025. We ask what fees now look like and how families and schools are affected.
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STATE SCHOOLS
Primary school appeals
Parents have the legal right to appeal to any of the schools which they listed in their original application. It's a stressful time with few appeals meeting with success.
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CHOOSING A SCHOOL
School open days
An open day is your chance to get a feel for a school, inspect the facilities and chat with pupils and staff. Check out our questions to ask and essentials to look out for.
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PRIVATE SCHOOLS
Scholarships and bursaries explained
Most private schools offer financial help in the forms of scholarships or bursaries for pupils who are either very able or can demonstrate the need for monetary support.
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CHOOSING A SCHOOL
The best schools in Hertfordshire
Whether a move to Herts is on the cards for your family or you're already living there, our guide to the best schools in this industrious county is essential reading.
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THE GOOD SCHOOLS GUIDE BLOG
10 top schools for rowing
The UK has long been one of the world's leading rowing nations with TeamGB often topping medal tables. We look at the schools training up the country's best young talent.
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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
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
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 .