The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2025, the 32nd edition of the authoritative guide, surveys the country’s top schools with a full 28-page supplement available from Sunday, December 8.
The guide was released at 7am this morning (Friday, December 6) online, with a handful of Chester schools highly ranked.
The guide includes a fully searchable national database of over 2,000 schools by name, local authority, town and postcode. As well as an assessment of all academic results on a school-by-school basis, Parent Power enables parents to compare the performance of a given school with other schools in the same town, local authority or nationally.
The top primary school in the North West was The Delamere C of E Academy, Tarporley, with an equally impressive national rank of 14.
Part of the North West Academies Trust (NWAT), the school was the best performing Chester school in this year’s guide.
Acresfield Academy in Upton, another NWAT school, has also been recognised. Acresfield is ranked as the 14th best primary school in the North West and the 120th best in the country.
CEO of NWAT, Steve Docking OBE, praised both schools: “Delamere’s recognition as The North West Primary School of the Year and Acresfield’s excellent ranking in the Guide demonstrate the exceptional work happening across our schools.
“These achievements are a testament to the dedication of our staff and leaders, and the high expectations we set for every school in our Trust. We are proud to see the hard work of our communities recognised in such a prestigious way.”
There was also recognition for the best secondary schools in the area.
Among secondary comprehensives, Upton-by-Chester High School was ranked as the 10th best in the North West. And, with a national rank of 335, the school has risen 63 places since last year in the national standings.
Chester’s independent secondary schools also performed outstandingly, with both The Queen’s School and The King’s School both making the top ten.
The King’s School took sixth place among the best independent secondary schools in the North West, with The Queen’s School taking seventh place.
Nationally, the schools ranked 130th and 157th respectively.
Helen Davies, Editor of Parent Power, said: “The educational landscape is challenging – teacher shortages, rising student mental health issues and special educational needs and the Vat rise – but there is also so much to celebrate from the hard work of passionate and committed teachers who are finding ever more innovative and impactful ways to boost their students and give them the very best start in life.
“As well as celebrating the academic excellence of the top schools it is fantastic to see how they are shaping their students to be ready for the 21st century.”
To see the full guide, visit The Times’ website at: thetimes.com/best-schools-league-table (login required).