A High Wycombe school has been named the secondary school of the year by the Sunday Times in their 2023 Parent Power guide.

Wycombe High School picked up the accolade from the newspaper as well as topping the list in the South East.

The new survey sees the grammar school jump into the national top 10 in the academic rankings in the first post-pandemic set of results since Covid-19.

The guide shows that 98.3 per cent of A-level students achieved A* to B whilst 82.1 percent of GCSE students earned results of A* to A (grade 7 or above).

The Sunday Times highlighted the success of Wycombe High TV, one of Britain’s only student-led school TV stations, and an impressive range of 23 subjects to choose from at sixth form.

Headteacher, Nicola Renyard, said: “This is a real boost for the whole school, and testament to the hard work and effort of the students and staff over the past three years.

“They have shown a real generosity of spirit, characteristic of the firmly embedded support networks in place at Wycombe High School which enable our students to thrive.

“Staff and students have definitely got an extra spring in their step following this fantastic news. I would also like to congratulate my predecessor, Sharon Cromie – she deserves a lot of the credit for this prestigious achievement”.

David Garmon-Jones, Chair of the Wycombe High School Academy Trust Board, added: “ The trustees are delighted that Wycombe High School has been ranked in the top 10 UK state schools.

“This is excellent recognition for the hard work of our students and staff during challenging times.

“One of our values is limitless ambition, that students are empowered to be boldly brilliant in whatever they aspire to, without fearing failure.

“This ranking supports that ambition.”

The data and school guide has been put together by Parent Power and the list can be seen online and in a supplement in The Sunday Times on December 11.

More than 1,600 schools can be searched by name, local authority, town and postcode, allowing families to find the best school in their area.

Helen Davies, editor of The Sunday Times Parent Power guide, says: “These have been a challenging few years for teachers, pupils and their parents, and the success of many in our league table is testament to the stamina and support shown by all concerned. 

"It is also clear that more attention is being placed on wellbeing and mental health – from meditation rooms to counselling support, even therapy dogs – and schools are being proactive to bring about positive changes.

“League tables are not the only criteria a parent can use when choosing a school, but they are a good starting point.

"We want to celebrate excellence. We want to champion schools that are doing wonderful work. We want our children to be well-nurtured and well-taught.

"In choosing a school parents are making one of the biggest decisions in their family life, and Parent Power and The Sunday Times is here to help.”