State schools crown top Oxbridge feeders in new data

LONDON — A new dataset from Oxford and Cambridge universities ranks the state-funded schools that sent the most pupils to the two universities last year, highlighting how the state sector remains the dominant pathway for Oxbridge entrants. The Daily Mail’s analysis pulls from university admissions counts, government statistics and profiles prepared with the Good Schools Guide to present a top 30 list of state schools and sixth-form colleges with five or more entrants. The project notes that schools with fewer than five entrants are excluded, meaning thousands of smaller institutions are not named even as they contribute to the overall picture. An interactive tool accompanying the report lets readers view any state-funded school that posted more than five entrants and shows the proportion of those entrants who went on to Oxbridge as well as overall university attendance.

Topping the table is Hills Road Sixth Form College in Cambridge, which reported 57 total Oxbridge entrants — 19 to Cambridge and 38 to Oxford — followed by Brampton Manor in Newham, London, with 54 (Cambridge 35, Oxford 19) and Queen Elizabeth's School in Barnet, Hertfordshire, with 53 (Cambridge 40, Oxford 13). Hills Road’s 60% share entering the top third of universities and 87% entering any university reflect its long-established role as a high-achieving sixth form, noted for a university-style atmosphere, a strong emphasis on STEM subjects and a compulsory EPQ in addition to three A-levels. Brampton Manor, a co-educational academy in one of London’s most deprived boroughs, has built a reputation for rigorous academics despite a student body with high numbers of pupils on free school meals and a large share not speaking English at home. QE Barnet, a 450-year-old grammar with a selective entry process, drew a total of 53 entrants (40 to Cambridge, 13 to Oxford) and reports a 92% rate of pupils entering the top third or higher.

Beyond the top three, the list features a mix of grammar schools, sixth-form colleges and specialist academies across England, with London and the South East disproportionately represented and grammar schools anchoring many of the strongest performers. The compiled top 30 includes 26 schools in England and the top two entries from each of Wales and Scotland, while a number of Welsh and Scottish institutions appear only if they posted more than five entrants. In total, the report notes that more than 650 state schools or sixth-form colleges posted between one and five entrants, underscoring how Oxbridge places are distributed in small numbers across a very broad ecosystem.

The pattern that emerges from the rankings is not only about selective entry. It also reflects how larger sixth-form colleges can translate scale into more Oxbridge successes, simply because a bigger year group provides more opportunities for standout students to reach Oxford or Cambridge. Hills Road, Brampton Manor, QE Barnet and other leading institutions illustrate a spectrum from traditional grammar schools with long provenance to modern, high-intensity state provision designed to identify and nurture top talent.

London’s presence on the list is pronounced, with several big state feeders representing the capital’s diverse educational landscape. At the same time, counties in the South East and the Midlands appear frequently, confirming that, even within England’s broadly hybrid state system, access to Oxbridge remains concentrated among a relatively small set of high-performing schools. The list also features examples from the west and southwest, such as Pate’s Grammar School in Cheltenham and Reading School in Berkshire, illustrating regional variation in Oxbridge provision within the state sector.

Experts note that the competition for Oxbridge places in state schools has grown in the current year, partly as a reaction to a new levy on private school fees. Labour’s VAT on independent school fees, implemented at the start of the year, adds as much as 20% to the cost of private education and is expected to push more middle-class families toward state provision. Melanie Sanderson, managing editor of the Good Schools Guide, says that a shift toward the state sector is now visible in parental choices: ‘A lot of parents are now choosing to move their child at age 16 to a really good state school, to save that money.’ She cautions, however, that entry to the most prestigious schools has “always been competitive,” and she urges families to prioritize “inspirational teachers,” a strong peer group and an environment that protects students from external influences that might dampen their ambition. ‘What you want to see in any school is that they can draw the best out of children,’ she adds, noting that a non-selective state school that sends multiple pupils to Oxbridge every year is doing valuable work.

The data set also offers a snapshot of how Oxbridge access is evolving in the devolved nations. In Wales and Scotland, the representation is more limited, reflecting different education systems and choices. In Wales, Cardiff High School is listed with up to five entrants to Cambridge and up to six to Oxford, while in Scotland Jordanhill School in Glasgow is noted as the highest-performing state school with up to five Cambridge entrants and no Oxford entrants. Balfron High School in Stirling similarly posted up to five Cambridge entrants, highlighting that even in these nations, Oxbridge success tends to appear in small numbers relative to England’s top feeders.

The report emphasizes that the timing of applications remains a factor for prospective students and families. In England, the Year 7 admissions deadline looms on October 31, while Year 12 entry deadlines vary from October to January, underscoring the ongoing nature of the admissions cycle for Oxbridge-focused students. The data’s organizers stress that the top-30 list, while illuminating, should be read as a map of high-performing institutions rather than a definitive ranking of school quality across the country.

Looking ahead, education observers say the landscape for Oxbridge admissions will continue to hinge on early identification of talent, robust subject pathways and supportive school cultures that cultivate intellectual curiosity. Whether the goal is rigorous science training at Hills Road, the arts and humanities engagement at different grammar schools, or the broad subject offerings of large sixth-form colleges, the common thread is a school environment that prioritizes disciplined study, high expectations and access to high-quality guidance for Oxbridge applications.

As parents and guardians weigh choices for the coming academic year, the new data set offers a sobering reminder that opportunities to attend Oxford or Cambridge from the state sector are concentrated among a limited number of institutions. It also reinforces the importance of strong teaching, stable leadership and a culture of achievement that can help students translate talent into admission at the two universities that remain highly selective. For students and families navigating the admissions maze, the message from educators and analysts alike is clear: focus on the school’s ability to nurture ambition, rather than on brand alone, and seek out environments where exceptional teachers and peers push each student toward their best possible outcome.