St Louis Grammar named among Top 10 schools in Northern Ireland in Sunday Times Parent Power 2026
- Love Ballymena
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St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena
St Louis Grammar School has secured its place among Northern Ireland’s top-performing post-primary schools, ranking ninth in the prestigious Sunday Times Parent Power 2026 guide.
The annual league table, widely considered the definitive benchmark for school performance across the UK, will be published online on Friday 5 December and in print on Sunday 7 December.
Nationally, St Louis Grammar also earns a strong position at number 65 within the UK’s top state secondary schools—though this marks a drop of 14 places compared to last year.
St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena
As a fully selective school, St Louis Grammar’s performance indicators remain robust. Its A-level outcomes include 12.1% A* grades, 47.7% A/A*, and 85.9% A/B*, securing an impressive national A-level rank of 29. At GCSE, 55.8% of grades awarded were at 9/8/7, placing the school 128th in the UK for GCSE performance.
The Sunday Times Parent Power guide, featuring more than 2,000 schools, remains “the definitive ranking of the UK’s top primary and secondary state and independent schools” and “an essential resource for parents seeking the very best in education for their children.”
Helen Davies, editor of the guide, said:
“The educational landscape is testing – budget challenges, rising student mental health issues, special educational needs and an increasingly uncertain future. But there is also 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.”
She added:
“As well as celebrating the academic excellence of the top schools it is uplifting to see how they are shaping their students to be ready for the 21st century, and instilling a lifelong love of learning.”
Rathmore Grammar and Strathearn School Lead Northern Ireland Rankings
The 2026 guide names Rathmore Grammar School as State Secondary School of the Year in Northern Ireland, while Strathearn School is crowned State Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence.
Strong exam outcomes across the region continue to stand out. Three in ten pupils in Northern Ireland achieved at least one A* or A grade at A-level last summer, with every school in the Northern Ireland top 10 also ranking within the top 70 state secondaries in the UK.
The top-performing NI schools also stand out for excellence beyond the classroom, with strong representation in rugby, Gaelic football, camogie, hurling and basketball.
Ballymena Academy Also Rises in UK Rankings
Ballymena Academy
Closer to home, Ballymena Academy also features prominently in the UK list, rising 14 positions to rank 75th among UK state schools. The school holds 11th place within Northern Ireland.
Its academic achievements include 14.9% A* at A-level and 45.8% A/A*, leading to an A-level rank of 50. At GCSE, 58.2% of grades awarded were 9/8/7, resulting in a UK GCSE rank of 118.
Northern Ireland’s Top State Schools 2026 (Sunday Times Parent Power)
Strathearn School
Rathmore Grammar School
St Dominic’s Grammar School
Friends’ School Lisburn
Our Lady and St Patrick’s College, Knock
Lumen Christi College
Sullivan Upper School
Banbridge Academy
St Louis Grammar School
Aquinas Diocesan Grammar School
Ballymena Academy
Rainey Endowed School
Carrickfergus Grammar School
Down High School
Methodist College Belfast
Belfast Royal Academy
Ballyclare High School
Dalriada School
The Wallace High School
Victoria College, Belfast
Omagh Academy
Enniskillen Royal Grammar School
Royal School Armagh
Portadown College
Glenlola Collegiate School
Limavady Grammar School
What Else Is in the Parent Power Guide?
This year’s edition offers wide-ranging insight for parents, including:
Is the 11-plus making your children stupid?
What to do if your child is a genius
The great STEM debate: has a push for maths and science subjects gone too far?
Woof! Meet the therapy dogs helping children to read
25 questions every parent should ask to choose the right school
A full guide to primary school life
Scholarship application advice
The annual Parent Power quiz
The awards are judged on both year-on-year performance and editorial discretion, with rankings based on exam results using Parent Power’s established methodology.
The Sunday Times Parent Power 2026 Guide, which is now live online and will be in the paper this Sunday, 7th December 2025.