St Mary’s College said it was “once again very proud to take a place on this list of prestigious and successful state schools”
St Mary’s College in Hull has been named among the best comprehensive schools in the UK. It comes after the school in Cranbrook Avenue celebrated outstanding GCSE and A-level results, with several students going on to further education at Oxford and Cambridge.
The list of the top 100 state schools in 2025 was compiled by the Daily Mail. It was based on The Good Schools Guide, GCSE and A-Level results, extracurricular activities, and class sizes.
Some of the most acclaimed schools in London were included. St Mary’s College was the only school in the Hull and East Riding area to feature in the ranking.
On introducing the list, the Daily Mail commented that private schools have become around 20 per cent more expensive since the scrapping of tax breaks on independent school fees. Higher fees has seen some parents switch to state education. However, the schools in this list ‘offer an education that is equivalent to or better than any private school.’
Explaining why St Mary’s College was included, the Daily Mail highlighted how the mixed comprehensive school in Hull is “heavily oversubscribed”. It said students can “progress onto the most competitive courses at top universities, including Oxbridge”.
In summer 2025, St Mary’s College celebrated its best-ever GCSE results, with 287 Grade 9s achieved by students. Sharing the achievement on its social media, the school said it was “once again very proud to take a place on this list of prestigious and successful state schools in the country”.
St Mary’s College was previously named the best comprehensive school of the year in a national ranking. The school was given the accolade in The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2024.
In its most recent Ofsted report, St Mary’s was described as a “highly ambitious school”. The report stated: “This ambition can be seen in all areas of the curriculum.
“Leaders have identified specific ‘golden threads’ around which they have designed the curriculum. The curriculum is carefully sequenced to ensure that pupils flourish.
“Pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), make exceptional academic progress. Pupils are extremely well behaved.
“They feel happy and are safe in school. Classrooms are calm and purposeful. Disruption to learning is rare. Pupils have respect for each other and celebrate their differences.
“They have a deep understanding of fundamental British values and protected characteristics. Pupils are thoroughly prepared for life in modern Britain.
“Personal development runs through all aspects of school life. Pupils have meaningful opportunities to be active citizens through roles such as personal, social and health education ambassadors, Agape ambassadors, and Shakespeare representatives.
“Pupils have access to a wide variety of extra-curricular activities. These include an extensive sporting offer, an international film club and a geo-marine club.
“These activities support pupils to develop their talents and interests. A broad curriculum is offered in the sixth form. This includes academic, vocational and technical qualifications. Students develop rich knowledge, which gives them a deep understanding of their course of study. Students are ambitious and positive about their futures.”
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