St Mary’s College has been named among the best schools in the UK after its GCSE and A level results set it apart from the rest in the region.
A list of the top 100 best state schools in 2025 has been revealed by the Daily Mail, based on GCSE and A-Level results, extracurricular activities, class sizes, and The Good Schools Guide.
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 mean parents have turned their backs on private schooling, with children switching to state education, however, the schools in this list offer an education that is equivalent to or better than any private school.
Within the list, which included some of the most prestigious schools in London, Oxford and Cambridge, SMC also earned a place among the top 100. It is also the only school in the Hull and East Riding area to feature in the prestigious national ranking.
The school’s consistently strong exam performance, combined with its ‘outstanding’ Ofsted rating, helped secure its position. Explaining why St Mary’s College was included, the Daily Mail highlighted:
“This mixed comprehensive in Hull is heavily oversubscribed, thanks to consistently high results at GCSE and A level, which enable students to progress onto the most competitive courses at top universities, including Oxbridge.”
In summer 2025, St Mary’s College celebrated its best ever GCSE results where 287 Grade 9s were achieved by students!
St Mary’s College is once again very proud to take a place on this list of prestigious and successful state schools in the country.