Best secondary schools in Ealing: A complete 2026 guide

Ealing is among the larger west London boroughs by population, with a broad secondary school landscape. The borough has more than 15 state secondary schools spread across Ealing, Acton, Hanwell, Southall, and Greenford, alongside a small but well-regarded group of independent schools concentrated around Ealing Broadway.

Ealing has no state grammar schools, but the state sector includes several heavily oversubscribed Church of England academies and a notable Roman Catholic option. The borough's geographical spread means catchment is a particularly important factor here, and families often have very different realistic options depending on which part of Ealing they live in.

We have based this list on schools with strong Ofsted reputations, consistent results, and long-standing demand from local families. We have grouped them by sector so you can quickly see the independent, grammar, and state options at a glance.

We have not invented Ofsted ratings or specific exam results. Where we describe a school's strengths we have used qualitative language drawn from widely reported information. Always check the most recent Ofsted report, the school's own results, and the Department for Education's compare-school-performance service before making a final decision.

Ealing's independent sector is smaller than the state sector but includes some well-known options around Ealing Broadway. Entry is typically by 11+ assessment, with some schools also taking pupils at 13+ or into the sixth form.

Notting Hill & Ealing High School, known locally as NHEHS, is an independent girls' day school in Ealing. It is part of the Girls' Day School Trust (GDST) and serves girls from Year 7 through to sixth form.

The school is known for strong GCSE and A Level results, a confident academic culture, and a broad co-curricular offer including STEM, music, and sport. Entry is via the GDST 11+ assessment, with sixth-form entry by application and predicted grades.

Durston House is a boys' preparatory school in Ealing, taking pupils from age 4 to 13. While not a senior school in its own right, it is one of the most popular feeders for boys' independents in west London and central London.

The school is known for strong 11+ and 13+ preparation, a traditional academic curriculum, and consistent placement into top boys' senior schools. Families typically combine Durston House with senior school applications during Year 6 or Year 8.

St Augustine's Priory is a Roman Catholic independent girls' school in Ealing. It takes pupils from Reception through to sixth form, with most senior school entry at 11+.

The school is known for a clear Catholic ethos, a focus on the whole child, and steady academic results. Entry is via 11+ assessment with priority for Catholic applicants, though the school admits non-Catholic girls who meet the academic threshold.

Ealing has no state grammar schools. Families looking for academically selective state education usually look further out to the grammar schools in Buckinghamshire (where the system is selective across the whole county), or south to Kingston upon Thames. The pan-London admissions system means you can apply across boroughs, but you need to register for the relevant selective tests separately and well before the October application deadline.

Ealing's state sector is large and varied. The borough has strong Church of England academies that dominate the most oversubscribed lists, a popular Roman Catholic school, and several well-regarded non-faith comprehensives. Most state secondaries admit primarily on distance, but faith schools use religious criteria alongside catchment.

Drayton Manor is a co-educational state secondary in Hanwell. It is among the larger and more popular non-faith state schools in Ealing and regularly attracts strong local demand.

The school is known for steady GCSE and A Level results, a broad curriculum, and an active sixth form. Admission is non-selective and primarily based on distance, with a tight effective catchment given the school's popularity.

Twyford CofE is a co-educational Church of England state secondary in Acton. It is among the more oversubscribed CofE schools in west London and is part of the wider Twyford Trust.

The school is known for strong academic results, a clear CofE ethos, and active extra-curricular provision. Admission uses CofE faith criteria alongside distance, with a supplementary form required for faith-based places.

Ada Lovelace is a co-educational CofE state secondary in Ealing. It is a newer school that has built a strong reputation since opening, with a particular focus on academic ambition.

The school is known for an academic ethos, a focus on excellence in core subjects, and a structured behaviour culture. Admission uses CofE faith criteria alongside distance, with a supplementary form required for faith-based places.

Cardinal Wiseman is a Roman Catholic state secondary in Greenford. It is the main RC option in Ealing and serves a wide diocesan catchment.

The school is known for a clear Catholic ethos, steady GCSE results, and a strong pastoral focus. Admission gives priority to baptised Catholic pupils, with supplementary information forms required alongside the main Ealing application.

Ealing Fields Church of England High School (redesignated as a CofE school from 1 September 2025, formerly Ealing Fields High School) is a co-educational state secondary in Northfields. It is a smaller school by Ealing standards and is part of the Twyford Trust.

The school is known for a focused academic ethos, a structured curriculum, and a close-knit community feel. Despite the CofE redesignation, admissions remain non-faith and primarily based on distance, with the smaller intake meaning the effective catchment is tight.

Brentside High is a large co-educational state secondary in Hanwell. It serves a wide local catchment and has invested heavily in academic and pastoral improvement in recent years.

The school is known for a broad curriculum, a sixth form on site, and a focus on supporting students from a wide range of backgrounds. Admission is non-selective and primarily based on distance.

Ealing's size and variety mean parents often have very different realistic options depending on where they live. The same six preferences will not work for everyone. Look at your home address, work out which schools are genuinely within reach, and build a shortlist that mixes aspirational and realistic options.

Think about non-academic factors carefully. Faith schools have a particular ethos that suits some families and not others. Single-sex versus co-educational is a meaningful question for some children. SEND provision, sixth form availability, and the journey home from after-school activities can all be more important to day-to-day life than headline results. Visiting on a normal weekday rather than only on open evenings gives a much more honest picture.

Ealing is part of the pan-London admissions system. You apply through the Ealing online portal, listing up to six schools in order of preference. The deadline is 31 October in Year 6, with national offer day on 1 March.

For faith schools you also need to complete a supplementary information form and submit it directly to the school, usually with proof of baptism, a certificate of practice, or a signed clergy reference. For independents, each school runs its own admissions process with separate registration deadlines and assessments, usually in the autumn of Year 6 for 11+ entry.

If your child is not offered a place at any of your six preferences, Ealing will offer the nearest school with availability and you can join waiting lists. You also have the right to appeal, although appeals at oversubscribed schools rarely succeed without unusual personal circumstances.