Best secondary schools in Hillingdon: A complete 2026 guide

Hillingdon is one of the largest London boroughs by area, stretching from Heathrow in the south to Northwood and Harefield in the north. The borough has an unusual mix of schools as a result. The northern end around Northwood and Eastcote is a notable cluster of independent schools in west London, while the wider borough has a large network of state secondary schools serving Uxbridge, Ruislip, Hayes, and Hillingdon itself.

Hillingdon has a sizeable number of state secondary schools, plus several leading independents. Hillingdon has no state grammar schools, though many local families look across to neighbouring Buckinghamshire which has a fully selective system. This guide covers the strongest options across each sector so you can shape a realistic shortlist.

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.

Hillingdon's independent sector is concentrated at the northern end of the borough, around Northwood and Eastcote. These schools draw applicants from across north-west London, southern Hertfordshire, and into Buckinghamshire. Entry is typically by 11+ or 13+ assessment, with some schools also taking pupils into the sixth form.

Merchant Taylors' is an independent boys' day school with a Northwood postal address (technically just over the borough boundary in Hertfordshire). It is one of the historic Great Schools and has a long-standing reputation as among the strongest boys' schools in the country.

The school is known for strong GCSE and A Level results, a notable record of Oxbridge and Russell Group progression, and an active extra-curricular programme across sport, music, and the arts. Entry is at 11+ and 13+, with assessments in English, maths, and reasoning followed by interview.

St Helen's is an independent girls' day school in Northwood. It is one of the largest girls' independents in the country and serves girls from age 3 to 18.

The school is known for strong GCSE and A Level results, a confident academic culture, and a particularly broad co-curricular offer. Entry is at 11+ (and other points), with assessments in English, maths, and reasoning followed by interview. Sixth-form entry is by application and predicted grades.

Northwood College for Girls is an independent girls' day school in Northwood, part of the Girls' Day School Trust (GDST). It serves girls from Reception through to sixth form.

The school is known for steady academic results, a focus on individual learners, and a strong pastoral programme. Entry is via the GDST 11+ assessment, with sixth-form entry by application and predicted grades.

ACS Hillingdon is a co-educational international day school in Hillingdon. It serves families looking for an American curriculum or International Baccalaureate, and it draws heavily from internationally mobile professional families across west London.

The school is known for the International Baccalaureate Diploma at sixth form, the American high school curriculum, and strong university progression to US and UK universities. Entry is by application and assessment, with rolling admissions throughout the year subject to availability.

Hillingdon has no state grammar schools. However, the borough sits right on the Buckinghamshire boundary, and Buckinghamshire still runs a fully selective state system with grammars in Beaconsfield, Amersham, Chesham, and beyond. Many Hillingdon families register their child for the Buckinghamshire 11+ test alongside the standard Hillingdon state application. Registration usually closes in June or July of Year 5, with the test sat in early Year 6.

Hillingdon's state sector is large and varied. The borough has strong CofE schools, a popular Catholic option, and several well-regarded non-faith comprehensives. Most state secondaries admit primarily on distance, with faith schools using religious criteria alongside catchment. 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 Hillingdon they live in.

Bishopshalt is a co-educational Church of England state secondary in Hillingdon. It is one of the most popular CofE schools in the borough and has a long-standing strong reputation.

The school is known for steady GCSE and A Level results, a clear CofE ethos, and an active sixth form. Admission uses CofE faith criteria alongside distance, with a supplementary form required for faith-based places.

Vyners is a co-educational state secondary in Ickenham. It is one of the most popular non-faith state schools in Hillingdon and consistently attracts strong local demand.

The school is known for steady GCSE 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.

Ruislip High is a co-educational state secondary in Ruislip. It is a smaller school by Hillingdon standards and has built a strong local reputation in recent years.

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

Park Academy West London is a co-educational state secondary serving the West Drayton and Yiewsley area in southern Hillingdon. It has invested heavily in academic improvement in recent years.

The school is known for a clear focus on academic improvement, a structured behaviour ethos, and an active enrichment programme. Admission is non-selective and primarily based on distance.

Bishop Ramsey is a co-educational CofE state secondary in Ruislip. It is among the more oversubscribed CofE schools in north-west London and has a long-standing academic reputation.

The school is known for steady GCSE and A Level results, a clear CofE ethos, and an active sixth form. Admission uses CofE faith criteria alongside distance, with a supplementary form required for faith-based places.

Northwood School is a co-educational state secondary in Northwood. It is a non-faith school serving a wide local catchment in the north of the borough.

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

Haydon School is a large co-educational state secondary in Eastcote. It is one of the largest state schools in Hillingdon and has a long-standing strong reputation.

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 the effective catchment relatively wide given the school's size.

Hillingdon'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 varies between schools and is worth asking about specifically. The sixth form matters, particularly if you are choosing a school for Year 7 to 11 but might want a different setting at 16. Visiting on a normal weekday rather than only on open evenings gives a much more honest picture.

Hillingdon is part of the pan-London admissions system. You apply through the Hillingdon 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 you are considering Buckinghamshire grammars, register for the Buckinghamshire 11+ test by the deadline in June or July of Year 5.

If your child is not offered a place at any of your six preferences, Hillingdon 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.