Private schools have widened the gap with state schools in this year’s GCSE results, with almost half of all exams awarded the top grades.

Some 48.4 per cent of 2024 results in private schools were graded 9 to 7, equivalent of an A* or A in the old system, up from 47.8 per cent.

Academies, which make up the bulk of state school results, saw their grades increase only marginally from 21 per cent to 21.2 per cent.

The Telegraph’s analysis of 217 independent schools results, produced by the Independent Schools Council (ISC), shows that in some private schools as much as 95 per cent of all GCSEs were given the top grade.

The £36,873-a-year Westminster School, whose alumni include Nick Clegg, Louis Theroux and Andrew Lloyd-Webber, saw the highest results in the country with 99 per cent of all grades a 9 to 7.

King’s College School, Wimbledon placed second with 98.3 per cent of all exams grade with the top marks, whilst Guildford High School was close behind with 98.1 per cent on 9 to 7.

Despite pupils twice as likely to be given top grades, private schools still fell behind grammar schools in England, with the latter gaining top grades in 60.3 per cent of exams.

This year’s GCSEs are expected to be the last before VAT is added to school fees by the Labour government, with around 40,000 pupils expected to flee the sector.

Barnaby Lenon, the chairman of the ISC, said at the time of the exam’s release that the results showed “children in independent schools did especially well”.

“It is a great pity that the application of VAT is going to make these very good independent schools less accessible,” he said.

Currently, average day fees at independent schools stand at £19,089, which means an additional VAT payment on 20 per cent on top could take them to around £23,000 a year.

How to use our best private schools of 2024 interactive tool

Simply enter a postcode, or search for a specific school name. Then, choose to sort the data by those with the top GCSE grades, number of candidates, highest fees, or day/boarding schools to see the best schools for those criteria.

How this tool works and how the data was collected

The tool uses data collected by the Independent Schools Council (ISC). The ISC collects the data on a voluntary basis, meaning independent schools are under no obligation to provide the data. This year, roughly a quarter of schools did so. Independent schools in general provide less public information than state schools, including on issues such as employment and exam results.

What is this tool useful for?

Our best private schools tool is useful for finding the best institutions, either within a postcode area, or a specific school itself, and seeing the latest grades, fees, and student numbers.

What is the best private school in the UK?

The £36,873-a-year Westminster School, whose alumni include Nick Clegg, Louis Theroux and Andrew Lloyd-Webber, saw the highest results in the country with 99 per cent of all grades a 9 to 7.

King’s College School, Wimbledon placed second with 98.3 per cent of all exams grade with the top marks, whilst Guildford High School was close behind with 98.1 per cent on 9 to 7.