A look at how common top grades have become at some of the selective independent schools North London families consider, where the figures come from, and what that actually means for A-level planning.
All figures below are the schools' own published 2026 results (Mill Hill's figures are provisional, ahead of final reviews of marking).
| School | Grade 9 | Grade 8-9 |
|---|---|---|
| NLCS | 79.4% | 94.6% |
| Highgate School | 61.7% | 86.6% |
| South Hampstead High School | 62% | 84% |
| UCS | 58% | 84% |
| Habs Boys | 56.2% | 80.1% |
| Habs Girls | 45% | 73% |
| Channing School | 37.2% | 64.8% |
| Mill Hill School | 25% | 51% |
For context, the national average grade-9 rate across England sits at a small fraction of these figures, in the low single digits in most years. At several of the schools above, grade 9, the single highest mark available, is now one of the most commonly awarded grades, not a rare exception.
The differences between schools on this list largely reflect differences in entry selectivity and cohort size, not a simple ranking of teaching quality. Schools with highly competitive entry processes at 11+ or 7+ tend to draw from a narrower, higher-scoring applicant pool, which shows up in GCSE outcomes years later. A school lower on this list is still performing exceptionally by national standards, even where its grade-9 rate sits well below the highest figures here.
Cohort size and subject mix also play a role. A school with a larger number of IGCSE entries, for example, can see its overall percentages shift slightly compared to a school running mostly standard GCSEs, since grading conventions between the two aren't always identical. None of this changes the underlying picture: every school on this list is performing well above the national average, the differences between them are a matter of degree, not category.
Nationally, the proportion of GCSE entries awarded a grade 9 typically sits in the low single digits in any given year, a figure that's remained broadly stable since the 9-1 scale was fully rolled out. Against that backdrop, even the lowest grade-9 rate on this list, Mill Hill's provisional 25%, is a multiple of the national average. At the top end, NLCS's 79.4% means that at that particular school, achieving the highest possible grade is closer to the norm than the exception.
This matters for how families read a results table like this one. A grade that would stand out as exceptional against the national average can be a mid-cohort result at some of the schools listed here, which is exactly why understanding a school's own grade distribution, not just the national one, matters when planning next steps.
When top grades are this common, the real question for a family isn't "did they pass." It's how a 7, 8 or 9 shapes which subjects a student can continue at A-level, and how a school internally distinguishes between students who are, on paper, all performing at a similar level. General guidance suggests a grade 6 is usually enough to continue a subject, but it's always worth confirming the specific requirement directly with the school, particularly at a highly selective cohort where a 6 can sit toward the lower end.
Which independent schools in North London have the highest GCSE grade 9 rates?
Based on 2026 published results, NLCS had the highest grade 9 rate at 79.4%, followed by South Hampstead High School (62%), Highgate School (61.7%) and UCS (58%).
Is grade 9 common at selective independent schools?
Yes. At several schools on this list, grade 9 is now one of the most commonly awarded grades, well above the national average.
If a subject is sitting on the edge, that's often exactly the kind of gap the right support can close. Get in touch if you'd like to talk through your child's options.
Sources: NLCS, Highgate School, South Hampstead High School, UCS, Habs Boys, Habs Girls, Channing School and Mill Hill School, all via each school's own published 2026 GCSE results.
Related guides: What do GCSE grades actually mean?