Sheffield Girls’ GDST awarded 2026 Independent Secondary School of the Year in the North by The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide

Sheffield Girls’ GDST has been awarded Independent Secondary School of the Year in the North by the prestigious Sunday Times Parent Power guide.

The annual Parent Power publication is the Sunday Times’ definitive guide to the top-performing state and independent schools in the UK. The paper ranks featured schools by combining their latest public examination results with a broader evaluation of school culture, including the strength of their co-curricular provision, pastoral care and ethos.

Helen Davies, editor of The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide, said:

“The educational landscape is testing – budget challenges, rising student mental health issues, special educational needs and an increasingly uncertain future. But there is also so much to celebrate from the dedication of teachers who are finding ever more innovative and impactful ways to enrich their students and give them the very best start in life.”

Commenting on the school’s outstanding achievement, Sheffield Girls’ Head, Alex Wilson, said: “We are thrilled to be named Independent Secondary School of the Year 2026, after receiving the same accolade just three years ago. This recognition belongs to our entire community and reflects the extraordinary dedication of our pupils and staff.

“While our exceptional GCSE and A Level results are rightly celebrated, they represent only a fraction of what makes our school truly special. What defines us is the unique way our girls champion one another, embrace challenges, and ultimately leave us equipped to shape the world with confidence and purpose.

“From the highest levels of STEM achievement, national success in sport and the arts, to the strength of our Girls of Steel character programme, our school is a truly vibrant place, alive with ambition, creativity, and joy. It is a genuine privilege to lead such an inspiring community, and I am immensely proud of our pupils and teachers.”

Cheryl Giovannoni, Chief Executive, GDST, said: “Sheffield Girls’ is an extraordinary school, and this award for ‘Top Independent Secondary School in the North 2026’ is powerful recognition of the hard work and dedication of every single member of staff, committed to helping girls learn without limits every day. As the only all-girls school in Sheffield, the values of kindness and courage are underpinned by the ‘Girls of Steel’ mission that resonates in a dynamic and forward-looking learning environment.

“Nowhere else in this part of the world do girls thrive like they do at Sheffield Girls’, growing in confidence and character under the guidance of true experts in how girls learn best. This accolade provides further validation of the power of a GDST education. Our modern and dynamic approach to education equips girls with the skills and attributes they need to become future leaders and changemakers on their own terms.”

A family of schools

Sheffield Girls’ is an independent school for approximately 750 girls between the ages of 4 and 18. The school is a member of The Girls’ Day School Trust (GDST), a family of twenty-three independent schools and two academies across the UK, dedicated to academic and pastoral excellence. As pioneers and shapers of girls’ education for 154 years, we are global experts in tailoring learning experiences to nurture confident, happy and fearless young women. Our forward-thinking approach to education provides development opportunities beyond the curriculum and equips girls with the skills and attributes to become the leaders and changemakers of the future.