Independent schools in London that appear in the Ofsted register, ranked by Ofsted rating and borough. Most well-known London private schools are inspected by ISI, not Ofsted — see the explainer below. For top state school alternatives, see Outstanding schools beating the odds.
→Ofsted inspects state schools (and some independents)
All maintained schools in England are inspected by Ofsted. Some independent schools that provide funded SEND places are also Ofsted-registered — those are the schools listed on this page.
→ISI inspects most well-known private schools
The Independent Schools Inspectorate inspects schools affiliated with the Independent Schools Council, including IAPS, HMC, and GSA members. Schools like St Paul's, Westminster, Dulwich and City of London are ISI-inspected and do not have Ofsted ratings.
→The grades are not equivalent
ISI grades (Excellent, Good, Sound, Unsatisfactory) use a different framework from Ofsted (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate). Always read the full inspection report rather than relying on the headline grade.
Day school fees — boarding adds approximately £15,000–£25,000 per year. Most schools charge separately for lunches, trips and uniform.
These independent schools are registered with Ofsted — mostly specialist SEND providers and alternative provision schools. Ranked by Ofsted rating.
Comparing private and state schools?
Many Outstanding state schools in London provide an education that rivals fee-paying schools — at no cost. Search all 3,195 state schools by Ofsted rating, KS2 results and borough.
Do private schools in London have Ofsted ratings?
Most independent schools are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted. However, independent schools that provide education for pupils with special educational needs funded by local authorities are Ofsted-registered and inspected by Ofsted. Those schools appear on this page with a full Ofsted profile. The majority of well-known London independent schools — St Paul's, City of London School, Westminster, Latymer Upper — are ISI-inspected and are not in our database.
What is the difference between ISI and Ofsted inspections?
Ofsted inspects state schools and some independent schools, using Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement and Inadequate as grades. The Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) inspects independent schools affiliated with the Independent Schools Council (ISC). ISI grades use different terminology — Excellent, Good, Sound, Unsatisfactory — and a different framework. The two systems are not directly comparable.
How much do private schools in London cost?
Day school fees typically range from £15,000 to £30,000 per year for prep school (ages 4–13) and £18,000 to £45,000 for senior school (ages 11–18). Some highly selective schools such as St Paul's, Westminster and Eton charge at the upper end of this range. Boarding adds approximately £15,000–£25,000 on top of day fees. Most schools also charge separately for lunches, trips, uniform and extra-curricular activities.
Are private schools better than state schools?
Independent schools often achieve higher raw attainment, but this largely reflects their selective intake and socioeconomic profile rather than superior teaching. On progress measures — which track improvement from pupils' starting points — many Outstanding state schools match or exceed independent schools. The best state primary schools in London, particularly those rated Outstanding with strong KS2 progress scores, provide an excellent education comparable to many fee-paying schools.
Do London private schools offer bursaries?
Most major independent schools offer means-tested bursaries that can reduce fees by up to 100% in cases of genuine financial need. Schools including St Paul's, City of London School, Eton and Dulwich College have significant bursary funds. Contact schools directly to enquire — bursary availability, eligibility criteria, and application deadlines vary widely.