Best Secondary Schools in Milton Keynes 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 12 schools across Milton Keynes. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Milton Keynes has 12 open secondary schools. Of the 12 with a published Ofsted inspection, 1 (8%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 75% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Watling Academy currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Milton Keynes follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

12
Total schools
1
Outstanding (historic grade)
8%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
66.3%
Avg KS2 SATs
44.1
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Watling Academy
Secondary
 Outstanding 73 View school
🥈 Denbigh School
Secondary
 Good 70 View school
🥉 Walton High
Secondary
 Good 61 View school
4. Shenley Brook End School
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
5. The Hazeley Academy
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
6. St Paul's Catholic School
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
7. Lord Grey Academy
Secondary
 Good 53 View school
8. E-Act Ousedale School
Secondary
 Good 49 View school
9. The Milton Keynes Academy
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 39 View school
10. The Radcliffe School
Secondary
 Good 35 View school
11. Stantonbury School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 34 View school
12. Lift Sir Herbert Leon
Secondary
 Inadequate 29 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Milton Keynes

Best primary schools in Milton KeynesTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in Milton KeynesTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in Milton KeynesPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in Milton KeynesReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in Central BedfordshireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in BedfordCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in West NorthamptonshireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in LutonCompare neighbouring authority

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Milton Keynes?
There are 12 open secondary schools in Milton Keynes (closed schools are excluded). 1 of the 12 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated secondary schools in Milton Keynes?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Milton Keynes is Watling Academy. The full ranked table above lists the top 12 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Milton Keynes?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Milton Keynes?
Primary and secondary applications in Milton Keynes are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Milton Keynes council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.