The best private school in the Black Country as ranked by latest Sunday Times data

For many, attending a state school is the default option and often the more cost-efficient one, in fact, according to the Sutton Trust, only about 7% of the general population attends a private school.

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Meaning that attending a private school is a rarity, and most people in the UK are educated in a state school of some kind, although there are those who are actually home-educated too.

That’s why instead of creating a list of the best private schools in the Black Country - we could only highlight one from the Sunday Times Parent Power Guide 2026.

For many, it may come as no surprise that the school that was ranked so highly was Hydesville Tower School in Walsall.

The school is not exclusively a secondary school, rather it’s a co-educational independent day school for children aged 2½ to 16 years old.

On the Sunday Times ranking, Hydesville Tower School was ranked highly with rank of 28 among schools nationally - the highest for schools in the Black Country area. It ranked at 24 the previous year.

The mixed gender establishment has been a fixture in Walsall for more than seventy years as it was founded in 1952, and it is located at 25 Broadway North, Walsall.

According to the Sunday Times, this school stood out amongst the best as 27% of pupils at this school achieved grades 9/8/7 for their GCSE exams.

On the list in the Sunday Times, the school is noted for its £6,672 yearly term fees for pupils between 11-16.

The Sunday Times noted said that based on a 2023 routine inspection, the school was well-regarded as students were able to “develop increasingly advanced skills”.

The full school inspection said: “The curriculum provides for well-planned progression as pupils move through the school, so that they develop increasingly advanced skills and understanding. Pupils’ creativity is encouraged in artistic and musical endeavours … Pupils find their teachers’ feedback on their work extremely helpful and appreciate the advice on improving their performance. … Staff educate pupils on discrimination and equality issues so that pupils develop a clear understanding of the legal and moral importance of such matters. … Almost all pupils attain grades at GCSE which are in line with or exceed the expectations of their starting points. … Opportunities for engagement in The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme provide the opportunity to develop effective teamwork and life skills, and to serve the community.”