Major accolades for county independent school judged 'best in the West Midlands'

Concord College won Independent School of the Year in the West Midlands 2025 in this year's 32nd Sunday Times Parent Power schools guide.

The school, at Acton Burnell Hall, Acton Burnell, near Shrewsbury, was awarded the same accolade in 2023.

It has also been placed this year in the top 10 of independent secondary boarding schools nationwide.

Concord College principal Dr Michael Truss said: “We are absolutely delighted to win this award for the second year in a row. Concord is unique, bringing the highest levels of academic achievement alongside a broad education outside of the classroom, all within a diverse and very caring community.

“Our staff work hard to create an environment in which the intellectually curious and capable child can truly flourish. We were founded 75 years ago as an international school and we take very seriously the mission to bring academically enthusiastic children from across the world to study together and build understanding.”

More than 80 per cent of students at Concord College attend from around the world, comprising 37 nationalities.

“So the diversity of cultures and voices brings with it an openness to exploration and learning,” added Dr Truss. 

“For our local students there is an amazing opportunity to study in a genuinely international environment right here in the West Midlands, surrounded by capable young people who have a genuine opportunity and capability to change the world for the better.” 

Parent Power identifies the highest-achieving schools in the UK and is considered the definitive guide to secondary schools for the state and independent sectors.

The guide includes a fully searchable national database of over 2,000 schools by name, local authority, town and postcode.

As well as an assessment of all academic results on a school-by-school basis, Parent Power enables parents to compare the performance of a given school with others in the same town, local authority or nationally. 

Rankings in the secondary school league tables are determined by the percentage of examination entries gaining A*-B at A-level and the percentage of entries returning A* and A grades, and those graded 9, 8 and 7 at GCSE and iGCSE. 

Editor of Parent Power Helen Davies said: “The educational landscape is challenging – teacher shortages, rising student mental health issues and special educational needs and the VAT rise – but there is also so much to celebrate from the hard work of passionate and committed teachers who are finding ever more innovative and impactful ways to boost their students and give them the very best start in life. 

 “As well as celebrating the academic excellence of the top schools it is fantastic to see how they are shaping their students to be ready for the 21st century.”

The Parent Power guide features tips on how to apply for a scholarship to a top private school, an investigation into smartphones and schools and details common questions that every parent should ask to choose the right school for their child.

It also tackles issues around homework and Google Lens and ChatGPT and offers expert advice on fostering a love of reading in children from the children’s laureate Frank Cottrell-Boyce.