Alexa Chung's alma mater and a school with its own OBSERVATORY are among Tatler's pick of the best state secondaries (but one's so popular you need to live within 1,000m to bag a place)
You would be forgiven for thinking Tatler devotees would consider nothing less than the very best private schools when it came to their children's education.
But even the society bible's well-heeled readership are finding themselves balking at the cost of the nation's most selective institutions.
It is for this reason that Tatler launched its guide to state education in 2014, and this year's edition, published in the current issue, offers parents 30 non fee-paying schools that offer 'gold star' quality education.
'Stupendously successful': Peter Symonds College, Hampshire, is among Tatler's pick of the top 20 state secondary schools in Britain. It has 4,000 pupils aged 16-18
State-of-the-art facilities: Nonsuch High School for Girls, in Surrey, boasts 22 acres of parkland. Students can take Greek and astronomy - and the school has its own observatory
As it explains: 'When we first published our first State Schools Guide the reaction was one of flabbergasted amazement... Wake up, world: these days, most "People Like Us" a) can't necessarily afford to send our children to private schools and b) don't necessarily want to.'Among the 20 secondary schools selected this year - 10 primaries are also chosen - are Peter Symonds College, in Hampshire, which counts Sir Ben Ainslie and Alexa Chung among its former pupils and Surrey's Nonsuch High School for Girls, which offers classes in Greek and astronomy and has its own observatory.
But while the schools might not cost anything to attend, many do still have catchment areas that fall within some of the country's most affluent areas.
Sought-after post code: Families splash out to live in affluent Birmingham village of Knowle just to get their children into the catchment area for in-demand Adren Academy, pictured
Music stars: Jess Glynne and Girl Ray both attended Fortismere School in north London
Arden Academy, for example, is situated in Knowle, a village in Birmingham's 'stockbroker belt' where families 'swallow inflated property prices to get into catchment for the much sought-after non-selective'.
Meanwhile to have a chance at bagging a place at the excellent Beaumont School in St Albans, families have to live 'under 987 metres' from the school gate, according to one parent.
Once pupils are in though, they are offered specialisms in maths, computing and languages.
Tight catchment area: Families need to live within '987 metres' of the school gates to get into Beaumont School, in Hertfordshire, pictured, according to one parent
The list also acknowledges schools with strengths outside of traditional academic subjects like Mullion School on Cornwall's Lizard Island, which specialises in performing arts.
A testimony from one parent about King James's School in North Yorkshire reveals how the quality does not end with the teaching.
'My husband went to boarding school from the age of eight and said the facilities at King James's are better than anything he had,' one proud mother told Tatler.
The school offers pupils a wide range of clubs including handbell-ringing and charity opportunities.
Read more in the February issue of Tatler, on sale now.
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Varied interests: Mullion School in Cornwall, pictured, excels in the performing arts
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