Maiden Erlegh School in Reading

Maiden Erlegh School in Reading has shown that it continues to be a good school, maintaining a strong culture of high aspirations, inclusivity, and support for all pupils. The school's ambitious curriculum is designed to meet the needs of students, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), and is predominantly well-structured, providing a positive educational experience. The staff's high expectations, combined with notable pastoral and academic support, contribute to a calm and orderly environment where pupils feel valued and encouraged. While the school excels in several areas, there are indications that some subjects in key stage 3 require further curriculum refinement to strengthen pupils' learning and understanding of key concepts. Nevertheless, initiatives such as personalized support strategies and a focus on mental health demonstrate the school's commitment to fostering holistic development. The recent inspection was the first since June 2018, affirming the school's ongoing progress and effectiveness under the leadership of the Maiden Erlegh Trust.

Strengths

• Strong academic and pastoral support
• High expectations for all pupils
• Ambitious and well-structured curriculum
• Effective identification and support for SEND pupils
• Focus on promoting positive mental health
• Diverse range of clubs and activities
• Well-trained staff delivering personal development programs
• Strong independent careers advice and guidance

Areas for Improvement

• Some subjects in key stage 3 need further refinement for depth of learning

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Maiden Erlegh School in Reading attended 91.9% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 23.8% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 8.6% of pupils at Maiden Erlegh School in Reading were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 5 pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Maiden Erlegh School in Reading had 17.2 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 16.0% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 18.6% of pupils at Maiden Erlegh School in Reading were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 1.7% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Maiden Erlegh School in Reading received £8,449 and spent £8,549 for each of its 889 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £419,000 (£471 per pupil).

Across all 8 schools of Maiden Erlegh Trust, income was £9,722 and spending £9,767 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Reading · Reading local authority: places and applications

Maiden Erlegh School in Reading is part of Maiden Erlegh Trust, which runs 10 schools. The nearest others:

• Hamilton School Reading
• Maiden Erlegh School Reading
• River Academy Reading
• Oak Tree School Wokingham
• Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge Reading
• Great Hollands Primary School Bracknell
• Birch Hill Primary School and Nursery Bracknell Forest
• John Rankin Junior School Newbury
• John Rankin Infant and Nursery School Newbury

What is Maiden Erlegh School in Reading's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Maiden Erlegh School in Reading is Good, from an inspection in November 2023.

When was Maiden Erlegh School in Reading last inspected by Ofsted?

Maiden Erlegh School in Reading was last inspected in November 2023.

How many pupils does Maiden Erlegh School in Reading have?

Maiden Erlegh School in Reading has 889 pupils on roll.

What age range does Maiden Erlegh School in Reading cover?

Maiden Erlegh School in Reading for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are Maiden Erlegh School in Reading's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 47.5, and 44% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Maiden Erlegh School in Reading?

Maiden Erlegh School in Reading is at 81 Crescent Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 5SL.