The hardest schools to get into in Windsor and Maidenhead
Secondary: 150 families put Holyport College first in 2026 and 59 of them (39%) were offered a place.
Reception: 69 families put Lowbrook Academy first in 2026 and 30 of them (44%) were offered a place.
Every state school in Windsor and Maidenhead with at least 20 first-choice applicants, hardest first. Of the families who put the school first on their application, the share who were offered a place there. Data: Department for Education.
Secondary schools (Year 7)
| # | School | Put it first | Of them, offered | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holyport College · Holyport | 150 | 59 (39%) | 63 |
| 2 | Newlands Girls' School · Maidenhead | 244 | 170 (70%) | 189 |
| 3 | Churchmead Church of England (VA) School · Slough · faith | 144 | 113 (79%) | 136 |
| 4 | Charters School · Ascot | 265 | 222 (84%) | 262 |
| 5 | Altwood Church of England School · Maidenhead · faith | 104 | 100 (96%) | 143 |
| 6 | Furze Platt Senior School · Maidenhead | 199 | 192 (97%) | 250 |
| 7 | Cox Green School · Maidenhead | 139 | 138 (99%) | 206 |
| 8 | Desborough College · Maidenhead | 48 | 48 (100%) | 75 |
Primary schools (Reception)
| # | School | Put it first | Of them, offered | Places |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lowbrook Academy · Maidenhead | 69 | 30 (44%) | 30 |
| 2 | Braywick Court School · Maidenhead | 56 | 26 (46%) | 30 |
| 3 | The Royal First School · Windsor · faith | 36 | 18 (50%) | 21 |
| 4 | Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, Sunningdale · Ascot · faith | 46 | 29 (63%) | 30 |
| 5 | Oldfield Primary School · Maidenhead | 64 | 43 (67%) | 60 |
| 6 | St Luke's CofE Primary School · Maidenhead · faith | 53 | 38 (72%) | 45 |
| 7 | Holy Trinity CofE Primary School, Cookham · Maidenhead · faith | 37 | 28 (76%) | 30 |
| 8 | St Francis Catholic Primary School, South Ascot · Ascot · faith | 36 | 29 (81%) | 29 |
| 9 | Holyport CofE Primary School · Maidenhead · faith | 33 | 27 (82%) | 30 |
| 10 | Waltham St Lawrence Primary School · Reading | 23 | 19 (83%) | 20 |
| 11 | Trinity St Stephen CofE Aided First School · Windsor · faith | 36 | 30 (83%) | 30 |
| 12 | St Edmund Campion Catholic Primary School and Nursery · Maidenhead · faith | 66 | 57 (86%) | 59 |
| 13 | Cookham Dean CofE Primary School · Maidenhead · faith | 30 | 26 (87%) | 30 |
| 14 | Furze Platt Infant School · Maidenhead | 87 | 81 (93%) | 90 |
| 15 | Datchet St Mary's CofE Primary School · Slough · faith | 29 | 27 (93%) | 30 |
| 16 | Larchfield Primary and Nursery School · Maidenhead | 20 | 19 (95%) | 27 |
| 17 | Wessex Primary School · Maidenhead | 25 | 24 (96%) | 30 |
| 18 | Oakfield First School · WINDSOR | 46 | 45 (98%) | 49 |
| 19 | Alwyn Infant School · Maidenhead | 51 | 51 (100%) | 56 |
| 20 | Clewer Green CofE First School · Windsor · faith | 47 | 47 (100%) | 52 |
| 21 | St Edward's Catholic First School · Windsor · faith | 44 | 44 (100%) | 49 |
| 22 | Dedworth Green First School · Windsor | 28 | 28 (100%) | 28 |
| 23 | Wraysbury Primary School · Staines | 28 | 28 (100%) | 30 |
| 24 | Cookham Rise Primary School · Maidenhead | 27 | 27 (100%) | 29 |
| 25 | Eton Wick CofE First School · Windsor · faith | 26 | 26 (100%) | 29 |
| 26 | Homer First School and Nursery · Windsor | 25 | 25 (100%) | 26 |
| 27 | Eton Porny CofE First School · Windsor · faith | 25 | 25 (100%) | 26 |
| 28 | Boyne Hill CofE Infant and Nursery School · Maidenhead · faith | 24 | 24 (100%) | 43 |
| 29 | Riverside Primary School and Nursery · Maidenhead | 22 | 22 (100%) | 27 |
Getting into a school in Windsor and Maidenhead
What is the hardest school to get into in Windsor and Maidenhead?
For secondary places, 150 families put Holyport College first in 2026 and 59 of them (39%) were offered a place. For Reception, 69 families put Lowbrook Academy first and 30 of them (44%) were offered a place.
How many families in Windsor and Maidenhead get their first-choice school?
75.5% of families applying for a secondary place got their first preference, and 86.2% of those applying for Reception did (offers for September 2026).
Does putting a school first improve our chances?
Not at the other schools you name. Councils in England use an equal-preference system: every school you list is considered against its own admissions criteria, and if more than one could offer a place you get the one you ranked highest. So list schools in your genuine order of preference, and include at least one you are very likely to get.
What does "last distance offered" mean?
For schools that give places by distance, it is how far from the school the last child offered a place under that criterion lived. It changes every year with the number and location of applicants, so treat it as a guide, not a guarantee. We show it where Windsor and Maidenhead published it in its admissions booklet.