Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge, Reading

Ofsted's report card from its 16 June 2026 inspection grades Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge on 6 areas: 5 expected standard and 1 needs attention. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Across the curriculum, pupils achieve well."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Leaders are accurate in their understanding of the strengths of the curriculum and where ongoing improvement is needed."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders work effectively to identify the needs of pupils who have barriers to their learning."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders have established a clear direction for the school."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "There is a comprehensive and coherent programme of personal development."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "Attendance is not as high as it should be."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure that processes to increase pupils' attendance are accurately evaluated and monitored effectively to ensure that all pupils attend well"; "Leaders should continue their work to ensure consistent delivery of the curriculum. They should ensure that teachers routinely address misconceptions and adapt teaching where needed so that pupils achieve the best possible outcomes in all subjects"; "Leaders should continue to ensure that teachers provide regular opportunities to extend pupils' language and vocabulary, both spoken and written".

In its own words: "At Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge we are committed to helping our students realise their dreams by equipping our young people with the knowledge, skills, understanding and confidence to achieve success. Expectations of ourselves, our students and the wider community of the school are high."

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am delighted to step into the role of Headteacher at Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge, a school that has been a central part of my professional journey since I joined in 2016."

The school runs a breakfast club and after-school care until 6:00pm.

Coming up: an open day on Monday 2 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge averaged an Attainment 8 score of 39.2, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 45.2 in Oxfordshire and 47 across England.

32% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 45% in Oxfordshire and 47% in England.

That is down from 44.3 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.4: pupils made below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 32, against 42.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 10.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 19 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were History, Geography and Combined Science.

For September 2026 entry, 16 families put Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge as their first choice and 200 named it as one of their preferences, for 79 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge are Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 54.9); Gillotts School (3.1 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 60.2); River Academy (3.4 miles); and Langtree School (3.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 54).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge.

Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge is one of 11 schools run by Maiden Erlegh Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50.7 in 2024/25.

Of the 71 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 38% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 6% into work.

9.1% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (71%), Mixed (9%) and Black (5%).

In 2026, 112 pupils (29.9%) received SEN support and 27 (7.2%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Tilehurst Rail Station, about 3.3 miles away in a straight line.

2 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Chiltern Edge School (outside), 80 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 15 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and burglary. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Oxfordshire (52).

In 2024/25, Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge issued 189 suspensions, 44.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge are Kidmore End Church of England Primary School (0.4 miles), Sonning Common Primary School (0.5 miles) and Peppard Church of England Primary School (1.3 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.