Maidenhill School, Stonehouse

Ofsted's report card from its 9 June 2026 inspection grades Maidenhill School on 6 areas: 6 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Expected standard. "Results in pupils' national assessments have improved."

Attendance and behaviour - Expected standard. "Leaders prioritise pupils' school attendance."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Since the previous inspection, the school has made changes to the range of subjects offered at key stage 4."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Maidenhill School creates an inclusive culture that puts all pupils, including those with barriers to learning, at the forefront of decision-making."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "School leaders have acted decisively to improve the school's culture and ethos."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "Leaders ensure that personal development is thoughtfully embedded in the curriculum."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders should ensure they continue working to improve pupils' attendance so that persistent absence is reduced, particularly among disadvantaged pupils"; "Leaders should be more precise in analysing emerging and changing needs so that all provisions are matched closely to pupils"; "Leaders should ensure that teachers consistently check for understanding across all curriculum areas and use the information effectively to address gaps in pupils' learning".

In its own words: "Maidenhill School is a co-education secondary school, set at the foot of the Cotswold hills. With around 700 students aged 11 to 16 years, it is smaller than average and every student matters. The school has a separate science and maths block as well as a sports field and tennis/basketball courts."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is with immense pride and a tremendous sense of responsibility that I write to you as Maidenhill’s Headteacher. My mission for our school is to hold the highest expectations and aspirations for our students and their families."

In 2026, pupils at Maidenhill School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 45.6, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 51.2 in Gloucestershire and 47 across England.

52% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 54% in Gloucestershire and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 45.5.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.12: 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 35.6, against 49.2 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13.6 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 23 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Art and Design and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 131 families put Maidenhill School as their first choice and 336 named it as one of their preferences, for 147 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 Maidenhill School are Archway School (1.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.4); Marling School (2 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 73.2); Stroud High School (2.1 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 74.7); and Rednock School (5.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.8).

Maidenhill School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Of the 134 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 78% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 44% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 6% into work.

4.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 185 pupils (25.9%) received SEN support and 54 (7.6%) 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 a moderate learning difficulty.

The nearest railway station is Stonehouse Rail Station, about 770 metres away (roughly a 10-minute walk).

16 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Maidenhill School (outside), 40 metres away.

In 2024/25, Maidenhill School issued 213 suspensions, 29.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Maidenhill School are Stonehouse Park Infant School (0.5 miles), Park Junior School (0.5 miles), Great Oldbury Primary Academy (0.9 miles) and Foxmoor Primary School (1.3 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.