The Magna Carta School, Staines-upon-Thames

In its own words: "At The Magna Carta School we strive to provide a welcoming, challenging, secure and inclusive learning environment where all students and staff are respected, cared for, and feel that they belong. We are committed to realising our vision that Learning Shapes Lives by creating a culture in which everyone aspires to achieve ."

From the headteacher's welcome: "“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” (Aristotle) I am immensely proud to welcome you to the Magna Carta School; a vibrant, dynamic, non-selective secondary school that serves the local community and secures great outcomes for students. Our core belief that ‘learning shapes lives’ is at the heart of everything we do."

In 2026, pupils at The Magna Carta School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 44.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.8 in Surrey and 47 across England.

42% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 54% in Surrey and 47% in England.

That is down from 46.7 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.13: pupils made above 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 33.7, against 47.5 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 24 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 155 families put The Magna Carta School as their first choice and 342 named it as one of their preferences, for 248 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 The Magna Carta School are The Matthew Arnold School (1.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.8); Thomas Knyvett College (2.3 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 38.7); Salesian School, Chertsey (3.2 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 61.2); and Chertsey High School (3.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 44.7).

The Magna Carta School's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

The Magna Carta School is one of 2 schools run by Unity Schools Trust, an academy trust.

212 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about The Magna Carta School (as of September 2025): 63% would recommend the school, 76% say their child is happy there and 37% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that their child feels safe (79%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (37%).

Of the 220 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 90% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 66% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

In 2026, 150 pupils (14.4%) received SEN support and 24 (2.3%) 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 Staines Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.

4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Magna Carta School (opposite), 130 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 313 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Surrey (76), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, The Magna Carta School issued 152 suspensions, 14.8 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to The Magna Carta School are Hythe Primary School (0.1 miles), Thorpe Lea Primary School (0.2 miles), Our Lady of the Rosary Primary School (0.8 miles) and Riverbridge Primary School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.