Churchmead Church of England (VA) School
89%
Capacity
666
Pupils
2.3x
Demand
About Churchmead Church of England (VA) School
Churchmead Church of England (VA) School sits within the Windsor and Maidenhead local authority, where it ranks 8th out of 14 secondary schools of the same type. Its Progress 8 score places it behind the top three local peers — Newlands Girls' School, Holyport College, and Furze Platt Senior School — but the school holds a steady position in the middle of the LA table. As a mixed, state-funded secondary with a Church of England character, Churchmead serves 666 pupils against a capacity of 750, and a quarter of its students (26.2%) are eligible for free school meals. The school has a sixth form and is oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 272 applications for 118 places, with 100 families listing it as their first preference and 77 of those being offered a spot. That works out at 2.31 applications per place, suggesting genuine local demand.
Academically, Churchmead’s Progress 8 score sits at exactly zero, meaning pupils make progress in line with the national average. That’s below the Windsor and Maidenhead LA average of 0.18, but the school’s banding is still classed as 'Average'. Attainment 8 stands at 42.5, and 59.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, though the figure drops to 38.6% at grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is 36.4%, with 18.2% of pupils achieving the qualification at grade 4 or better. In its most recent graded inspection in November 2024, Ofsted rated the school Good overall, with personal development judged Outstanding. Leadership, behaviour, quality of education, and sixth-form provision all received Good. The previous inspection in 2015 had also rated the school Good, so the rating has held steady.
The school offers a wide range of facilities, including a swimming pool, astro turf, theatre, chapel, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports on offer include rowing, martial arts, and dance, while clubs range from coding and Model UN to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Young Enterprise. Parent View responses from 143 families were largely positive: 87% would recommend the school, 91% agreed their child is happy, and 91% felt their child is safe. SEND provision covers eight categories, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and social and emotional mental health support, though 33% of parents disagreed that SEND children get the support they need. Churchmead suits families looking for a solid, Good-rated secondary with a Christian foundation, strong personal development, and a broad extracurricular offer, particularly those who value a school that is genuinely popular locally despite not topping the league tables.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Church of England |
| Address | Priory Way, Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead, SL3 9JQ |
| Headteacher | Chris Tomes |
| Local Authority | Windsor and Maidenhead |
| Number of Pupils | 666 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 26.2% |
| School Capacity | 666 / 750 (89% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
27 Nov 2024Quality of Education
Good
Since Sep 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 14 Jan 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.00)
1525th of 3,141
Nationally
236th of 461
In South East
8th of 10
In Windsor and Maidenhead
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2325%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 53 pupils).
- FE college57%
- School sixth form (stay)25%
- Not sustained8%
- Employment6%
- Apprenticeship4%
91% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Ofsted Parent View
143 responsesWould Recommend This School
Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
12Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed118
272
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
100 families put this school as their 1st choice (37% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:00
Source: churchmead.org. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Class profile
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British44.4%
- Asian22.4%
- White (other)10.5%
- Mixed10.0%
- Black0.5%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
3
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
1
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Churchmead Church of England (VA) School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Priory Way, Slough
Windsor and Maidenhead, SL3 9JQ
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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