Desborough College
51%
Capacity
578
Pupils
2.7x
Demand
About Desborough College
Desborough College is a boys' secondary school in Windsor and Maidenhead that is clearly in demand among local families. For the 2025/26 intake, the school received 281 applications for 103 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.73. Of those applications, 65 were first-preference choices, and 65 first-preference offers were made, meaning every family who put Desborough as their top choice secured a place. This suggests that while the school is popular, it is not impossibly competitive for those who prioritise it. The school currently has 578 pupils against a capacity of 1140, so there is room for growth. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2024, the school was rated Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. This represents a significant improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2014, when it was rated Requires Improvement, and the 2024 ungraded inspection confirmed the school remains Good.
Academically, Desborough College presents a mixed picture. At Key Stage 4, pupils achieved a Progress 8 score of -0.17, which is below the local authority average of 0.18 and places the school 9th out of 10 similar schools in Windsor and Maidenhead. Nationally, this ranks in the bottom half of schools, at the 62nd percentile. The Attainment 8 score was 44.9, and 69.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. In maths specifically, Progress 8 was positive at +0.3, indicating strong progress in that subject. At Key Stage 5, the picture is more challenging: the value-added score was -0.34, rated below average, and the average points per entry was 25.37, equivalent to a C- grade. The best three A-levels averaged a D+ grade. The school offers a broad curriculum, with 32.8% of pupils entered for the English Baccalaureate, and 23% achieved it at grade 4 or above.
Desborough College is a non-denominational state school with a range of facilities including a theatre, astro turf, music rooms, and a sixth form centre. It offers a good variety of extracurricular activities such as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Model UN, and debate club, alongside sports like rugby, cricket, and gymnastics. The school has a strong SEND provision, supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social and emotional mental health needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 16.9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. For families seeking a boys-only secondary with a sixth form that has shown improvement from a Requires Improvement past, Desborough is a solid local option, though those prioritising top academic outcomes may want to compare it with higher-performing peers like Newlands Girls' School, which is 2.3 km away and rated Outstanding.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Boys |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Shoppenhangers Road, Maidenhead, Windsor and Maidenhead, SL6 2QB |
| Headteacher | Andrew Murdoch |
| Local Authority | Windsor and Maidenhead |
| Number of Pupils | 578 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 16.9% |
| School Capacity | 578 / 1,140 (51% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
17 May 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (17 May 2024): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 22 Oct 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.17)
1953rd of 3,141
Nationally
295th of 461
In South East
9th of 10
In Windsor and Maidenhead
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make less progress than similar students nationally
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.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
30.6
'22/23
19.2
'23/24
25.4
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2356%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 153 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)56%
- FE college27%
- Sixth form college9%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Employment1%
99% 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.
Where school leavers go
2022/2371%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 59 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
16%
Russell Group
19%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)71%
- Employment14%
- Apprenticeship7%
- Not sustained7%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology22
- Mathematics19
- Business Studies:Single14
- Geography14
- Economics13
- Biology11
- Chemistry9
- Government and Politics9
- History8
- Computer Studies / Computing6
- Design and Technology (Product Design)6
- Physical Education / Sports Studies5
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed103
281
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
65 families put this school as their 1st choice (23% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than 75% of schools in England.
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
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British41.7%
- Asian33.5%
- Mixed11.1%
- White (other)7.3%
- 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.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
7
Total schools
6
Oversubscribed
6
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.
Frequently Asked Questions About Desborough College
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
Shoppenhangers Road, Maidenhead
Windsor and Maidenhead, SL6 2QB
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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