Classpot

Desborough College

Windsor and Maidenhead, SL6 2QBSecondaryAges 11–18BoysState
Ofsted Rating
Good
May 2024
Progress 8
-0.17
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.6×
Not oversubscribed
65 1st-choice / 103 places
Ranking
#1,953
of 3,141 nationally

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.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderBoys
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressShoppenhangers Road, Maidenhead, Windsor and Maidenhead, SL6 2QB
HeadteacherAndrew Murdoch
Local AuthorityWindsor and Maidenhead
Number of Pupils578
Free School Meals (FSM)16.9%
School Capacity578 / 1,140 (51% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

17 May 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (17 May 2024): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 22 Oct 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
Art StudiosICT SuiteSixth Form CentreGymnasiumMusic RoomsDining HallTheatreAstro TurfLibraryChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

16

Sports

DanceCross CountryBadmintonRugbyCricketRoundersGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

DebateModel United NationsEco ClubChoirYoung EnterpriseBook ClubFilm ClubChessDuke of Edinburgh

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Desborough College

Desborough College has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.