Maiden Erlegh School in Reading

About Maiden Erlegh School in Reading

Maiden Erlegh School in Reading posts a Progress 8 score of exactly 0.12, which lands it right on the local authority average for secondary schools in Reading. That might not sound flashy, but it puts the school in a solid position: it's outperforming the majority of its 11-16 peers in the area, ranking 4th out of 9 schools in the borough. The school's Attainment 8 score of 47.7 and its EBacc average point score of 4.31 both sit comfortably above the national average, and the basics measure (a grade 5 or above in English and maths) stands at 46.8% — a figure that reflects genuine academic strength rather than just coasting. What's particularly interesting is the breakdown: Progress 8 in maths is notably strong at 0.27, and English follows at 0.23, suggesting the school adds real value in core subjects. The open element (non-EBacc subjects) drags slightly at -0.05, but overall the picture is one of consistent, above-average performance without the headline-grabbing extremes of the grammar schools nearby.

In its most recent graded inspection in 2018, Ofsted rated Maiden Erlegh as Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. An ungraded inspection in September 2023 confirmed the school 'remains Good', so there's no sign of slippage. The school's EBacc entry rate of 54.3% is healthy, though only 18.5% of pupils achieved the full EBacc at grade 5 or above — a gap that suggests many pupils take the qualification but don't necessarily hit the top grades across all five pillars. The Progress 8 banding is officially 'Average', which is a fair summary: this is a school that does its job well for the vast majority of its pupils, with particularly strong maths and English outcomes. With 28% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake and still manages to push attainment above the local norm.

Maiden Erlegh is heavily oversubscribed: for 177 places in 2025/26, it received 525 applications, with 143 first-preference requests for just 129 first-preference offers — a ratio of nearly three applicants per place. That tells you it's a popular choice among Reading families. The school has no sixth form, so pupils leave at 16, but the facilities are impressive for a state secondary: a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, a sports hall, and a gymnasium. Clubs include Model UN, Young Enterprise, and a science club, and there's a broad SEND offer covering dyslexia, autism, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities. For families who want a well-run, academically solid comprehensive that's neither a grammar nor a struggling school, Maiden Erlegh is a strong, data-backed option — especially if your child is strong in maths and English.

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