The Matthew Arnold School
N/A
Capacity
959
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About The Matthew Arnold School
The Matthew Arnold School is a mixed, non-denominational secondary in Spelthorne, within the Surrey local authority. It is one of 66 state secondary schools in the county, and its most recent Ofsted inspection rated it Good. Surrey is a strong educational area, with 14 of its secondaries rated Outstanding, so the school operates in a competitive landscape. Among its local peers, the top-performing schools by ranking score are St Andrew's Catholic School (1.2), Gordon's School (1.02), and Salesian School, Chertsey (0.96). While The Matthew Arnold School does not match those scores, it serves a distinct community and offers a broad curriculum for pupils aged 11 to 16, without a sixth form. The school is led by headteacher Assal Ruse and currently has 959 pupils on roll.
Academic outcomes at The Matthew Arnold School are not available in the data, so direct comparison with the Surrey average Progress 8 score of 0.26 is not possible. The school's Ofsted report, however, provides a clear picture: it holds a Good rating, which places it in the majority of Surrey secondaries, as most schools in the county are rated Good or Outstanding. The inspection likely highlighted strengths in teaching, behaviour, and leadership, though specific breakdowns are not provided. Without exam results or a Progress 8 figure, parents should look to the school's own published performance data for a fuller picture. The absence of a sixth form means pupils typically move on to local colleges or school sixth forms after Year 11, which is a key consideration for families planning ahead.
The school offers a solid range of facilities, including tennis courts, a swimming pool, a sports hall, science labs, and an ICT suite, alongside a chapel. Sports provision is varied, with rowing, hockey, rugby, cross country, dance, cricket, and badminton available. There is also a strong extracurricular programme featuring clubs such as debate, art, orchestra, science, film, book, gardening, choir, and drama. These suggest a school that values both academic and personal development. For families in Spelthorne, The Matthew Arnold School is a practical choice for a Good-rated, non-selective secondary that provides a broad education without a sixth form. Its oversubscription status is not recorded, so parents should check current admissions directly with the school or Surrey council.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Kingston Road, Staines-upon-Thames, Spelthorne, TW18 1PF |
| Headteacher | Assal Ruse |
| Local Authority | Surrey |
| Number of Pupils | 959 |
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
16Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:00
Source: matthew-arnold.surrey.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
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.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
5
Total schools
4
Oversubscribed
4
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 The Matthew Arnold 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications
School Open Days Calendar 2026/27
When open days happen and what to look for
Contact Information
Kingston Road, Staines-upon-Thames
Spelthorne, TW18 1PF
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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