Edgbarrow School Review 2026: Strong Results, Outstanding Culture

Edgbarrow School sits at the gateway to Crowthorne village, a comprehensive secondary serving approximately 1,530 students across Year 7 to Year 13, with 420 in the sixth form. The Ofsted inspection on 22 November 2022 awarded the school Outstanding across all assessed areas. Performance metrics place it in the top 25% of schools in England (FindMySchool ranking): with an Attainment 8 score of 54, students here achieve well above England average. The Progress 8 measure of +0.34 indicates students make above-average progress from their starting points. Entry to the school is highly competitive, with nearly 2.6 applications for every available place in recent years, reflecting its strong reputation within Bracknell Forest and surrounding areas.

The school occupies a mixed-era campus: red-brick Victorian buildings form the heart, extended thoughtfully with modern teaching spaces. The proximity to Wildmoor Heath Nature Reserve lends a sense of openness unusual in suburban secondary schools. Visitors, including external inspectors and parents, frequently comment on the palpable sense of purposeful activity and mutual respect that defines daily life here.

Mr Stuart Matthews, Headteacher since the school's academy conversion in 2018, has worked to embed a culture centred on the values of Ready, Respectful, Safe and Positive. These are not abstract slogans but genuinely embedded in how behaviour is managed, how conflicts are resolved, and how achievement is celebrated. The atmosphere is orderly without feeling oppressive; students move between lessons with focus, lunchtime is managed with minimal fuss, and behaviour incidents are rare.

Pupils describe feeling safe and happy to attend. The inspection report noted that students felt "eager to attend" each day, a reflection of the genuine community within the school. Diversity and inclusion sit at the core of the school's identity, with active celebration of the cultural and heritage backgrounds represented within the student body. There is very little bullying reported, and when it does occur, leaders address it swiftly and effectively. The tone throughout is one of high expectations coupled with genuine pastoral care.

GCSE Performance

In 2024, 54% of pupils achieved Attainment 8 scores of 54, well above the England average of 46. The Progress 8 score of +0.34 places the school comfortably above the England average of 0, meaning students progress faster from their Year 9 starting points than peers elsewhere.

At subject level, 29% of GCSE entries achieved grades 9-8, and 62% achieved grades 9-7. These figures sit above England average. The school ranks 1122nd in England for GCSE performance (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 25% nationally and first among the Bracknell Forest secondary schools.

English and Maths results are particularly strong. The English Baccalaureate (a measure of entry to sciences, languages, humanities and maths combined with English) saw 38% of pupils enter the full suite and 38% achieve it at the standard pass level (grade 5 or above in all subjects). This is above England average entry and completion, indicating the breadth of academic ambition.

A-Level Performance

Sixth form results continue the trajectory. Of all A-level entries in 2024, 11% achieved A* grades and 19% achieved A grades, giving 63% an A*-B overall. These figures exceed England average substantially. Nearly a third of all entries score A* or A (approximately 32%), while almost two-thirds achieve B or above.

The school ranks 579th in England at A-level (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the top 22% nationally. A-level subjects span breadth: students can choose from English, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, History, Geography, Economics, Business, Psychology, Philosophy Ethics and Religion, Politics, Sociology, Law, Art, Photography, Design Technology, Music, Drama, Film Studies, Health and Social Care, Criminology, Travel and Tourism and Languages.

The curriculum is thoughtfully sequenced. At Key Stage 3, students study a broad National Curriculum diet with deliberate enrichment. French begins in Year 7; students move through carefully structured progression in sciences (taught separately, not combined), and the full range of humanities disciplines. All students experience high-quality teaching in the arts and design alongside core academics.

Setting by ability begins in mathematics from Year 4 of the secondary phase (Year 11) and expands at GCSE to include English and sciences. This allows targeted pace without fragmenting the student body into rigid ability tiers. Teachers have strong subject knowledge and explain concepts clearly; pupils report that learning feels structured and purposeful.

The school implements the Edgbarrow8 framework, an evidence-based teaching approach that emphasizes high expectations, regular assessment, feedback and metacognitive strategies. Homework is set regularly and monitored via ClassCharts, creating clear partnership between school and home. Teaching focuses on depth of understanding rather than surface coverage, a shift reflected in the school's explicit focus on "deep learning."

University Destinations

In 2024, 56% of sixth form leavers progressed to university, with 26% entering employment and 7% apprenticeships. One student secured a place at Cambridge. The school actively publishes university destination data and tracks cohorts to major institutions including the Russell Group. Careers guidance begins in Year 7 and continues through Year 13, with dedicated careers staff, employer visits, and mentorship from external partners. Work experience is embedded in Key Stage 4 and 5, with mock interviews and Skills for Life programmes preparing students for employment pathways alongside university progression.

For those staying in sixth form, internal progression is substantial. The vast majority of Year 11 students who meet A-level entry requirements (typically grades 5-6 at GCSE) continue into sixth form rather than seeking alternative provision, indicating strong trust in the post-16 offer.

State-funded entry to Edgbarrow occurs at Year 7, with non-selective admissions through the Bracknell Forest Council coordinated scheme. However, demand far exceeds capacity: in recent years, the school received approximately 514 applications for 199 places (oversubscription ratio of approximately 2.58:1). First preference applications slightly exceed first preference offers, indicating that many families list the school as a first choice even knowing places are highly competitive.

Catchment is not geographically defined; places are allocated by distance from the school gates after looked-after children and those with Statements or EHCPs naming the school. Proximity to Grant Road provides a significant advantage, though distance varies year to year based on application distribution.

Entry to sixth form is open to students from other schools and requires minimum GCSE grades, typically grade 5 (strong pass) in English and Mathematics, with grade 6 or above in specific A-level prerequisites. The sixth form has undergone expansion in recent years, accommodating growing demand and increasing diversity of entry routes.

The breadth and vitality of extracurricular provision is a defining strength. The school's co-curricular offer is substantial and genuinely inclusive, extending far beyond the typical school clubs.

Sports Programme

Sport occupies a central place. The Physical Education department runs an extensive programme spanning rugby, netball, football, badminton, handball, gymnastics, trampolining, tennis, basketball and cross country. Teams compete in all seasonal sports, with fixtures against local comprehensive schools and regional independent schools. Particularly notable are the girls' football pathway, which has produced league champions at U15 level, and the development of adapted provision ensuring pupils with special educational needs or disabilities access sports at their level of ability.

The school's sports facilities are managed in partnership with Bracknell Forest Council and include two large grass playing fields, one astro-turf pitch, a dance studio within the local sports centre, and access to a swimming pool for instruction. The tennis partnership with Acestars Tennis Club, coached by LTA and ITF qualified coaches including Head Coach Wojtek Specylak and Dominic Evan-Hart, brings high-quality coaching into after-school time. Trampolining lessons develop British Gymnastics Award scheme progression. Boxing coaching through L.A. Boxing brings specialized, professional instruction. Opportunities extend to ski trips and sports tours to destinations such as Barcelona, providing exposure to elite sporting contexts and broader cultural experience.

Drama and Performing Arts

Drama is similarly enriched. The school produces multiple productions throughout the year, enabling broad participation. Recent productions have seen gold prize wins at national competition (the Edgbarrow Sky Up team won Gold Prize at the Sky Up Academy Studios Celebration of Storytelling Event for creative film pitch work developed at Elstree Studios). Students access technical theatre, lighting and sound design, costume and set production, creating genuine industry-level experience. The drama curriculum includes GCSE and A-level options, with Film Studies as a dedicated A-level course designed to "ignite passion for film."

Music

Music extends across classroom learning and performance ensembles. The school offers music tuition through the local music hub partnership (Berkshire Music Trust), with students learning orchestral instruments, keyboard, voice and guitar. Ensembles are not detailed on the website with full specificity, but the robust curriculum indicates multiple performance groups and regular concert opportunities. The performing arts pathway creates genuine opportunity for musically ambitious students.

Leadership and Service

Student leadership is deliberately cultivated. The School Council provides representation in school governance, meeting regularly with senior leaders. Sixth formers develop leadership through structured roles including mental health first aiders, peer mentors and lesson helpers. The Paired Reading scheme pairs older students with younger ones, building literacy while developing mentoring skills. Young Enterprise provides business education through a practical lens, with students establishing and running enterprises. Sports Leaders scheme develops coaching and organizational skills. Student leadership is monitored and tracked via the school's pastoral system, creating visible progression pathways.

Clubs and Activities

The co-curricular timetable changes termly and includes Edgbarrow FM (a student-run podcast and radio presence), Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme (open to all year groups), drama productions as noted, chess, coding, creative arts, careers clubs, and numerous sports societies. External providers enhance provision: Street Dance through Dancexite develops hip-hop and street choreography, adding contemporary arts dimension.

The commitment to breadth means that academic ambition is balanced by creative expression, physical development and social-emotional growth. Participation rates in these opportunities are notably high, and the Ofsted inspection confirmed that pupils are "very respectful of one another" and "enthusiastic about the very well-attended range of clubs and societies."

Each student is assigned a form tutor and placed within a house system, creating layers of pastoral oversight. Heads of Year coordinate wellbeing and progression for their cohort. The school employs a qualified counsellor, ensuring that pupils with emotional or mental health concerns access timely support. The Progress Department specifically supports pupils with special educational needs, offering staged intervention from initial concern through external agency involvement and ongoing review.

For sixth formers, the dedicated Sixth Form Centre and Head of Sixth Form (currently Mrs Rachel Hume) create age-appropriate pastoral structures. Leavers' destinations work is built into the curriculum, with explicit tracking of university choices, apprenticeships and employment outcomes. Mental health first aider training for sixth form students creates peer support infrastructure.

Behaviour expectations are high and consistently applied. The school's behaviour policy is built on the values of Ready, Respectful, Safe and Positive, applied fairly across all students regardless of background or ability. Reasonable adjustments for pupils with neurodevelopmental conditions or complex trauma are actively made, and the school celebrates inclusion of pupils with additional needs as a strength rather than an exception.

School hours are 8:50am to 3:20pm Monday to Thursday, and 8:50am to 4:00pm on Friday. Students are supervised throughout the school day, with duty staff at break and lunch. The school is located on Grant Road in Crowthorne, approximately three miles from Wokingham and Camberley, and twelve miles from Reading. The site benefits from excellent transport links via the M3, M4, A329M and local rail networks; Crowthorne railway station is within walking distance.

Catering is provided through the partnership with Culinera Catering, with daily meal options available at lunch. Free school meals are available to eligible pupils under government schemes; families should visit the Bracknell Forest Council website for eligibility details. School uniform is required and is listed on the website.

Oversubscription remains the primary hurdle. With nearly 2.6 applications per place, securing entry requires a combination of proximity to the school and somewhat fortunate timing relative to other families' residential choices. Families should verify current distance data for their postcode before relying on a place. For those outside the immediate area, alternative secondary options should be explored as realistic first choices.

Limited sixth form capacity remains a reality. Although the sixth form has expanded, places are still oversubscribed, and entry requires specific GCSE grade thresholds. Students achieving grades 4 (standard pass) should have realistic conversations about sixth form alternatives before completing Year 11.

Academic pace is brisk. The school's commitment to high expectations and structured progression means students are expected to keep pace with lessons and homework. Pupils who struggle to organize independent study, or who require extensive scaffolding and repetition, may find the environment challenging without active parental or additional needs support.

The school's catchment reflects relatively affluent Bracknell Forest demographics. Free school meals eligibility is 6% (low), and pupil premium funding is not substantial. Families with limited financial resources should ensure they understand any additional costs (trips, music lessons, uniform, school fund contributions).

Edgbarrow School delivers a genuinely strong secondary education: academically rigorous, pastorally attentive, and genuinely inclusive despite its selective reality (non-selective admission belies selective demand). Results place it comfortably in the top quarter of comprehensive schools in England. The Ofsted outstanding rating reflects not a single area of excellence but excellence across the board: teaching is strong, pupils feel safe and valued, behaviour is exemplary, and ambition is high but matched to support.

Best suited to families within reasonable proximity to Crowthorne who want academic rigour without the grammar school entrance examination, a genuine sense of community, and a school that actively celebrates diversity while maintaining traditional structures and expectations. The school suits students who respond well to structure, clear expectations and a supportive environment, and families who value breadth of opportunity beyond the academic curriculum.