Windsor Girls' School occupies a unique position within the Berkshire educational landscape as one of the few remaining all-girls state secondary schools in the region. Situated on Imperial Road, the school serves a wide-ranging community across Windsor and the surrounding local authority of Windsor and Maidenhead. Education here begins later than most; students join at Year 9 (age 13) due to the local three-tier system and continue through to the end of the sixth form at Year 13.
The school is currently in a period of significant transition. Following a Requires Improvement judgement from Ofsted in May 2024 (published September 2024), leadership has been overhauled to address specific concerns regarding the consistency of teaching and the systematic monitoring of student progress. Despite these challenges, the school maintains a solid reputation for its GCSE outcomes, which consistently sit in line with the middle 35% of schools in England (25th to 60th percentile).
The atmosphere at Windsor Girls' School is one of purposeful sisterhood. Freed from the social dynamics of a co-educational environment, students here tend to engage more readily with traditionally male-dominated subjects, particularly in the sciences and mathematics. The physical environment is a mix of traditional brick architecture and newer additions, including the dedicated Sixth Form Centre which provides a collegiate feel for the older students.
Ben Garner was appointed as the permanent Head of School in 2025, having previously served on an interim basis since January. He works alongside Jane Davies, the Executive Headteacher of Windsor Upper Schools. This new leadership team has focused heavily on shifting the school culture toward higher academic expectations and more rigorous behavioural standards. Their leadership is marked by a transparent approach to the school's current improvement journey. While the school is mainstream, it is notable for its inclusive character, housing special classes that support a small cohort of students with additional needs within the main school framework.
The school is part of the Windsor Learning Partnership, a multi-academy trust that allows for shared resources and curriculum planning with other local schools, including the nearby Windsor Boys' School. This partnership is particularly evident at the sixth form level, where collaboration occurs to ensure a broad range of subject choices and joint extracurricular activities.
The academic story at Windsor Girls' School is one of two halves. At GCSE level, performance is respectable. The school ranks 1,522nd in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking) and ranks 2nd among secondaries in Windsor. The average Attainment 8 score of 48.9 is comfortably above the England average of 46.2. Furthermore, the Progress 8 score of +0.09 indicates that students make progress slightly above the national expectation from their starting points at age 13.
However, the picture at A-level is more varied. The school ranks 1,776th in England and 3rd in Windsor for A-level outcomes (FindMySchool ranking). While 38.2% of students achieve A* to B grades, this sits below the England average of 47.2%. Leadership has identified the need to bridge this gap between GCSE success and sixth form attainment as a primary strategic goal for 2026.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
38.2%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
—
% of students achieving grades 9-7
The curriculum at Windsor Girls' School is designed to be broad and ambitious, even with the slightly compressed three-year window for the main secondary phase. In Years 9 and 10, the focus is on a wide range of subjects before students narrow their focus for GCSEs. The school has a strong take-up of the English Baccalaureate (EBacc), with 19.6% of pupils achieving Grade 5 or above across these core academic subjects, which is slightly above the local area average.
Teaching is undergoing a period of refinement. The 2024 Ofsted report highlighted that while subject knowledge among staff is high, there has been inconsistency in how precisely key knowledge and skills are identified across all subjects. In response, the school has implemented a new evidence-based teaching framework focusing on retrieval practice and more frequent low-stakes testing to ensure knowledge sticks.
For the 2024 leavers, the pathways were diverse. 59% of students progressed to university, a figure that the school is looking to increase as academic standards rise. In a notable achievement for the sixth form, the school secured one acceptance to the University of Cambridge in the most recent measurement period, alongside six total applications to Oxbridge.
Beyond higher education, the school sees a significant number of students enter employment directly (22%), while smaller proportions (3%) move into further education colleges or apprenticeships. The school's careers programme is particularly strong in promoting STEM careers to girls, utilizing links with local businesses in the Thames Valley.
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Requires Improvement
Personal Development
Good
Leadership & Management
Requires Improvement
As a state academy, admissions are coordinated by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. Because Windsor operates a three-tier system (First, Middle, and Upper schools), the main point of entry is Year 9.
For September 2026 entry, the application window opened on 9 September 2025 and closed on 31 October 2025. National Offer Day is set for 2 March 2026. The school has a capacity of 864 and is typically at or near capacity in the lower years. For those entering the sixth form, the school generally requires a minimum of five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, with specific requirements for certain A-level subjects.
Windsor Girls' School is a state-funded academy, which means there are no tuition fees for students. This allows families to access a specialist all-girls education that is typically only available in the independent sector.
While there are no fees, parents should budget for standard costs such as the school uniform, which is currently being reviewed to ensure it reflects values of pride and equality. The school also offers a wide range of extracurricular trips and music lessons, for which some charges may apply. Support is available for families in receipt of Pupil Premium to help cover these additional costs.
Pastoral care is organized through a traditional year group system, with form tutors serving as the primary point of contact for families. The school has placed an increased emphasis on mental health in recent years, introducing the respect approach that staff use to build positive relationships.
The school's special classes and SEN provision are well-regarded. Staff work closely with the local authority to ensure that students with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) receive tailored support within the classroom environment. Behavioural expectations have been tightened under the current leadership, with a focus on reward points for demonstrating school values.
The extracurricular life at Windsor Girls' School is vibrant and tends to lean toward the creative and performing arts. The school's drama productions are a highlight of the calendar, often involving collaboration with the Windsor Boys' School for large-scale musicals.
The school is particularly proud of its STEM initiatives. The Greenpower racing team, where students design, build, and race an electric car, is a major draw for those interested in engineering. Additionally, the Robotics Club uses the school's updated computing suites to prepare for regional competitions.
On the sporting front, the school makes excellent use of its on-site facilities, including a large sports hall and extensive playing fields. Rowing is a distinctive feature of the school's offering, taking advantage of the proximity to the River Thames.
The school day begins at 8:40am and concludes at 3:05pm for all students. After-school clubs typically run until 4:15pm. Given its location in Windsor, many students travel by foot or bicycle, though the school is also served by local bus routes. There is no on-site parking for parents during drop-off and pick-up, so the school encourages the use of nearby public parking.
Windsor Girls' School offers a supportive and inclusive environment where girls can thrive academically and socially without the distractions of a mixed-gender setting. While the recent Ofsted judgement highlights areas that need work, the new leadership appears energized and the GCSE results remain a point of local strength. It is best suited to girls in the Windsor area who want a community-focused education with strong opportunities in STEM and the arts.
Windsor Girls' School provides a solid standard of education, particularly at GCSE where it ranks 2nd in the local area. While its 2024 Ofsted rating of Requires Improvement indicates that consistency needs to improve, its Progress 8 score shows that pupils still make better than average progress.
For Year 9 entry, the school follows the Windsor and Maidenhead local authority admissions process. For the Sixth Form, students generally need at least five GCSEs at Grade 4 or above, including English and Maths.
The school was inspected in May 2024 and received an overall rating of Requires Improvement. However, Behaviour and Attitudes as well as Leadership and Management were both rated Good.
The school is well-regarded for its STEM focus. This is evidenced by unique clubs like the Greenpower electric car racing team and a higher than average number of girls choosing to pursue sciences at A-level.
No, as a state academy, there are no tuition fees. It is a state-funded school offering all-girls education to the local community.
Get in touch with the school directly
Disclaimer
Information on this page is compiled, analysed, and processed from publicly available sources including the Department for Education (DfE), Ofsted, the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, and official school websites.
Our rankings, metrics, and assessments are derived from this data using our own methodologies and represent our independent analysis rather than official standings.
While we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee that all information is current, complete, or error-free. Data may change without notice, and schools and/or local authorities should be contacted directly to verify any details before making decisions.
FindMySchool does not endorse any particular school, and rankings reflect specific metrics rather than overall quality.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we accept no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on information provided. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us.
