In short: Most primary schools here are rated Good or better, about the same as across England. Results at 11 are close to England, and results at 16 were close to England in 2026. Attendance is close to the England figure.
Schools and nurseries15046 primary · 14 secondary · 70 nurseries
Primaries Good or better100%England 96%
Met the standard at 1163%England 62%
Grade 5 in English and maths49%Attainment 8 47.7, England 46.2
Free school meals, primary15%A sign of family income
Missed a lot of school18%England 18%
Top-rated
The highest-rated schools in Windsor and Maidenhead
Primary and secondary schools are ranked by Eduscope score, which weighs up results, inspections, attendance and more. Nurseries, special and independent schools aren't ranked. A high score isn't everything: always visit.
Apply through the council where you live, even for a school in another council's area. Independent schools take applications directly.
About Windsor and Maidenhead
Windsor and Maidenhead is a unitary authority in the South East with 46 mainstream primary schools and 14 mainstream secondary schools. Towns with the most schools include Maidenhead, Windsor and Ascot and Sunningdale. It has 4 middle schools, so some children change school at a different age. Faith schools are common, with 39 in the area, and they can put families of their faith first when they're full. Independent schools are common too, with 17 in the area.
Good to know in Windsor and Maidenhead
School admissions in Windsor and Maidenhead are run through Achieving for Children. Source
School transport covers 5 to 16 year olds, plus 16 to 25 year olds with an EHCP and post-16 without one, also run through Achieving for Children. Source
You must read the Admissions Appeals Guide before appealing to check your case meets the criteria. Source
From Windsor and Maidenhead council's website, checked 7 November 2026. Check the council's pages before you apply.
Key dates each year
31 October
Secondary school applications close
15 January
Primary school applications close
1 March
Secondary school offers
16 April
Primary school offers
If a date falls on a weekend or bank holiday, offers go out the next working day.
86.2%got their first-choice primary school in Windsor and Maidenhead in 2026. England: 92.4%. Ranked 141 of 151 councils. 96.4% got one of their top three.5.3% were offered a primary school in another council. England: 3.6%.
75.5%got their first-choice secondary school in Windsor and Maidenhead in 2026. England: 83.6%. Ranked 118 of 151 councils. 92.5% got one of their top three.19.5% were offered a secondary school in another council. England: 8.0%.
Source: DfE applications and offers, 2026. A low rate shows high demand, not poor schools.
0 of 37 primary appeals heard in Windsor and Maidenhead succeeded in 2025. 15 of 66 secondary appeals heard in Windsor and Maidenhead succeeded in 2025.
For schools that follow the council's dates. Academies, faith and foundation schools can set their own, and schools add training days. Source, checked 6 November 2026.
Inspections, exam results and attendance, next to the figure for England where we have it.
Numbers that sum up Windsor and Maidenhead
Windsor and MaidenheadEngland
Primaries rated Good or Outstanding
Latest Ofsted grade, 33 primaries with one.
100%
England 96%
Close to England
Secondaries rated Good or Outstanding
9 of the 11 with a grade.
82%
England 93%
Below England
Met the expected standard at 11
Reading, writing and maths.
63%
England 62%
Close to England
Grade 5 or above in English and maths
At GCSE.
49%
Pupils who miss a lot of school
Missed 1 in 10 days or more. Lower is better.
18%
England 18%
Close to England
Primary pupils on free school meals
A sign of family income, not of school quality.
15%
Ofsted grades
Latest graded inspection for the 49 schools that have one.
96%
Good or Outstanding
Outstanding10
Good37
Requires improvement2
Inadequate0
How it has changed
Windsor and Maidenhead in blue. There were no tests in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid.
Met the expected standard at 1163% in 2025. England now 62% (dashed line).Grade 5 or above in English and maths49% in 2026.Pupils who miss a lot of school18% in 2025. England now 18% (dashed line).
The figures in full
The latest published year for each measure. Sources and years are on our data sources page.
Measure
Windsor and Maidenhead
England
Good or Outstanding (Ofsted)
96%
95%
Met the expected standard at 11 (KS2)
63%
62%
Attainment 8
47.7
46.2
Persistent absence
18%
18%
Pupils per teacher
17.7:1
17.9:1
Spending per pupil
£8,362
£8,120
In education or work after 16
93%
91%
Went on to higher education
64%
56%
Pupils with special educational needs
19%
21%
Pupils with English as an additional language
17%
22%
Pupils on free school meals
16%
27%
DfE local authority code 868, ONS code E06000040.
Living here
What it's like for families
Windsor and Maidenhead has 150 schools and nurseries across 6 towns and villages, the biggest being Maidenhead, Windsor, Ascot and Sunningdale and Old Windsor and Wraysbury.
There are 5% more pupils than in 2018, but numbers have fallen since 2025.
15% of primary pupils here get free school meals. Schools get extra money for each of them.
Pupil numbers
Pupils in Windsor and Maidenhead's state schools each January.
21.6k2018
22.3k2019
22.8k2021
22.7k2022
22.8k2023
23.1k2024
23.0k2025
22.7k2026
Up 5% since 2018. More children can mean popular schools fill up faster.
Free school meals
Out of every 10 primary pupils, how many get free school meals. It's a sign of family income, not of school quality.
Windsor and Maidenhead15%
Keep up with schools in Windsor and Maidenhead
Follow any school and we'll email you when it gets a new Ofsted report or new results are out. Nothing else.
Questions parents ask about Windsor and Maidenhead
How many schools are in Windsor and Maidenhead?+
Windsor and Maidenhead has 150 schools, including 66 primary schools, 28 secondary schools, 70 nurseries, 17 independent schools, 6 special schools. Some count in more than one group. You can browse each category using the filters on Eduscope.
What are the best schools in Windsor and Maidenhead?+
The highest-ranked schools in Windsor and Maidenhead on Eduscope are St Edmund Campion Catholic Primary School and Nursery, Braywick Court School, St Francis Catholic Primary School, South Ascot. We rank each state school against schools of the same phase across England on its Ofsted inspection, results and attendance. Independent, special and nursery schools aren't ranked.
What percentage of schools in Windsor and Maidenhead are rated Good or Outstanding?+
96% of inspected schools in Windsor and Maidenhead hold a Good or Outstanding Ofsted rating, which is above the England average of 94.8%. This includes 10 schools rated Outstanding and 37 rated Good.
How do primary schools in Windsor and Maidenhead perform at Key Stage 2?+
Across primary schools in Windsor and Maidenhead, 63% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths at Key Stage 2. This is based on the latest published results from the Department for Education.
What is the average pupil-teacher ratio in Windsor and Maidenhead?+
The average pupil-teacher ratio across schools in Windsor and Maidenhead is 17.7:1. While not a direct measure of class size, this indicates the level of teaching resource available per pupil. Across England it is 17.9:1.
What is the persistent absence rate in Windsor and Maidenhead schools?+
The persistent absence rate across schools in Windsor and Maidenhead is 17.9%. A pupil is classed as persistently absent if they miss 10% or more of school sessions. Across England it is 18.1%.
How many pupils attend schools in Windsor and Maidenhead?+
There are 22,653 pupils enrolled across schools in Windsor and Maidenhead, with 10,012 in primary and 12,385 in secondary. 15.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals.
How many private schools are in Windsor and Maidenhead?+
There are 17 independent schools in Windsor and Maidenhead. Fees vary by school and age group, with day school fees typically ranging from £10,000 to £20,000 per year. You can compare all private schools in Windsor and Maidenhead on Eduscope, including ISI inspection ratings where available.
How do I choose the right school in Windsor and Maidenhead?+
Start by considering your child's age, your location, and whether you prefer a state or independent school. Use Eduscope to compare 150 schools in Windsor and Maidenhead by Ofsted ratings, exam results, and distance. Filter by school type, gender, religious character, and admissions policy to narrow your options.
Sources: DfE school performance tables, DfE school census and workforce, DfE pupil absence, Ofsted. Photos are stand-ins.
