Maiden Erlegh School in Reading

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 20 September 2023

From the minute they join the school, pupils are encouraged to 'aim high, work together and be inclusive'. The trust's vision to 'develop a diverse and inclusive community' underpins the positive relationships that exist between staff and pupils at this school. Staff have high expectations for all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Pupils rise to meet these expectations. Pupils know and understand the 'MER dream', which encapsulates the culture of high aspirations. As one pupil explained, 'The support I have been given by the school has given me hope for my future.' The school is calm and orderly. Pupils get on well with each other and with their teachers. Pupils appreciate the strong academic and caring pastoral support that they receive from staff. Pupils value the focus on promoting positive mental health. Older pupils relish the opportunity to take on positions of responsibility, such as house captains or joining the student leadership team. A diverse range of clubs fosters pupils' interests and develops talents in activities such as chess, debating and board games. Pupils value the opportunity to participate in challenging projects, such as the gold and silver programmes.

What the school should improve

• Some subjects in key stage 3 need strengthening further. In a few subjects, pupils are not learning as deeply as they could. The trust should ensure that the curriculum refinements are completed and staff check pupils' learning closely to support them to achieve highly.

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