The Matthew Arnold School
Kingston Road, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18 1PFOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
The Matthew Arnold School is a secondary school in Staines-upon-Thames for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 512 schools in Surrey. It ranks 33rd of 53 secondary schools in Surrey. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in June 2018.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 19 June 2018, report published 17 July 2018
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 6 February 2024
This is a school where pupils and staff are aspirational. Pupils know that the caring and attentive staff want the very best for them. They appreciate the improvements that the new headteacher and leadership team have introduced. This includes raised expectations for their learning and behaviour. Through the broad and balanced curriculum, pupils are now learning more. They know what is expected of them, and the rules of being 'Ready, Respectful and Safe' permeate all aspects of school life. Pupils learn in calm and focused classrooms. Pupils have warm and friendly relationships with staff. They feel safe and well-supported. The diversity of the school population is celebrated by pupils who are respectful of difference. Bullying and discrimination are never tolerated in this inclusive school. Pupils feel confident to raise any concerns they may have, including by reporting these through the school's website. Pupils' views and requests for improvements to the school are listened to. The student council represents their peers well. Pupils enjoy the choice of extra-curricular activities on offer, including the new dance and 'cheer' clubs. The school is committed to increasing the range of cultural experiences that pupils have in school. Trips, both locally and internationally, are appreciated. At the time of the inspection, pupils were eagerly looking forward to the school's upcoming ski trip.
What the school should improve
- With the transition to a broader key stage 3 curriculum, the school is continuing to develop and refine some of its planning. This means that in some areas leaders have not yet precisely identified and fully sequenced the detailed knowledge that they want pupils to learn. Leaders should continue their development of the curriculum to ensure all pupils acquire what they need in readiness for the next stage of their education.
- The lesson activities selected by teachers do not always align precisely to the intended curriculum. This means that pupils do not always learn as much as they could. Leaders should continue to provide training to staff that will give them the expertise needed to implement the curriculum effectively across all subject areas.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
180 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
947 pupils on roll, with places for 980
Schools near The Matthew Arnold School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Knyvett College | 1 mile | Report card: Needs attention to expected standard | Attainment 8: 38.6 |
| St James Senior Boys' School | 1 mile | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 58.0 |
| The Magna Carta School | 1 mile | Ofsted judgements: Good | Attainment 8: 46.7 |
| T A S I S | 2 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| The Bishop Wand Church of England School | 3 miles | Report card: Expected standard to strong standard | Attainment 8: 53.9 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- BOURNE EDUCATION TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Ms Assal Ruse
- Phone
- 01784457275
- Address
- Kingston Road, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18 1PF
- Local authority
- Surrey
- URN
- 138765
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.