Schools by area › Windsor and Maidenhead › Desborough College
Desborough College
Secondary · Boys · Ages 11–18 · Sponsored academy
Shoppenhangers Road, Maidenhead SL6 2QB · desborough.org.uk · 01628 634505
Overview
- Ofsted
- Remains Good
- Ungraded inspection · May 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 45.7
- average Attainment 8 score. Windsor and Maidenhead 47.3, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.6
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 539
- 47% of 1,140 places
- Local authority
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 19%
- First language not English
- 20.8%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 48 families put the school first and 75 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 75 | 48 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 103 | 65 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 94 | 54 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 144 | 77 | 0.5 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 136 | 101 | 0.7 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 45.7, and 53.5% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Windsor and Maidenhead it was 47.3, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C+ (32.2 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ●45.7 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲53.5% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲69.3% | 64.8% | ||
| ●39.5% | 40.5% | ||
| ●4.06 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 39.1 | −12.6 |
| Sixth form college | 23.6 | +6.7 |
| Further education | 23 | −1.7 |
| Employment | 3.4 | +0.6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.6 | +2.4 |
| Activity not captured | 6.3 | — |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27 students | C+ (32.2) | Average +0.06 | |
| 27 students | C+ (32.6) | Average +0.09 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 49 | C- (25.4) | -0.34 |
| 2022/23 | 54 | D (19.2) | — |
| 2021/22 | 51 | C (30.6) | — |
| 2018/19 | 57 | C- (27.9) | +0.02 |
| 2017/18 | 42 | C- (25.9) | -0.09 |
| 2016/17 | 67 | C (29) | +0.25 |
| 2015/16 | 97 | C- (26.4) | +0.18 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 71.7 | +1.7 |
| Apprenticeship | 3.8 | −2.9 |
| Employment | 15.1 | +1.8 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 3.8 | −4.5 |
| Activity not captured | 5.7 | +4 |
Ofsted
At an ungraded inspection on 17 May 2024, Ofsted’s outcome for Desborough College was: School remains Good.
- Outcome
- Remains Good
- Inspected
- 16 May 2024
- Ungraded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Feb 2019
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Feb 2019Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective Sept 2014Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good
What parents said
61% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (88 replies, to 7 April 2025).
- Recommend
- 61%
- Replies
- 88
- 12% · 7 Apr 2025
based on the 80% who raised concerns
based on the 42% who had a child bullied
based on 21 parents (24%) with SEND