Beechwood School

Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 18 · Mixed · Sixth form

Part of THE SCHELWOOD TRUST

Long Readings Lane, Slough, SL2 1QE

01753 520473 · School website · Map and directions

OfstedNo overall gradeInspected 29 April 2025
Grade 5 or above in English and maths28%England 45% · 2024/25
16th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 13% of 3,259 state secondary schools in England.
Pupils838Room for 905 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 801 in 2019, 814 in 2021, 829 in 2022, 870 in 2023, 847 in 2024, 830 in 2025, 838 in 2026. Across England, secondary state school pupil numbers were up 10% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place0.8111 for 131 places, September 2026
9th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 31% of 3,219 state secondary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

At the inspection that started on 29 April 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately. It stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.

AreaGrade
Quality of educationRequires improvement
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentGood
Leadership and managementGood
Sixth formGood
SafeguardingEffective

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

57 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.

Slough comparisons use the 8 of its 16 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 8 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.

StatementThis schoolSloughEngland
My child is happy at this school
6th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Slough.
Higher than 33% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
77% 80% 89%
My child feels safe at this school
6th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Slough.
Higher than 30% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
79% 84% 90%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
6th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Slough.
Higher than 41% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
74% 79% 84%
Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 28 parents whose child had been bullied
5th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Slough.
Higher than 50% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
50% 46% 51%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 50 parents who had raised a concern
6th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Slough.
Higher than 32% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
62% 64% 76%
My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 20 parents of children with SEND
2nd highest of 3 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Slough.
Higher than 20% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
45% 33% 68%
I would recommend this school to another parent
6th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Slough.
Higher than 30% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
70%said yes 76% 84%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 7%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Slough figures pool parents at the Slough schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25

143 pupils in this year group.

28% — 30 points below the Slough average, and 17 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSloughEngland
Grade 5 or above in English and maths 28% 58% 45%
Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. 36 53.1 46.1
EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. 3.2 4.8 4.1
Grade 5 or above in English and maths, over time
10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% England 2022/23: 45%England 2023/24: 46%England 2024/25: 45% This school 2022/23: 22%This school 2023/24: 28%This school 2024/25: 28% This school England 45% 2022/23 22% 2023/24 28% 2024/25 28%

Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.

Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After Year 11

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

141 pupils in this year group.

79% — 13 points below the Slough average, and 13 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSloughEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. 79% 92% 92%
School sixth form 22% 57% 34%
Sixth form college 0% 2% 13%
Further education college 52% 29% 37%
Apprenticeship 3% 1% 3%
Work 3% 1% 3%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
95%79%

Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

A levels (16 to 18), 2024/25

34 A level students in this year group.

MeasureThis schoolSloughEngland
Average A level grade D+ C+ B-
A level exams graded A* or A 0% 32% 26%
A level exams graded A* to B 13% 56% 53%
Average points per A level entryAn A* is 60 points, an A is 50, a B is 40, and so on down to 10 for an E. 22.5 34.5 35
Average points per A level entry, over time
20 25 30 35 40 England 2022/23: 34.2England 2023/24: 34.4England 2024/25: 35 This school 2022/23: 24.7This school 2023/24: 22.8This school 2024/25: 22.5 This school England 35 2022/23 24.7 2023/24 22.8 2024/25 22.5

A level subjects, 2024/25

8 subjects, 64 exams. England figures are for state-funded schools and colleges.

SubjectExamsA*A* or AEngland A* or A
Psychology 16 0% 0% 19%
Sociology 15 0% 0% 20%
Media/Film/Tv Studies 12 0% 0% 14%
Religious Studies 9 0% 0% 22%

Also taken, with too few exams for DfE to publish grades: Business Studies:Single, English Literature, Biology, Spanish.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 qualification and subject data, 2024/25.

Source: DfE 16 to 18 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.

After sixth form

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

61 students in this year group.

80% — 2 points below the Slough average, and about the same as the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSloughEngland
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workStudents recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing 16 to 18 study. 80% 82% 79%
Apprenticeship 3% 5% 7%
Work 20% 26% 28%

Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time

2023/242024/25
81%80%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Going on to university

Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.

31 students in this year group.

74% — 2 points above the Slough average, and 14 points above the England average.

MeasureThis schoolSloughEngland
Went on to a degree or other higher education 74% 72% 60%
Went to one of the most selective third of universitiesDfE's grouping of universities by the typical entry grades of their students. 10% 22% 19%

Went on to a degree or other higher education, over time

2023/242024/25
65%74%

Source: DfE 16 to 18 progression to higher education or training, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.

Admissions

Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Slough. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.

How hard is it to get in?

For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.

Places offered131
Families who put it first111
Of those, offered a place110 (99%)
Families who listed it at all238

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 0.7 · 2025: 0.7 · 2026: 0.8

This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.

Admissions dates and schools in Slough

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolSloughEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
1st highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 78% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
41.3% 22.7%* 28.9%
With an education, health and care plan
11th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 30% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
2.2% 2.7%* 3.1%
Receiving special educational needs support
3rd highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 57% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
14.7% 9.0%* 13.4%
English as an additional language
7th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 90% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England.
46.3% 43.5%* 19.2%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
16th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Lower than 6% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
12.8% 7.2%* 8.4%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
16th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Lower than 8% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England.
35.2% 20.7%* 23.4%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
15th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Lower than 18% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
36.0 11.7 21.2
Pupils suspended at least once
15th lowest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Lower than 15% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
13.3% 5.6% 7.3%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.16% 0.23%
Pupils per teacher
12th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 33% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England.
16.0 16.8 16.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 12th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 37% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England.
11.3 12.6 11.8
Teachers who left during the year
11th highest of 16 state secondary schools in Slough.
Higher than 48% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England.
12.9% 20.3%* 14.2%*

Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.

Nearby secondary schools

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is Beechwood School's Ofsted rating?

At its inspection in 29 April 2025, Ofsted graded each area separately; it stopped giving an overall grade in September 2024.

How did Beechwood School do in its GCSEs?

In 2024/25, 28% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 17 points below the England average of 45%.

Would parents recommend Beechwood School?

70% of the 57 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Beechwood School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is Beechwood School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 111 families put Beechwood School as their first choice for 131 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 110 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.