The Brakenhale School
Bracknell, RG12 7BA · Bracknell Forest · secondary school
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4th of 7 secondary schools in Bracknell Forest we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 4.6/10 against 920 of them, against 4.9/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 50.5 · 64 | 30% | 1.91 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.29 · 28 | 25% | 0.70 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 47.9 · 60 | 10% | 0.60 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
The Brakenhale School overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted, with its last inspection in 2024. In 2024/25, 39.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.29 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 2.1 out of 10 among them, against 3.5 out of 10 nationally.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,001 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,275. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap in Progress 8 scores? What specific interventions are in place for students who are falling behind in English and maths?
What Ofsted said about The Brakenhale School
Overview
The Brakenhale School continues to be a good school, offering a broad and ambitious curriculum with high expectations for pupil achievement and behaviour. Most pupils thrive in a calm, orderly environment where they feel safe and are well-supported by subject-expert teachers. However, the report highlights that low attendance among disadvantaged pupils and limited engagement in wider opportunities hinder some students from reaching their full potential.
Strengths
- Teachers are "experts in their subject" who use lesson time effectively to support high-quality learning.
- The school provides strong support for pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), including tailored "Pupil Passports" and effective reading interventions.
- There is a "very well-planned curriculum" for personal, social, health and economic (PSHE) education and a comprehensive careers programme.
- Staff workload is managed seriously, with "sensible and effective systems" for marking and planning.
Areas to improve
- Attendance is too low, particularly for disadvantaged pupils, preventing them from benefiting fully from the curriculum and achieving as highly as they should.
- Too few pupils are engaging in the full range of wider opportunities offered, meaning they are not developing their interests or broadening their horizons to the extent they could.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 43.0 |
| 2024/25 | 44.2 |
| 2025/26 | 47.9 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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