The Emmbrook School The Emmbrook School is a co-educationalsecondary academy located in Emmbrook, Wokingham, Berkshire, England. It serves students aged 11 to 18 and has an enrolment of approximately 1,378 pupils, including nearly 200 in the Sixth Form. The school expanded its Year 7 intake in September 2021.[1]
In April 2021, The Emmbrook School converted to academy status and is now sponsored by The Circle Trust. Previously, it was a community school administered by Wokingham Borough Council.[2]
The school was rated "Good" in all areas by Ofsted following an inspection in October 2023.[3]
Academic performance at The Emmbrook School has received national recognition. The A Level results in 2024 prompted an Early Day Motion in Parliament by Clive Jones MP, congratulating the school on its success. The Sixth Form maintained similar results in 2025.[4][5][6]
Facilities at the school have been significantly developed in recent years. A £2 million English block was opened in 2015,[7] followed by a new Maths building in 2017[8] and a 3G sports pitch in 2020.[9] As of 2025, parents and students have petitioned Wokingham Borough Council to support the construction of a new Sixth Form block.[10]
In 2023, Headteacher Nick McSweeney was nominated for a local community award.[11]
The school has also attracted media attention for its unusually high number of twins. In September 2020, ten sets of twins joined Year 7,[12] and by 2025, the year group included eleven sets.[13]
The Houses
The four houses of the school are:
Venus
Jupiter
Mercury
Saturn
Students represent their house by wearing a tie in a corresponding colour. They compete in sporting events, including football, cricket, netball, rugby and rounders, as well as during sports day. Other competitions contribute points to the house competition, including dance, music, and the merits collected by Key Stage Three pupils.
An E-Sports day was held on 25 February 2020 with representatives from each year group competing in a GoldenEye 007 tournament on the Nintendo 64 platform.[14]
Between 2009 and 2019 the house names changed to Aqua (Blue), Atmos (Yellow), Terra (Green) and Solar (Red). This was reverted after a consultation with students, parents and staff.[15]
Curriculum
In Years 7, 8, and 9, children study a varied curriculum with a balance between the core subjects (English, maths, and science), humanities, languages, and creative subjects.[16] In Years 10 and 11, all students study for qualifications in English, English literature, maths, and science, and can choose additional subjects.[17] In Years 12 and 13, students can study a range of A-levels and Vocational Qualifications.[18]
Extra Curricular
In 2025, The Emmbrook School achieved notable success by becoming County Champions in the prestigious Magistrates’ Mock Trial Competition, demonstrating the strength of its civic education and public speaking programmes.[19]
The school’s commitment to holistic development is further reflected in its extensive extra-curricular provision, particularly within the Physical Education department, which runs a wide variety of clubs and competitive fixtures on most days after school. These activities support student wellbeing, teamwork, and skill development, and are open to all year groups, reinforcing the school’s inclusive ethos.[20]
The Emmbrook School, along with Maiden Erlegh and Charters School,[22] co-owns an outdoor education residential centre located in the Welsh village of Tirabad, Powys. Students from years 7-10 and the Sixth Form have the opportunity to spend a week at the centre once a year. The centre's activities are climbing, sailing, canoeing, caving, orienteering, environmental and field studies.
Sixth Form students from the three trust schools (Emmbrook, Maiden Erlegh, and Charters) jointly support the annual New Futures trip, in which students with disabilities travel to Tirabad.[23] These volunteer students raise funds through charity work and then attend the trip to provide support for the younger children.
On 26 February 2021, a letter was sent to parents stating that Tyr Abad Residential Educational Trust was entering voluntary liquidation.[24]
Headteachers
There have been 6 Headteachers and 1 acting Headteacher during the school's lifetime[25]
1965 – 1983
Richard Carter
Appointed November 1964 and was in place for when the school opened on 3 May 1965. Formerly a Senior Master at Edgbarrow School, Crowthorne.[26]
1983 – 1997
Edward Burton
Previous school; St Bartholomew's School, Newbury. Subject specialty – History[27]
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