An exciting future for Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge and the creation of Chiltern Education Hub.

 

 

 

Maiden Erlegh Trust has set out plans for the future of Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge (MECE), which will see the school become a thriving two-form-entry secondary school, building deliberately on the benefits a smaller school can offer.

Alongside this, Maiden Erlegh Trust will build on the campus model already in place at MECE to develop Chiltern Education Hub. Making use of the large site, the Hub will offer exciting new educational opportunities for young people, delivered by Maiden Erlegh Trust.

Together, the plans are designed to secure a strong, sustainable future for MECE while creating more opportunities for young people to benefit from high-quality education across our local communities.

Small school, big heart

Our plans build on what already makes MECE distinctive:

• high academic expectations with strong support
• a close-knit community where students are known well
• great enrichment and wider opportunities
• excellent preparation for post-16 steps

MECE is in a wonderful rural location which brings many benefits for our students. The local area is experiencing demographic change and fewer secondary-age children resulting in reduced student numbers over recent years.  

The benefits of a smaller secondary school

Our experience of operating as a smaller secondary school has shown us first-hand the benefits this can offer. Large secondary schools work brilliantly for many young people, but they are not the best fit for everyone.

At MECE, smaller numbers combined with our large, green site create a distinctive environment where students are known well, relationships are strong and there is space to learn and develop.

These strengths sit alongside high academic expectations and a rich range of opportunities for students. We now want to build deliberately on these strengths.

A thriving two-form-entry secondary school

Our vision is for MECE to become a thriving two-form-entry secondary school, focused on:

• high academic expectations
• strong support
• great enrichment and wider opportunities
• excellent preparation for the future

External recognition

MECE's recent Ofsted inspection recognised the quality of education students receive, including how well pupils achieve and the highly effective careers education that prepares them for their next steps.

This is reinforced by national recognition through the Edurio Awards, with MECE placing in the top 10 schools nationally in two categories:

• KS3 Happiness Award
• Parent Partnership Award: Secondary

A small school with a strong Trust

Importantly, MECE has the strength of Maiden Erlegh Trust behind it. As part of our wider family of schools, MECE has access to expertise, resources and opportunities that extend beyond its size.

Chiltern Education Hub

As MECE becomes a two-form-entry secondary school, we want to ensure students continue to benefit from a great range of opportunities.

Building on our existing education campus

We already have a successful model to build on: MECE shares its large site with Bishopswood School and Kingfisher Nursery.

Our vision is to extend this existing campus model by introducing additional educational provision to the site to create Chiltern Education Hub, with MECE at its heart.

More opportunities for young people

MECE will remain a mainstream secondary school and will continue to share the site, as it does now, with additional alternative provision provided by Maiden Erlegh Trust through our new alternative provision academy – Horizons Alternative Provision Academy.

Horizons provides different educational pathways for children and young people who benefit from a different approach to learning.

At Chiltern Education Hub, our vision includes:

• specialist vocational courses
• small-group and one-to-one tutoring
• Forest School

MECE students will also be able to benefit from some of the additional opportunities and expertise available.

Investment starts spring 2027

New capital investment in MECE and the wider site will begin in spring 2027.

The first phase will include the development of spaces for the new educational provision.

Further investment is planned as the Hub develops, including improvements to MECE's sports facilities, with some of these later works linked to the proposed land sale.

We will share plans and practical information as each phase develops.

What does this mean for students and families?

For current MECE students and families

For students, the focus of day-to-day school life remains the same:

• great education
• high academic expectations
• strong support
• great opportunities

The plans provide a strong, sustainable future for MECE, with investment in the school and additional opportunities for students as Chiltern Education Hub develops.

For families considering MECE as a secondary school

MECE offers something distinctive: a smaller mainstream secondary school in a wonderful rural setting, where students are known well, relationships are strong and there is space to learn and develop.

Students benefit from high academic expectations and strong individual support, alongside great enrichment, wider opportunities and excellent preparation for their post-16 steps.

And as part of Maiden Erlegh Trust, MECE combines the benefits of a smaller school with the expertise, resources and opportunities of our wider family of schools.

Great education. More opportunities. Part of Maiden Erlegh Trust

MECE is an important part of Maiden Erlegh Trust. We are committed to its future.