Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge received two national awards and River Academy received seven in the 2026 Edurio Awards, with each award placing the school among the top ten schools in the country for that measure. 

The awards are based on national survey data collected during the 2025/26 academic year and reflect feedback directly from students, parents and staff. 

At Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge, the recognition reflects the experiences of students and parents, while River Academy's seven awards span all three groups: students, parents and staff. 

Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge received the KS3 Transition Award and Parent Partnership Award Secondary, recognising pupil happiness through Key Stage 3 and the school's partnership with parents. 

The KS3 award is particularly significant. MECE has been nationally recognised for sustaining pupil happiness from Year 7 to Year 9, a period in which Edurio's national research identifies a marked decline in pupil experience. 

Its Parent Partnership Award places MECE among the top ten secondary schools nationally for parents' satisfaction with the school's efforts to engage them. 

At River Academy, students' feedback resulted in national recognition for engagement in their learning and feeling that pupil opinion is valued. Parents' feedback saw River recognised for recommending the school, seeing their feedback make a difference and satisfaction with the school's efforts to engage them. Staff feedback resulted in awards for seeing their feedback to leadership have an impact and for workload balance. 

Edurio also singled out River Academy in its national announcement as one of two schools to receive seven awards this year. 

River received the Parent Partnership Award Secondary alongside MECE, meaning both schools were among the top ten secondary schools nationally for this measure. 

Jonathon Peck, CEO of Maiden Erlegh Trust, said: 

“What makes this recognition particularly significant is its breadth. At Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge, it reflects the experiences of both students and parents, while at River Academy, students, parents and colleagues have all contributed to national recognition. 

“These are important aspects of school life, and I would like to thank everyone at both schools whose work contributes to those positive experiences every day.” 

The nine awards are: 

Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge 

• KS3 Transition Award 

• Parent Partnership Award Secondary 

River Academy 

• Parent Choice Award Secondary 

• Parent Feedback in Action Award Secondary 

• Parent Partnership Award Secondary 

• Pupil Engagement Award Secondary 

• Pupil Feedback in Action Award Secondary 

• Staff Feedback in Action Award Secondary 

• Workload Balance Award Secondary