Horizons Alternative Provision Academy was created by Maiden Erlegh Trust in September 2026 to enable more children and young people across Reading and Bracknell to access high-quality alternative educational pathways.

Horizons builds on a strong heritage of alternative education in the local area, bringing the established experience and expertise of Cranbury College into a broader offer from Maiden Erlegh Trust. Cranbury College was established by Reading Borough Council in 2005 and in 2020 became part of Maiden Erlegh Trust, marking the beginning of a sustained journey of school improvement and development.

From 2020, Cranbury College strengthened its curriculum, personalised learning and specialist support as part of its school improvement journey. In January 2025, this progress was recognised when Cranbury College was rated Good by Ofsted, providing a strong foundation for the next stage of development.

In 2026, Maiden Erlegh Trust developed a bigger vision and ambition for alternative education, leading to the creation of Horizons. Horizons brought together Cranbury College and its established expertise with a new primary site in Bracknell, new vocational courses at Maiden Erlegh School and a dedicated tuition team able to deliver learning in a highly flexible way.

Today, Horizons represents the next chapter in that journey: five purposeful pathways offering more choice, more opportunities and different ways for children and young people to achieve.

Across Horizons, high expectations and high challenge are matched with expert support and learning that is relevant to young people’s lives, interests and future, helping them discover what they are good at, make meaningful progress and look forward to what comes next.

Learning worth turning up for.