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Reading School[1]

Grammar · Secondary · ages 11–18

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Headline results

Attainment 8
A8 81 80.6 2025/26[2]
A-level average grade
AL A A 2024/25[3]

Results

GCSE (key stage 4)

Attainment 8
80.6 2025/26[2]
Grade 5+ in English & maths
96.8% 2025/26[2]
Grade 7+ in English & maths
83.4% 2025/26[2]
Progress 8
+0.89 2023/24[4]
Progress 8, 2025/26
Not calculated[5]
Progress 8, 2024/25
Not calculated[5]
Earlier years
Year Attainment 8 Grade 5+ in English & maths Grade 7+ in English & maths Progress 8
2024/25 83[6] 100%[6]
2023/24 81.1[4] 100%[4] +0.89[4]
2022/23 82.2[7] 99%[7] +0.97[7]
2021/22 82.6[8] 99%[8] +0.66[8]

A level (16–18)

A-level average grade
A 2024/25[3]
AAB or better, at least two in facilitating subjects
62.9% 2024/25[3]
All results, 2020/21
Not published (exams cancelled, COVID-19)[9]
All results, 2019/20
Not published (exams cancelled, COVID-19)[9]
Earlier years
Year A-level average grade AAB or better, at least two in facilitating subjects
2023/24 A[10] 70.6%[10]
2022/23 A[11] 71.9%[11]
2021/22 A+[12] 78%[12]
2018/19 A-[13] 66.2%[13]

Destinations after GCSEs

Sustained education, apprenticeship or employment
99% 2022/23[14]
School sixth form
93% 2022/23[14]
Sixth-form college
2% 2022/23[14]
Further education college
1% 2022/23[14]
Apprenticeship
1% 2022/23[14]
Employment
0% 2022/23[14]
Earlier leavers
Left in Sustained education, apprenticeship or employment School sixth form Sixth-form college Further education college Apprenticeship Employment
2021/22 99%[15] 94%[15] 3%[15] 1%[15] 0%[15] 0%[15]
2020/21 100%[16] 94%[16] 3%[16] 0%[16] 0%[16] 0%[16]
2019/20 100%[17] 99%[17] 1%[17] 0%[17] 0%[17] 0%[17]
2018/19 100%[18] 98%[18] 2%[18] 0%[18] 0%[18] 0%[18]

Destinations after 16–18 study

Sustained education, apprenticeship or employment
89% 2022/23[19]
Education
84% 2022/23[19]
Apprenticeship
2% 2022/23[19]
Employment
2% 2022/23[19]
Earlier leavers
Left in Sustained education, apprenticeship or employment Education Apprenticeship Employment
2021/22 92%[20] 84%[20] 1%[20] 8%[20]
2020/21 94%[21] 87%[21] 1%[21] 6%[21]
2019/20 91%[22] 86%[22] 2%[22] 3%[22]
2018/19 94%[23] 83%[23] 1%[23] 10%[23]

Higher education after 16–18 study

Progressed to higher education
93% 2021/22[24]
Top third of most selective universities
82% 2021/22[24]
Russell Group universities
83% 2019/20[25]
Oxford or Cambridge
13% 2019/20[25]
Earlier leavers
Left in Progressed to higher education Top third of most selective universities Russell Group universities Oxford or Cambridge
2020/21 94%[26] 86%[26]
2019/20 98%[25] 90%[25] 83%[25] 13%[25]
2018/19 95%[27] 79%[27] 68%[27] 12%[27]
2017/18 95%[28] 79%[28] 76%[28] 18%[28]

Shares of the pupils who left in the year shown. Russell Group and Oxford or Cambridge figures were published for leavers up to 2019/20 only.

Ofsted

Latest inspection
21 Nov 2023[29]
Type
S5 Inspection[29]
Report published
31 Jan 2024[29]
Personal development
Outstanding[29]
Quality of education
Outstanding[29]
Overall effectiveness
Outstanding[29]
Behaviour and attitudes
Outstanding[29]
Safeguarding is effective
Yes[29]
Sixth form provision (where applicable)
Outstanding[29]
Effectiveness of leadership and management
Outstanding[29]

Competition to get in

Applications and offers, Year 7

Applications per place
3.4 Entry Sept 2026[30]
Applications (any preference)
492 Entry Sept 2026[30]
First preferences
400 Entry Sept 2026[30]
Places offered
146 Entry Sept 2026[30]
First preferences per place
2.7 Entry Sept 2026[30]
Earlier years
Entry Applications First preferences Places offered Per place First preferences per place
Entry Sept 2025 448[30] 360[30] 146[30] 3.1[30] 2.5[30]
Entry Sept 2024 524[30] 423[30] 146[30] 3.6[30] 2.9[30]
Entry Sept 2023 498[30] 384[30] 148[30] 3.4[30] 2.6[30]
Entry Sept 2022 503[30] 404[30] 147[30] 3.4[30] 2.7[30]

Priority areas

Priority postcode area
Postcodes RG1, RG10, RG2, RG30, RG31, RG4, RG40, RG41, RG5, RG6, RG7, RG8, RG9 Entry Sept 2027[31][32]
Priority postcode area
Postcodes GU15, GU17, GU19, GU46, GU47, OX10, RG1, RG10, RG12, RG14, RG18, RG19, RG2, RG26, RG27, RG30, RG31, RG4, RG40, RG41, RG42, RG45, RG5, RG6, RG7, RG8, RG9, SL4, SL5 Entry Sept 2027[32]

Admissions

Places (published admission number)
138 Entry Sept 2027[33]
Test registration closes, 11+ entry
17 May 2026 Entry Sept 2027[33]
Test registration opens
27 Mar 2026 Entry Sept 2027[33]

Character & practicalities

Type
Academy converter[1]
Ages
11–18[1]
Boys / girls
Boys[1]
Admissions
Selective[1]
Sixth form
Yes[1]
Boarding
Boarding school[1]
Capacity
1094[1]
Trust
READING SCHOOL[1]
Local authority
Reading[1]
Website
http://www.reading-school.co.uk/[1]
District
Reading[34]
Postcode
RG1 5LW[1]
URN
136449[1]

School details as recorded in Get Information About Schools on 14 Oct 2026.

Pupils

Number on roll
1129 2024/25[35]
English as an additional language
19.4% 2024/25[35]
SEN support
3.8% 2024/25[35]
EHC plan
0.7% 2024/25[35]
Free school meals in the last 6 years
9% 2024/25[35]

Pupils' ethnicity 2025/26

White
18%[36]
Mixed
10.9%[36]
Asian
64.9%[36]
Black
3.3%[36]
Any other ethnic group
2.2%[36]
Unclassified
0.8%[36]

The school census's major ethnic groups as shares of the school's pupils, summed by us from the published counts. For information only: never used to rank, filter or colour schools.

In the inspectors' and the school's words

Academic
Impressively high aspirations for academic excellence are matched by those for pupils’ holistic development.[37]
Warmth
Inclusion is a way of life at Reading School. The air of acceptance, kindness and respect is tangible. Pupils describe an absence of malice or spite in their interactions with each other.[37]
Pastoral care
Adults know pupils extremely well. They actively identify any factors, such as social disadvantage, that have the potential to prevent pupils from thriving.[37]
Behaviour
Pupils’ attitudes to learning are consistently positive. They are proud of how they ‘check’ each other if someone behaves in a way that they do not think is OK[37]
Learning support
As a result, additional needs are not a barrier to pupils’ success and they achieve very well.[37]
Enrichment
They are equally committed to the broad range of enrichment activities provided by the ‘electives’ curriculum, which all pupils benefit from.[37]
Pupil voice
Pupils apply this learning successfully by willingly and dutifully taking on roles of responsibility, such as house captains, prefects and leaders of various enrichment groups. The Floreat programme gives pupils deliberately planned opportunities to learn deeply about relationships, resilience and leadership.[37]
Collaboration
In lessons, they listen actively to each other, developing their collective thinking.[37]
Structure
Pupils rise consistently to meet and exceed these expectations Additional support, particularly in the sixth form, is highly effective in ensuring that pupils keep up with the fast-paced curriculum.[37]

Sources

  1. Department for Education: Get Information About Schools: all establishments. Period 2026-10-14, published 2026-10-14. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  2. Department for Education: Performance tables schools data (explore education statistics). Period 2025/26, provisional, published 2026-10-15. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  3. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2024/25, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  4. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2023/24, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  5. Department for Education: Key stage 4 performance 2024/25: data guidance. Period 2024/25. Archived copy; original. Licence: OGL-3.0.
    Quote
    It is not possible to calculate Progress 8 for academic years 2024/25 and 2025/26 due to gaps in the baseline caused by COVID-19 disruption.
  6. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2024/25, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  7. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2022/23, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  8. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 final. Period 2021/22, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  9. Department for Education: A level and other 16 to 18 results 2020/21. Period 2020/21. Archived copy; original. Licence: OGL-3.0.
    Quote
    Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the summer exam series was cancelled in both 2020 and 2021, and alternative processes were set up to award grades.
  10. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2023/24, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  11. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2022/23, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  12. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2021/22, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  13. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS5 (16-18) final. Period 2018/19, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  14. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 destinations. Period 2022/23, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  15. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 destinations. Period 2021/22, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  16. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 destinations. Period 2020/21, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  17. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 destinations. Period 2019/20, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  18. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: KS4 destinations. Period 2018/19, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  19. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 destinations. Period 2022/23, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  20. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 destinations. Period 2021/22, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  21. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 destinations. Period 2020/21, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  22. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 destinations. Period 2019/20, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  23. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 destinations. Period 2018/19, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  24. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 progression to higher education. Period 2021/22, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  25. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 progression to higher education. Period 2019/20, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  26. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 progression to higher education. Period 2020/21, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  27. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 progression to higher education. Period 2018/19, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  28. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: 16-18 progression to higher education. Period 2017/18, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  29. Ofsted: State-funded schools inspections and outcomes. Period 2023/24. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  30. Department for Education: Primary and secondary school applications and offers: school level. Period Entry Sept 2026, final, published 2026-06-29. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  31. assets.publishing.service.gov.uk: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk — ADA4596 Reading School Reading 31 March 2026 (PDF). Period 2026-10-14. Licence: OGL-3.0.
    Quote
    Category 4: Reading Priority Postcodes (up to 80% of remaining places) Candidates with an eligible score and whose main home address (by the July 2026 entrance test day and continues to be so at National Offer Day 2027) is within the following postcodes: RG1, RG2, RG30, RG31, RG4, RG5, RG6, RG7, RG8, RG9, RG10, RG40, RG41. (p. 5)
  32. reading-school.co.uk: reading-school.co.uk document (PDF). Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quotes (2)
    Category 4: Reading Priority Postcodes (up to 80% of remaining places) Candidates with an eligible score and whose main home address (by the July 2026 entrance test day and continues to be so at National Offer Day 2027) is within the following postcodes: RG1, RG2, RG30, RG31, RG4, RG5, RG6, RG7, RG8, RG9, RG10, RG40, RG41. (p. 8)
    RG1, RG2, RG4, RG5, RG6, RG7, RG8, RG9, RG10, RG12, RG14, RG18, RG19, RG26, RG27, RG30, RG31, RG40, RG41, RG42, RG45, GU15, GU17, GU19, GU46, GU47, OX10, SL4, SL5 A map of the catchment area is available below (the postcode supersedes the map) The exception to this is if the family are returning from abroad to a previous home within the catchment area by which they must return by 31st October 2026 (CAF deadline day) Documentary evidence will be required to confirm this. (p. 15)
  33. reading-school.co.uk: reading-school.co.uk — Year 7 entry. Period 2026-10-14. Licence: copyright-quoted.
    Quotes (3)
    Reading School is a selective boys' grammar school. The school caters for day boys (138 places each year) and weekly boarders (12 places each year) alike. (p. 1)
    Registration for the entrance exam for 2027 entry closed at midnight on 17th May 2026. (p. 1)
    The online entrance test registration form for 2027 entry will be available from Friday 27th March to midnight on Sunday 17th May 2026. (p. 1)
  34. Office for National Statistics: Parish to Ward to Local Authority District (May 2026) Lookup in EW. Period 2026-05-01. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  35. Department for Education: Compare School Performance download: School census. Period 2024/25, final. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  36. Department for Education: Schools, pupils and their characteristics: school level underlying data. Period 2025/26, published 2026-06-04. Publication page. Data file. Licence: OGL-3.0.
  37. files.ofsted.gov.uk: files.ofsted.gov.uk document. Period 2026-10-14. Licence: OGL-3.0.
    Quotes (13)
    Inclusion is a way of life at Reading School. The air of acceptance, kindness and respect is tangible (p. 3)
    Pupils describe an absence of malice or spite in their interactions with each other (p. 3)
    Impressively high aspirations for academic excellence are matched by those for pupils' holistic development (p. 2)
    Adults know pupils extremely well. They actively identify any factors, such as social disadvantage, that have the potential to prevent pupils from thriving (p. 3)
    Pupils' attitudes to learning are consistently positive (p. 2)
    They are proud of how they 'check' each other if someone behaves in a way that they do not think is OK (p. 3)
    Pupils rise consistently to meet and exceed these expectations (p. 2)
    Additional support, particularly in the sixth form, is highly effective in ensuring that pupils keep up with the fast-paced curriculum (p. 2)
    They are equally committed to the broad range of enrichment activities provided by the 'electives' curriculum, which all pupils benefit from (p. 2)
    Pupils apply this learning successfully by willingly and dutifully taking on roles of responsibility, such as house captains, prefects and leaders of various enrichment groups (p. 3)
    The Floreat programme gives pupils deliberately planned opportunities to learn deeply about relationships, resilience and leadership (p. 2)
    In lessons, they listen actively to each other, developing their collective thinking (p. 2)
    As a result, additional needs are not a barrier to pupils' success and they achieve very well (p. 3)