Reading School
School summary
One of the few state grammar schools to offer boarding, Reading School is a selective boys' school drawing high-achieving pupils to its place in Reading, Berkshire. Entry comes at 11, and the school is notably large for its kind, with around 1,129 boys on roll against a capacity of 1,094 - so it currently sits slightly over its intended size. Roughly one in five pupils speaks English as an additional language, a sign of the breadth of families it attracts. Ofsted judged the school Outstanding across every category at its most recent inspection, including the sixth form.
How hard is it to get in?
Exceptionally competitive · 5 of 5 on the Passmate scale. Demand here is among the very highest of any selective school in England - a strong exam performance matters more than at almost any other school.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Latest results
Attainment 8
83
National average 46.9
GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)
100%
National average 47%
Inspection reports
- Ofsted overall
- Outstanding
- Quality of education
- Outstanding
- Behaviour & attitudes
- Outstanding
- Last inspected
- 21 November 2023
Teaching & academics
Academic results here are exceptional: the average Attainment 8 score is 83, far above the national figure of 46.9, and every pupil achieves a grade 5 or above in English and Maths, compared with 47% nationally. Ofsted rated the quality of education Outstanding. With a pupil-to-teacher ratio of about 17.6, this is a school built around stretching able pupils to a very high standard.
School life & ethos
- Religious character
- None
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 3.81%
- EHC plans
- 0.71%
- English as additional language
- 19.4%
- Free school meals
- 4.5%
Schools nearby
Kendrick School
Reading, South East
Sir William Borlase's Grammar School
Marlow, South East
Herschel Grammar School
Slough, South East
Upton Court Grammar School
Slough, South East
Dr Challoner's Grammar School
Amersham, South East
Dr Challoner's High School
Amersham, South East
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A consistently high-performing boys' grammar with the rare option of boarding, suited to families seeking academic challenge for a son who thrives in a selective setting. Competition for its 150 places, assessed in English and Maths, is fierce.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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Reading School 11+: frequently asked questions
Passmate rating: benchmarked against every selective school in England using official admissions data. It measures demand for places, not school quality. Updated July 2026.
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.