Shiplake College
School summary
Set on the Thames at Henley, Shiplake College is a mixed independent boarding and day school for pupils aged 11 to 18, with around 580 on roll and a notably generous pupil-to-teacher ratio of about seven to one. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school excellent for both quality of education and personal development, and met all compliance requirements. With a sizeable sixth form of 240 and a strong rowing tradition, it combines a small-class atmosphere with the breadth of a full senior school. A Church of England foundation, it offers boarding alongside day places and supports a high proportion of pupils with additional learning needs.
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
GCSE grade 9-7
38%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
32%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
60%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 9 September 2025
Teaching & academics
Results sit comfortably above national averages, with 38% of GCSE grades at 9-7 against a national figure of 23%, and A-level outcomes of 32% at A*-A and 60% at A*-B, both ahead of national benchmarks. The low pupil-to-teacher ratio allows close attention, which is reflected in the very high proportion of pupils receiving SEN support. Alongside GCSE and A-level, the school offers BTEC and the EPQ, broadening the routes available to different kinds of learner. Subject choices are wide, spanning sciences, humanities, social sciences and the creative and technical arts.
Languages
GCSE subjects
Headmaster · Mr Tyrone Howe
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 240
A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Beyond the classroom
Sport is central, with rowing a particular strength on the school's riverside setting, alongside rugby, football, hockey, cricket, netball and tennis. Scholarships in rowing and general sports sit beside awards for academic, art, drama and music talent, signalling the breadth of pursuits on offer. Drama, music and design also feature prominently in the curriculum.
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Religious character
- C of E
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 56.24%
- EHC plans
- 1.3%
Mobile phone policy
Pupils hand in phones between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday. Boarders in years 9-11 hand in phones at bedtimes and receive them between 7am-8am. Years 12-13 allowed phones overnight. WiFi monitored and switched off at night.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £26,625 - £33,750
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £41,325 - £52,500
Schools nearby
Reading Blue Coat School
Berkshire, South East
Rupert House School
Henley-on-Thames, South East
Aurora Rowan School
Reading, South East
Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading
Reading, South East
The Abbey School Reading
Reading, South East
Groveside School
Reading, South East
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Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A medium-sized riverside school where small classes and strong pastoral care meet results well above the national norm. It will particularly suit families drawn to boarding, rowing and individual attention.
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.
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Shiplake College 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.