The award crowns a landmark year for Reading School. Throughout 2025, the school opened its gates to thousands of neighbours, families and alumni for a programme of anniversary events, including a free one-day Community Carnival, a Grand Reunion which brought together current pupils and more than a thousand Old Redingensians, a series of Open Days for prospective families, several public lectures open to the public, and a moving Commemoration Day which featured a Royal Visit by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. These public celebrations and outreach activities are part of the school’s commitment to combining academic rigour with social impact and civic engagement.

“We are humbled by this recognition,” said Revd Dr Chris Evans, Headmaster of Reading School. “It is an award that reflects the work of a whole community of students, staff, parents, volunteers, partners and Old Redingensians who have given generously of their time, talent and conviction. Though our school is 900 years old, we have been vividly reminded that its true strength lies not in its antiquity, but its impact upon society. We give thanks for all that has gone before, and recommit ourselves to making a difference in the world in the years ahead.”

Reading School’s performance in national league tables and at A-level and GCSE has been consistently strong, underpinning The Sunday Times recognition. This year the School featured prominently in regional and national listings and sustained very high proportions of A*–B grades at A-level, reflecting the quality of teaching and the intellectual curiosity the School seeks to cultivate in its students. This is particularly significant given the school’s ongoing outreach to primary schools, and commitment to increasing accessibility for disadvantaged young people.

“Reading School’s mission is to make the world better,” the Headmaster said, “and this award is an encouragement to us to sustain our focus on character, on the nurture of happy young people and on policies that provide opportunity. When processes promote social impact and encourage community, we become more than the sum of our parts.”