Discover Your Future Story

Discover your ‘Future Story’ at a school for every high attaining student!

Reading School is a state school that provides an exceptional and free education to high attaining students from all backgrounds. Our purpose is to enable all of our students, regardless of background, to thrive on highly selective courses at elite universities and to be happy and successful in their future careers. We help to improve opportunities and life-chances for individuals and communities. As a result, we aim for our admissions process to be as open and accessible as possible.

Year 7 Admissions

Admission to Reading School is primarily based on an entrance test and we want every student to feel confident and happy that they should take this test. Applicants in Category 1 of the oversubscription criteria are prioritised when offers of places at the school are made. In effect, a lower contextual entrance mark is required.

The definition of Category 1 of the oversubscription criteria is:

Category 1: Priority Places Candidates who meet the following criteria, allocated in the following order, ranked by standardised test score:

i. Looked-After, Previously Looked-After Children and Internationally Adopted Previously Looked After Children: who are in public care (in or outside England), or were previously in care and later adopted or placed under a residence/special guardianship order. The eligible score for these candidates is 5 marks below the usual eligible score. See Appendix 1 of the admissions policy.

ii. Pupil Premium or Service Premium: who live in the catchment area and are entitled to the Pupil Premium or Service Premium grant. The eligible score for these candidates is 5 marks below the usual eligible score. See Appendix 1 and 2.

iii. Social or Welfare Need: who live in the catchment area and for whom it can be demonstrated that they have a significant social or welfare need to attend the School. The eligible score for these candidates is 5 marks below the usual eligible score. See Appendix 1 and 2.

iv. Children of School Staff: Candidates with an eligible score who live in the catchment area and whose parent is permanently employed by Reading School at the time of the test or recruited to a post with a recognised skill shortage. The usual eligible score applies here. See Appendix 1.

Financial Support - The Reading School Promise 

We know that parents may worry about the cost of sending their child to school and we want to take that worry away. 

If your child is currently eligible, a free school meal will be provided.  In addition, for any student offered a place at Reading School, who is eligible for pupil premium we will provide:

1. Confidentiality: about financial arrangements with regards to your son. Assistance is given automatically with the minimum of fuss so that no family can be identified as receiving support.

2. Support with uniform costs in the form of PE kit up to the value of £100 supplied by Reading School and £100 of vouchers towards the purchase of compulsory uniform from Stephenson’s at the start of Year 7.

3. Additional support of up to £200 for uniform related expenses at the start of Year 9; claimed back via the Reading Promise form.

4. Access to a ‘fee free’ locker: allocated before the start of each academic year.

5. Free essential equipment for lessons: provided for students before they start Year 7, including free laboratory coats and goggles for science.

6. Free essential school trips: The school will fund Belonging Week trips for all students in Years 7-10, up to £200 per annum. Other trips may be subsidised.

7. A grant of up to £500: towards one international trip in each key stage, during Years 7 – 11. Additional funds may also be available through the Reading Foundation subject to assessment.

8. In Years 7 & 8 there will be the opportunity to take part in a program of instrumental lessons funded by the school and offered to all students.

9. Additional discretionary support may be available, with the Headmaster’s approval. Please contact Mr T Evans for a confidential conversation as required.

Reading School is one of the highest performing school in the region, and we are dedicated to supporting your future. If you have any questions regarding the admissions process, please do contact the admissions team at admissions@reading-school.co.uk.