Best Secondary Schools in Reading 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 11 schools across Reading. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Reading has 11 open secondary schools. Of the 10 with a published Ofsted inspection, 2 (20%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 70% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Kendrick School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Reading follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

11
Total schools
2
Outstanding (historic grade)
20%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
63.5%
Avg KS2 SATs
45
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score
🥇 Kendrick School
Secondary
 Outstanding 98 View school
🥈 Reading School
Secondary
 Outstanding 98 View school
🥉 Reading Girls' School
Secondary
 Good 67 View school
4. Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre
Secondary
 Good 66 View school
5. Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
6. Maiden Erlegh School in Reading
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
7. River Academy
Secondary
 — 50 View school
8. King's Academy Prospect
Secondary
 Good 48 View school
9. The WREN School
Secondary
 Requires Improvement 48 View school
10. UTC Reading
Secondary
 Inadequate 40 View school
11. Hartland High School
Secondary
 Inadequate 35 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Reading

Best primary schools in ReadingTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in ReadingTop-ranked Year 7 onwards All schools in ReadingPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in ReadingReception–Year 6 only How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in WokinghamCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in Bracknell ForestCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in West BerkshireCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in Windsor and MaidenheadCompare neighbouring authority

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Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Reading?
There are 11 open secondary schools in Reading (closed schools are excluded). 2 of the 10 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated secondary schools in Reading?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Reading is Kendrick School. The full ranked table above lists the top 11 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Reading?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Reading?
Primary and secondary applications in Reading are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Reading council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.