Reading School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

What is it like to attend this school?

This school inspires pupils to be the best versions of themselves. Impressively high aspirations for academic excellence are matched by those for pupils' holistic development. Pupils rise consistently to meet and exceed these expectations, achieving very well academically by the time they leave the school.

Those who join the school in the sixth form do equally well. Just as importantly, pupils develop into kind and thoughtful young people who are keen to make their mark on the world.

The school's work focuses clearly on developing people of character.

The Floreat programme gives pupils deliberately planned opportunities to learn deeply about relationships, re...silience and leadership. The effectiveness of this work is constantly evident, through how pupils interact with each other, respond to challenges and lead aspects such as house events and a broad range of clubs and activities. They extend this work successfully beyond their own school community, such as through engaging pupils from local primary schools in the 'Future Stories' programme.

Pupils' attitudes to learning are consistently positive. Their enthusiastic engagement with learning matures into determined commitment to their studies. They are equally committed to the broad range of enrichment activities provided by the 'electives' curriculum, which all pupils benefit from.

What does the school do well and what does it need to do better?

Highly effective leadership has ensured that standards have been sustained and improved, both in the school and boarding provision, since the school was last inspected. A determination to provide the absolute best for pupils and to contribute to the wider community are abundantly clear in the collective work of trustees, leaders and staff. A sense of pride and moral purpose pervades the school.

Pupils experience a carefully crafted and innovative curriculum, reflecting high aspirations for their academic and personal development. Right from the start, pupils study a range of subjects that extends way beyond national curriculum and English Baccalaureate subjects. This gives pupils a broad and deep foundation on which to build subsequent learning and develop wider skills and talents.

Teachers are experts in their field. Lessons are planned precisely, matching what pupils need to learn and when, and stretching beyond national curriculum and exam specification requirements. Additional support, particularly in the sixth form, is highly effective in ensuring that pupils keep up with the fast-paced curriculum.

Pupils' enthusiasm for learning is evident throughout. In lessons, they listen actively to each other, developing their collective thinking. Their commitment to working hard and bettering themselves is reflected in the excellent standards they achieve in external examinations at the end of Year 11 and 13.

Equally, it is evident in their mature, respectful and thoughtful contributions to the wider life of their school.

Adults know pupils extremely well. They actively identify any factors, such as social disadvantage, that have the potential to prevent pupils from thriving.

They address these factors subtly, such as through the well-planned electives programme that all pupils participate in. This deliberate set of rich and diverse experiences raises pupils' aspirations and broadens their horizons far beyond their own context or social background. Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are supported similarly well.

Considerate work with families ensures that pupils' needs are met while sustaining access to a broad curriculum. As a result, additional needs are not a barrier to pupils' success and they achieve very well.

Pupils are fluent readers on arrival.

Nevertheless, literacy, oracy and reading are a constant focus. Subject-specific technical language is an integral part of learning in lessons, becoming more sophisticated as pupils move through the school and into the sixth form. The library is a warm and welcoming hub, where pupils develop great lifelong reading and study habits.

Enrichment activities, such as debating club, develop pupils' confidence in expressing their knowledge and views. As a result, pupils become highly articulate and eloquent.

Character development is an exceptionally valued and valuable aspect of the school's work.

Staff are determined for pupils to have a broad set of experiences to help them to find their way in the world. An effective programme of careers information, education, advice and guidance helps pupils understand the full range of opportunities available to them when they leave the school. Personal, social and health education (PSHE) and the Floreat character development programme are pivotal in bringing leaders' mantra of 'creating good people' to life.

These provide pupils with meaningful opportunities to develop resilience, confidence and an understanding of leadership. Pupils apply this learning successfully by willingly and dutifully taking on roles of responsibility, such as house captains, prefects and leaders of various enrichment groups.

Inclusion is a way of life at Reading School.

The air of acceptance, kindness and respect is tangible. Those who join the school at the start of Year 12 are welcomed warmly and settle quickly into the life of the school. Pupils describe an absence of malice or spite in their interactions with each other.

They are proud of how they 'check' each other if someone behaves in a way that they do not think is OK, helping each other to learn from their occasional mistakes. Their time at Reading School enables them to flourish.

Safeguarding

The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.

Also at this postcode