Reading Blue Coat School A GSG School

Sports

Rowing

What The Good Schools Guide says

Headmaster

Since 2020, Peter Thomas, previously second master. Born and raised in Horsham, West Sussex; studied geology at Durham. An ex-copper, he worked for five years as a response officer for Sussex Police – and if you’re worried that means he’s a law, order and punishment fanatic, you should meet his brother who is an ex-prison-governor-turned-teacher. Seriously, though, they both left their previous lives for a reason – in our protagonist’s case, ‘to have a more positive impact,’ which fits with his sunny demeanour. And perhaps the writing was on the wall all along, given that their mum was a primary school teacher. He has only worked at two other schools – The Judd School in Tonbridge, where he taught for two years before joining the Dauntsey’s School geography department. Was housemaster of both day and boarding houses, coached football and rugby, and ran the Christian Union.

One of a bunch of (to our mind) medal-deserving heads that took the helm in the annus horribilis of Covid. School’s IT reckoned to have jumped forward a decade over a single weekend, with all staff ready at their webcams the Monday after the lockdown announcement and a major transformation in use of devices ever since: ‘Every pupil now has a device, all work is set online and parents use an online portal so they can keep tabs too.’

Lives on site. Married to Emily, a language teacher at Wellington, with whom he has four sons (one here) and an obedient lab, Arthur. Parents say Mr Thomas is ‘very approachable at games with his dog’. One spoke of an ‘open door policy’.

Entrance

Having taken girls into sixth form for nearly 40 years, girls can now, from 2023, join the fold in year 7, with the eventual aim of a 50:50 gender split, ideally by September 2027 when there will be girls in every year group. Year groups will grow in size from 100 to 125 at 11+ but the 13+ intake will shrink to just a handful.

Applicants are invited to the school in groups of 50-70 children during the autumn term of year 6 for a day of computerised tests in maths and verbal/non-verbal reasoning, short written English and maths papers, team building exercises, tour and a bit of fun. ‘It’s more relaxed this way,’ says the head. Current school reference also required. Just over half of year 7s come from the state sector – over 50 different state primaries! The rest from local preps including their main feeder St Piran’s, then Crosfields and others, eg Holme Grange and St George’s Windsor Castle.

A further competitive intake at 16+ (60 in total, currently mostly female, but this is bound to change). Candidates need at least two grade 7s, four grade 6s and two grade 5s. All students must pass English and maths. Computerised aptitude tests in verbal, non-verbal, spatial and quantitative reasoning, plus interview in November of year 11. Offers made in December. Parents of kids who joined in lower sixth spoke of the ‘personal, efficient, friendly’ admissions process and welcoming social events.

Exit

Some 85 per cent of 16+ go on to sixth form. The remainder leave either for a ‘fee holiday’ at a state sixth form college, a more vocational education, or boarding school. Nottingham, Birmingham, Exeter, Oxford Brookes, Nottingham Trent, Leeds, Bath, Newcastle, UCL and Loughborough the most popular university destinations – almost 70 per cent are Russell Group. Most, but not all, to study heavy-duty subjects such as aeronautical engineering, dentistry, maths, modern languages, physics, geography and history. Sports science and geology also popular. One to Oxbridge in 2022, plus one medic. For a school of this calibre, surprisingly few head overseas, but there were two in 2022 – to Cyprus and Netherlands.

Latest results

In 2022, 79 per cent 9-7 at I/GCSE; 57 per cent A*/A (80 per cent A*-B). In 2019 (the last pre-pandemic results), 67 per cent 9-7 at I/GCSE; 42 per cent A*/A at A level (71 per cent A*-B).

Teaching and learning

Setting in maths from year 7 and in sciences for the GCSE years. Carousel of Spanish, French, German and Latin from year 7, from which students pick two from year 8 (a language GCSE is compulsory). All take RS GCSE in year 10, then (usually) a further nine GCSEs in year 11; almost half take triple science. Maths, Latin, computing, geography and geology GCSEs doing particularly well. Maths is the most popular A level by far, followed by psychology and geography. New, or less common, A level choices include electronics, film studies, politics, PE and geology. Pupils do three A levels, plus either an AS, EPQ (around half do these) or sports enrichment. Keen mathematicians add further maths. From September 2023, all will start sixth form with four A levels, with the option to continue them for two years, convert one to an AS level, or to drop one and take up an EPQ.

The world of geology has much to thank Reading Blue Coat for – the serendipitous result of a former teacher’s passion for rocks is a dedicated lab full of fascinating specimens in the geology and psychology centre (a sympathetic but modern refurb of an 18th century building). The geology department is the second biggest of any school in the country (Truro comes top, since you asked). The subject is taught from year 9 and is offered as an activity, a GCSE and an A level.

All pupils have their own laptop: ‘We’re a Microsoft Teams school,’ our guide told us proudly. ‘It set us up perfectly during Covid — our provision was so good, our school roll actually increased during lockdown!’ Lessons finish at 4.10pm but children may stay on for activities until 6pm. All pupils have lockers.

Learning support and SEN

Pupils are screened at 11 and 16 and offered blocks of one-to-ones if needed – mainly for mild dyslexia and ADHD. ‘Organisational issues are a key focus,’ says head. Learning support department, based in converted stables, staffed by three who also work closely with teachers for a joined-up approach. ‘Our son was hugely supported and after two years was able to drop the learning support,’ said a parent.

The arts and extracurricular

‘Children do everything here; nothing is optional,’ a teacher quipped. Not literally true, of course, but not far off. The outstanding music department is for everyone, not just a highbrow few. Almost unbelievably, every single year 7 pupil learns an instrument and they all perform in a raucous ‘curriculum concert’ – even boys who took up an instrument for the first time that year. The approach seems to pay off, with plenty continuing and good take-up for the orchestra and all the usual ensembles. Swing into Summertime is a calendar highlight – parents picnic on the lawns and listen to a huge range of talent, from Dixieland jazz to a guitar ensemble and soloists.

Drama on curriculum up to year 9, though keen thespians grumbled that there was ‘only’ 35 minutes of drama per week pre-GCSE. Good results at GCSE and A level. ‘Can be massively helpful with confidence and presentation skills,’ says head. Separate annual plays from lower and middle schools, plus a whole-school musical – the most recent extravaganza, Billy Elliot, involved 150 pupils, around a fifth of the school. A new performing arts centre is in planning stages.

DT housed in three newish bright and airy workshops, plus a triangular teaching room fitted with computers for product design etc, all a beauty to behold. We watched thoroughly engaged young chaps listening attentively to instructions and couldn’t help having a bittersweet pang wondering how the arrival of girls might change the atmosphere. Art a smaller subject here than at many schools, but that may change as more girls attend. All (five) art A levels got A or A* results last year, so they clearly know what they’re doing.

Harking back to RBC’s origins as a school for the poor, the Aldworth Partnership encourages ‘transformational outreach’. One lad we spoke to was selling bow-ties to raise money for Ukraine. Another was arranging a charity concert. A school garden grows fruit and veg for a local food poverty charity. Pupils were full of praise for the new adventure education programme: paddle-boarding, sailing and mountain climbing, with a ropes course in the works. Dozens of other activities to choose from, including Enterprise Champions, public speaking, Lego robotics, archery, chess, shooting, riding and creative writing. CCF and DofE both offered.

Sport

Puts the ‘all’ in sport for all: last year 99 per cent of boys in year 7 played representative football and rugby for the school. The most talented are nurtured via the athlete development programme, and a number of boys play rugby, football and cricket at county or even national level. ‘One of the rare schools to offer football and rugby on nearly equal footing,’ a father told us, though pupils say football narrowly pips rugby. Main games for boys are football (autumn), rugby (winter) and cricket (summer). Rowing very good and getting better. It’s an option from year 9; the very keen can do it all year round. ‘We’ve got a great stretch of river, an amazing location,’ boasts the head. Rowing now led by the former head coach of women’s rowing at Oxford Brookes University. Games one afternoon per week plus training after school and matches on Saturdays. Kids tell us Shiplake College is the sporting arch-rival. Numerous minor sports available, eg badminton, squash, tennis, basketball and golf. There’s a good sports hall with climbing wall and fitness suite (old Blues use it in the holidays). A full-sized Astro is on parents’ wish list.

Girls’ sport is a work in progress with much thought going into the forthcoming provision for 11-16 year olds. Sixth form girls currently major on hockey, netball and rowing, with football, athletics and tennis also on the menu. We heard a few grumbles from the parents of girls who spoke of being ‘oversold’ on the school’s sports programme. ‘There aren’t enough girls taking sport seriously and they don’t get as many options as boys,’ said one.

Ethos and heritage

The best Reading school not located in Reading! Reading Blue Coat is nestled in the bucolic village of Sonning-on-Thames, home to Theresa May, Jimmy Page and George Clooney. ‘It should really be called Sonning Blue Coat,’ says the head wryly. Founded in 1646 by local merchant Richard Aldworth to offer education for the poor children of Reading, the school moved to its current site 300 years later. Unlike Reading’s other top schools, squeezed into urban-centre sites, this one boasts 46 acres of playing fields (on which nine football matches can be played at once) and woodsy loveliness which rolls down to the Thames and a modern boathouse. Handily, Reading rugby and hockey clubs, and Sonning Cricket Club, are directly across the road and provide further pitches and essential overflow parking.

The classical proportions of the Regency mansion that once stood here fell victim to a serious case of Victorian mock gothicism and sprouted towers and mullions. Nevertheless, it’s a striking building with brick and flint exterior, which is now home to head’s office, some teaching areas, IT suite and library. The rest of the site is a mix of newer buildings and facilities. The light and airy Richard Aldworth Building (main teaching block) was opened in 2012 and still feels fresh, and we loved the leafy science centre. Drama and music currently housed in 70s grey horrors, but there are plans afoot for the buildings to be revamped and turned into a new sixth form centre while drama and music move to a shiny new performing arts home. Canteen food seems much improved since our last visit.

No longer content to dominate independent boys’ education in Reading, the school is poised to compete head on with girls’ schools in the area from September 2023. Why? ‘Most children come here from co-ed schools,’ points out the head. ‘They need to learn to live, work, compete and play together in a natural, respectful learning environment.’ And: ‘People were choosing us despite us being boys only, not because of it.’

Well, up to a point. Some current parents we spoke to had mixed feelings about a mixed school. ‘We were a bit disappointed when the school announced it was going fully co-ed,’ a mum told us. ‘We feel there’s still a place for single-sex schools.’ Some families had chosen the school specifically for its boy-centred approach. Others were concerned that the school would become overly selective as the number of boys entering year 7 is slightly reduced to make way for girls.

Whole-school assemblies twice a week in the sports hall, one with a spiritual element. The hall will be too small to house the whole school once it is fully co-ed. ‘It’s one of the very few down sides of growth,’ sighed the head of admissions. The traditional uniform of long blue coat (hence the school’s name), breeches, yellow stockings and buckled shoes is now only worn on high days by prefects. The rest of the time, it’s a more typical grey/navy combo and for sixth formers, smart business wear.

Superb website – one of the very best we’ve seen. It’s straightforward, up to date, and clearly displays useful data, like several years’ exam results and leavers’ destinations. Bravo!

Former pupils (Old Blues) include television presenters Jeremy Kyle, Matt Allwright (Rogue Traders), Reading West MP Alok Sharma, round-the-world yachtsman Mike Golding OBE and the actress Natalie Dormer (Casanova, The Tudors).

Pastoral care, inclusivity and discipline

We’ve previously called the school ‘big on discipline’ and ‘regimented’, but we encountered something gentler on this visit. ‘The head doesn’t overreact,’ a parent explained. ‘They’re allowed to be boys.’ ‘If they misbehave, the process is transparent and sanctions are always appropriate.’ Girls we spoke to commented on the nurturing environment: ‘There’s more praise and encouragement than at my previous (all-girls state) school.’ Girls did mention some niggles with friendship group issues. ‘I thought it would be more fluid,’ a new lower sixth girl told us.

Societal issues are tackled by several student-led societies. Safe Society deals with gender equality issues, Newton Society is LGBTQ, and the Mandela Society advocates racial diversity and equality in the school. Proud to have received the Rainbow Flag Award in March 2022.

Handful of temporary exclusions every year, one reasonably recently for drugs. Impressively, we thought, the school is transparent about such issues and talks about being ‘well aware of the affluence and availability in the area, so drugs education is very much part of our PHSE programme’. Sniffer dog brought in from time to time, always unannounced, to keep students on their toes. School medical centre is evolving in preparation for arrival of girls and being rebranded as the Health and Wellbeing Centre from 2023.

Pupils and parents

Families come from a 25-mile radius, taking in Reading, Maidenhead, Wokingham, Camberley, Wallingford, Fleet, Twyford and villages between. School buses available from Reading, Wokingham, Henley, Maidenhead, Marlow, Beaconsfield and Windsor. Some pupils tried for the local grammar schools and missed the mark, but a few turned down a grammar school place in favour of RBC. ‘A lovely mix of economic backgrounds,’ said a parent. Unusually, for an academic school, most parents we spoke to discovered RBC via word of mouth, or previous familiarity the school (holiday camps or games fixtures), rather than league tables.

Money matters

Cheap-ish, as Basil Fawlty would say. Fees lower than any comparable schools in the area, in some cases by several thousand pounds per term. Lunches are not included in the fees, and some children bring packed lunches. Scholarships for music and academics (and art and drama from 16+) worth up to five per cent of fees. Around ten bursaries per year group of up to 75 per cent. No sports scholarships now – ‘It’s hard to tell at age 11 who will stand out in sport, especially children coming from small primaries,’ explains the head. But there is an athlete development programme – offers bells and whistles in terms of sporting opportunities but no fee reduction.

The last word

Not in Reading and no blue coats. But a happy, high-energy, sporty, good value school. With the influx of lots of brainy girls, we predict exam results will improve (they’re already good!) and admission will become more competitive (it’s already selective!).

Special Education Needs

Who came from where