The Abbey School Reading | The Good Schools Guide

The Abbey School Reading
Kendrick Road
Reading
RG1 5DZ
Head: Mrs Rachel Dent
T 01189 872256
F 01189 871478
E [email protected]
W www.theabbey.co.uk
A mainstream independent school for girls aged from 11 to 18 with a linked junior school
Boarding: No
Local authority: Reading
Pupils: 730; sixth formers: 157
Religion: Church of England/Christian
Fees: £17,640 pa
Open days: See school website for next dates
Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
Ofsted report: View the Ofsted report
ISI report: View the ISI report
Linked schools: The Abbey Junior School

What The Good Schools Guide says..

Hardworking and unsnobby, definitely no princesses here. Yes, of course the girls work hard (and joy of joys, it’s not seen as nerdy to do so here), but Abbey girls take things in their stride and manage to do plenty more besides. . ‘We are constantly encouraged to explore what kind of a person we are – not just what subjects we’re good at,’ explained one girl. The Abbey Edge is an exhaustive (and quite possibly exhausting) programme of clubs and activities from…

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What the school says...

The Abbey School is a dynamic and vibrant community of more than 1,000 girls aged 3-18.

The Abbey is always in the top division nationally in academic terms. This year's A levels were excellent with 89% at A*/B and at GCSE 84% were A*/A. In 2016 the average IB diploma result was 39, with more than two thirds of the cohort scoring 38 points or higher, at a level equivalent to or exceeding the Oxford and Cambridge conditional offer range. For the fourth time in the school's 8 year IB history one student gained the full 45 points possible. Leavers go on to an impressive list of universities and courses.

The school places great emphasis on providing a breadth of challenges and opportunities for each pupil. Girls are presented with the chance for exploration both within the curriculum and in Music, Drama, Sport, DofE and the wide variety of clubs and trips. The Jane Austen Wing at the Senior School has modern classrooms for Humanities as well as bright Art studios and enhanced ICT facilities. The International Baccalaureate has widened the options for Sixth Formers who can also choose their desired A level combination from 29 subjects.

The Abbey Junior School offers a broad curriculum and the atmosphere is friendly, lively, purposeful and fun.

There is an extensive Abbey School coach network and the school is walking distance from Reading Station. There is a range of scholarships and financial assistance is offered to able girls through means-tested bursaries which may cover up to 100% of fees for exceptional candidates. ...Read more

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Curricula

International Baccalaureate: diploma - the diploma is the familiar A-level equivalent.

Other features

All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.

Sports

Equestrian centre or equestrian team - school has own equestrian centre or an equestrian team.

Rowing

What The Good Schools Guide says

Head

Since 2014, Rachel Dent BA QTS (40s), previously deputy head. Grew up in the Midlands and read English at Southampton University, then embarked on a career in journalism in 1992, although she quickly realised it wasn’t for her, quitting her first job at Time Out magazine after just two weeks. Travelled to Egypt to ‘find herself’ and when she realised she needed some money, she ‘blagged her way into teaching English GCSE’ and ‘never looked back’. Did her formal teacher training back in the UK via fast track QTS at Reading University, then worked at Wisbech Grammar and Cokethorpe School. Joined The Abbey in 2007 as director of sixth form. Her office is plush, swanky and large – think Farrow and Ball grey and white tones, stone fireplace and fresh flowers.

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Overall school performance (for comparison or review only)

Independent schools frequently offer IGCSEs or other qualifications alongside or as an alternative to GCSE. The DfE does not record performance data for these exams so independent school GCSE data is frequently misleading; parents should check the results with the schools.

Results by exam and subject

Subject results

Entry/Exit

Special Education Needs

Condition	Provision for in school
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Aspergers	Y
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders	Y
CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia
Dyscalculia
Dysgraphia
Dyslexia
Dyspraxia
English as an additional language (EAL)
Genetic
Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory
Has SEN unit or class
HI - Hearing Impairment
Hospital School
Mental health
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Natspec Specialist Colleges
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
PD - Physical Disability
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Special facilities for Visually Impaired
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
VI - Visual Impairment

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Who came from where

School	Year	Places	Scholarships	Description
Rupert House School	2019	1	1	Sports scholarship
St Andrew's School	2018	1
Yateley Manor	2019	2	1	Academic Scholarship

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