Reading Blue Coat School

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, o

Having taken girls into sixth form for nearly 40 years, girls can, since 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

Over 90% of students heading off to their first-choice university. Six students secured places to study at Oxford and Cambridge universities with others heading to Bath, Bristol, Durham, Exeter, King’s College London, Imperial College London and N

In 2024, 70 per cent 9-7 at I/GCSE; 53 per cent A*/A (79 per cent A*-B). In 2022, 79 per cent 9-7 at I/GCSE; 57 per cent A*/A (80 per cent A*-B).

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 fur

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 als

‘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

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 c

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 transpa

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

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 a

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 s