Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School
113%
Capacity
1,045
Pupils
2.4x
Demand
About Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School
Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School was rated Good in its most recent graded Ofsted inspection, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating. The school’s Progress 8 score sits at -0.02, which is classified as Average nationally and places it sixth out of nine secondary schools in Reading. This score is slightly below the local authority average of 0.12, but the school performs better in English (Progress 8 of 0.06) and the EBacc subjects (0.11) than in maths (-0.29). The Attainment 8 score is 44.4, and 61.5% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. Around 40% of pupils entered the EBacc, with 24% achieving a grade 4 or above across the full suite. The school’s ranking places it in the middle nationally, at the 49th percentile.
At A-level, the school’s value-added score is -0.29, which is below average, and the average points per entry is 28.52, equivalent to a C grade. The best three A-levels average out at a C grade as well, with 5.9% of entries achieving AAB or higher. The sixth form has 44 pupils and is rated as having below average progress. The school is oversubscribed for Year 7 entry in 2025/26, with 424 applications for 179 places and 153 offers made to first-preference applicants. The oversubscription ratio is 2.37, meaning nearly two and a half families compete for each place. The school has a Roman Catholic character and is led by headteacher Simon Uttley.
The school offers a broad range of facilities including a theatre, chapel, sixth form centre, and extensive sports provision with rowing, rugby, and hockey among the options. Clubs include the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, orchestra, and debate. SEND provisions cover specific learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech and language needs, with a resourced provision on site. With 19% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. It suits families seeking a faith-based secondary with a strong sixth form, a wide co-curricular offer, and a Good Ofsted rating, though those prioritising top academic outcomes may want to compare with the two Outstanding schools in Reading, the nearest being Kendrick School 2.8 km away.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Roman Catholic |
| Address | Fawley Road, Reading, Reading, RG30 3EP |
| Headteacher | Simon Uttley |
| Local Authority | Reading |
| Number of Pupils | 1,045 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 19.0% |
| School Capacity | 1,045 / 922 (113% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
14 Sept 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (14 Sept 2023): School remains Good
Source: Ofsted, 13 Dec 2012. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.02)
1554th of 3,141
Nationally
242nd of 461
In South East
6th of 9
In Reading
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
36.2
'22/23
28.3
'23/24
28.5
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/2342%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 151 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)42%
- FE college26%
- Sixth form college21%
- Employment5%
- Not sustained2%
- Apprenticeship1%
97% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
Where school leavers go
2022/2371%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 35 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
27%
Russell Group
19%
Top-third HE
Percentages of the whole cohort (not just HE-goers). Russell Group = 24 elite research universities. Top-third HE = top by mean UCAS tariff.
- University (HE)71%
- Not sustained9%
- Further education6%
- Employment6%
- Other education3%
- Apprenticeship3%
Sources: DfE 16-18 destination measures (broad bucket); DfE KS5 student destinations file (Russell Group / top-third HE / Oxbridge). Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion.
Sixth form A-level subjects
2022/23- Psychology17
- Chemistry10
- Biology9
- Media/Film/Tv Studies9
- Sociology8
- Mathematics7
- Government and Politics4
- History4
- Business Studies:Single3
- Religious Studies3
Subjects with at least 3 entries in 2022/23. Number shown next to each subject is the number of pupils who sat that A-level exam — a rough indicator of subject popularity at this school. Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance.
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
11Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
17Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed179
424
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
160 families put this school as their 1st choice (38% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- White British23.9%
- White (other)20.3%
- Asian17.5%
- Mixed12.4%
- Black3.7%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Permanent exclusion is rare — most schools have none in a given year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
13
Total schools
12
Oversubscribed
10
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Fawley Road, Reading
Reading, RG30 3EP
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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