Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre
107%
Capacity
1,545
Pupils
1.6x
Demand
About Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre
Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre was rated Good in its most recent Ofsted inspection, a significant improvement from its previous Requires Improvement rating in 2013. The school’s Progress 8 score of 0.25 is the standout exam metric here, placing it above the national average and well ahead of the Reading local authority average of 0.12. That score ranks Highdown third out of nine secondary schools in Reading, putting it in the top third locally. The school’s Attainment 8 score sits at 53.5, and 80.1% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths. The Progress 8 banding is officially classified as ‘Above average’, and the school’s strongest subject areas are maths and the EBacc, both with a Progress 8 score of 0.41. English progress is more modest at 0.16, but the overall picture is of a school that is clearly adding value for its pupils compared with peers nationally.
At sixth form, the picture is more mixed. The school’s value-added score is -0.03, which falls within the ‘Average’ progress banding, and the average points per entry is 32.25, equivalent to a C+ grade. Only 12.1% of entries achieved AAB or higher in at least two facilitating subjects. The sixth form provision itself was rated as Requires Improvement in the 2024 Ofsted inspection, which is a notable contrast to the overall school rating. For GCSE students, the EBacc entry rate is 39%, and 30.7% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above. The school’s Progress 8 confidence interval ranges from 0.08 to 0.43, meaning the positive score is statistically secure. Nationally, Highdown ranks 943rd out of 3,141 schools on Progress 8, placing it in the top 30% of all state secondaries.
Highdown is a large, mixed secondary with 1,545 pupils on roll, oversubscribed for Year 7 entry in 2025/26 with 402 applications for 245 places and 182 first-preference offers. The school has a broad range of facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, music rooms, and a dedicated sixth form centre. Sports offered include hockey, rugby, netball and athletics, while clubs range from Debate and Model UN to Coding and DofE. The school’s SEND provision is comprehensive, covering autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disabilities, with a resourced provision on site. With 10.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a reasonably diverse intake. This is a school that suits families looking for strong academic progress at GCSE, particularly in maths and EBacc subjects, but who should be aware of the sixth form’s current Ofsted rating and its average value-added outcomes.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Surley Row, Reading, Reading, RG4 8LR |
| Headteacher | Laura Mathews |
| Local Authority | Reading |
| Number of Pupils | 1,545 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 10.3% |
| School Capacity | 1,545 / 1,440 (107% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
27 Mar 2024Overall Effectiveness
Good
Latest inspection (27 Mar 2024): School remains Good
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 2 Jun 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.25)
943rd of 3,141
Nationally
148th of 461
In South East
3rd of 9
In Reading
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
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
37.8
'22/23
28.9
'23/24
32.3
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2368%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 148 pupils).
- University (HE)68%
- Employment18%
- Not sustained7%
- Apprenticeship3%
- Further education2%
- Other education1%
Source: DfE 16-18 destination measures, Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion. Russell Group / top-third HE breakdown not shown.
SEND Support
Resourced ProvisionSource: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
10Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
14Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed245
402
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
182 families put this school as their 1st choice (45% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% 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%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- White British61.9%
- Asian12.5%
- Mixed8.0%
- White (other)7.8%
- Black0.8%
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.
5
Total schools
5
Oversubscribed
4
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 Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre
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
Surley Row, Reading
Reading, RG4 8LR
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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