Reading Girls' School
96%
Capacity
905
Pupils
1.8x
Demand
About Reading Girls' School
Reading Girls' School sits within the Reading local authority, where it ranks 5th out of 11 secondary schools on Progress 8. That places it in the middle of the pack locally, behind the three top-performing peers in the area: Kendrick School, Reading School, and Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre. The nearest school with an Outstanding Ofsted rating is Reading School, just 1.5 kilometres away. Reading Girls' School is a state-funded girls' secondary for ages 11 to 18, with no religious character, and is led by headteacher Marika Farrugia. It is a popular choice: for the 2025/26 admissions cycle, the school received 324 applications for 177 places, with 119 first-preference offers made, giving an oversubscription ratio of 1.83. That level of demand suggests it holds a solid reputation among local families, even if it isn't at the very top of the league table.
Academically, the school's most recent data from the 2023/24 year shows a Progress 8 score of 0.05, which is rated as Average and sits just below the Reading local authority average of 0.12. Attainment 8 stands at 47.8, and 67.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, with 54% reaching grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 4.28, and 40.1% of pupils entered the EBacc combination of subjects. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021, the school was rated Good overall, with Outstanding marks for behaviour and attitudes, and for leadership and management. This was a significant improvement from its previous inspection in 2015, when it was rated Inadequate. The school does not have a sixth form, so pupils move on elsewhere after Year 11.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, astro turf, science labs, tennis courts, a theatre, and art studios. Sports on offer include hockey, rowing, netball, and martial arts, while clubs range from coding and Model UN to gardening and eco club. The school has a broad SEND provision, supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, and speech, language and communication needs. With 28.3% of pupils eligible for free school meals, it serves a relatively diverse intake. This is a school that has clearly turned itself around and now offers a stable, well-led environment with strong behaviour, making it a sensible choice for families seeking a girls-only state secondary in Reading that is oversubscribed but still accessible.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | Northumberland Avenue, Reading, Reading, RG2 7PY |
| Headteacher | Marika Farrugia |
| Local Authority | Reading |
| Number of Pupils | 905 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 28.3% |
| School Capacity | 905 / 947 (96% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
24 Nov 2021Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 20 Jan 2022. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.05)
1411th of 3,141
Nationally
215th of 461
In South East
5th 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.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed177
324
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
119 families put this school as their 1st choice (37% 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.
Half of schools in England do better than this.
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
2024/25Above the national average (25%) — higher-disadvantage intake.
Among the highest 25% — a diverse linguistic intake.
Ethnic background
- Asian50.4%
- White British15.8%
- Mixed9.9%
- White (other)7.5%
- Black1.3%
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.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this 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.
11
Total schools
10
Oversubscribed
7
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 Reading Girls' 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
Northumberland Avenue, Reading
Reading, RG2 7PY
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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