St Bartholomew's School

About St Bartholomew's School

St Bartholomew's School sits at the top of the West Berkshire secondary school rankings, ranked first out of nine schools in the local authority. Its Progress 8 score of 0.37 places it comfortably ahead of its nearest peers, including The Downs School (0.32), Denefield School (0.16), and Kennet School (0.15). The school is one of only two state secondaries in West Berkshire to hold an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, a grade it earned in its most recent graded inspection in 2021. Headteacher David Fitter leads a large mixed 11-18 comprehensive of 1,930 pupils, slightly over its official capacity of 1,922. The school is non-religious and operates as a state-funded academy. With 12.1 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals, its intake is broadly representative of the local area. Oversubscription is significant: for the 2025/26 academic year, the school received 577 applications for 257 places, with 355 of those applicants listing it as their first preference.

Academically, St Bartholomew's delivers well above the West Berkshire average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.37 is substantially higher than the local authority average of 0.02, and the school's attainment 8 score sits at 55.3. In the EBacc measure, 51.3 per cent of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, while 39.6 per cent reached grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is 66.7 per cent, and the EBacc average point score is 5.14. At A-level, the school's value added score of 0.09 is rated as above average, with pupils achieving an average of 36.82 points per entry, equivalent to a B- grade. The best three A-levels average out at 37.28 points, also a B-. Ofsted rated every aspect of the school Outstanding in 2021, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth-form provision. This marks an improvement from its previous Good rating in 2015.

The school offers a broad range of facilities, including a swimming pool, sports hall, theatre, sixth-form centre, art studios, and astro turf pitches. Sports on offer include rowing, martial arts, gymnastics, netball, and tennis, while extracurricular clubs range from Young Enterprise and the Duke of Edinburgh's Award to coding, debate, orchestra, and a school newspaper. SEND provision covers nine categories, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language communication needs, and physical disability. For families considering the school, the data paints a clear picture: St Bartholomew's is a high-performing, heavily oversubscribed comprehensive that suits pupils who thrive in a large, academically ambitious environment. Its strong Progress 8 and A-level value added scores suggest it supports both mid-ability and high-achieving students well. The sixth form is a particular strength, with an Outstanding rating and above-average progress. Parents should be aware that securing a place is competitive, with 2.25 applications per place and 256 first-preference offers made for 257 total places.

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