St Michael's Primary School

About St Michael's Primary School

St Michael's Primary School in Reading posts a mixed set of headline metrics when set against the local authority average for primary schools. Its combined reading, writing and maths expected standard score of 52 per cent sits noticeably below the Reading LA average of 61 per cent, placing the school in the bottom half of the 40 primaries in the borough. However, the picture is more nuanced in individual subjects. Reading scores are a relative strength, with 73 per cent of pupils reaching the expected standard and an average scaled score of 105, while writing is close behind at 72 per cent. Maths is the weaker area, with 65 per cent at the expected level and an average score of 102. The proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard in reading (22 per cent) is reasonable, but the figure drops sharply to just 2 per cent in writing and 15 per cent in maths. The school's ranking of 27th out of 38 primaries in Reading reflects these uneven outcomes.

The school's most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2012, awarded an overall effectiveness rating of Good, with leadership and management also judged Good. A subsequent ungraded inspection in October 2023 confirmed the school remains Good. This represents a clear improvement from its previous graded inspection in 2011, when it was rated Requires Improvement overall. The 2023 inspection found no cause to change the rating. With 394 pupils on roll against a capacity of 420, the school is close to full. Free school meal eligibility stands at 31.7 per cent, well above the national average, indicating a significant proportion of pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. The school does not have a nursery or sixth form, and serves children aged 5 to 11.

St Michael's offers a broad range of facilities including a sports hall, playing fields, ICT suite, forest school, gymnasium and chapel. Sports provision covers football, cricket, dance, swimming, cross country, athletics and rounders, while clubs include art, science, gardening, drama and choir. The school is well equipped for SEND support, with provisions for specific learning difficulties, moderate and severe learning difficulties, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. For the 2025/26 intake, the school was oversubscribed, receiving 124 applications for 38 places, with 36 first preference offers made. This suggests strong local demand despite the below-average headline results. Families prioritising strong SEND support and a wide extracurricular offer alongside a Good Ofsted rating may find St Michael's a practical choice, particularly if they live within the catchment area.

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