The Bulmershe School
N/A
Capacity
1,506
Pupils
N/A
Demand
About The Bulmershe School
The Bulmershe School, a large mixed secondary in Wokingham, holds a Good rating from Ofsted. Its most informative exam metric is Progress 8, which measures how much pupils improve between the end of primary school and their GCSEs. The school’s Progress 8 score is -0.14, meaning students achieve slightly below the national average progress. This places it 8th out of 9 state secondaries in Wokingham, a high-performing local authority where the average Progress 8 score is 0.21. The school’s score is classified as ‘Average’ in national banding, and it ranks in the bottom half of schools nationally at the 40th percentile. While the headline figure is modest, it’s worth noting that progress in maths is almost exactly in line with the national average, at -0.01, and the school’s Attainment 8 score of 46 is solid, with 68.9% of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above in English and maths.
At A-level, the school’s value-added score is -0.06, also banded as ‘Average’, with students averaging a C+ grade across their best three A-levels. The average points per entry is 33.47, again a C+ equivalent. Around 21% of entries achieved grades AAB or higher. The school has a sixth form of 98 pupils, and its progress banding is ‘Average’ across both key stages, suggesting consistent but not exceptional outcomes. Compared with the local authority’s top performers like The Piggott School (Progress 8 of 0.74) or Maiden Erlegh (0.64), Bulmershe’s results are more typical of a solid comprehensive that serves a broad intake. The EBacc entry rate is low at 18.5%, and only 12.2% of pupils entered the full EBacc, which may reflect a curriculum that prioritises breadth over the full academic suite.
The school is well-resourced with a swimming pool, astro turf, tennis courts, sports hall, gymnasium, and chapel, alongside ICT suites, art studios, and music rooms. Sports include rowing, football, hockey, netball, rugby, basketball, dance, and badminton, and there are clubs for debate, chess, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, science, orchestra, and eco activities. With 1,506 pupils, it is a large school and likely oversubscribed, though exact admission data is not provided. It will suit families who want a Good-rated comprehensive with strong facilities and a wide range of extracurriculars, particularly in sport and the arts, and who are comfortable with a school that performs in line with national averages rather than at the top of the local league table. The nearest Outstanding school is Maiden Erlegh, 1.9 km away, which may be a consideration for some parents.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Woodlands Avenue, Reading, Wokingham, RG5 3EU |
| Headteacher | Amanda Woodfin |
| Local Authority | Wokingham |
| Number of Pupils | 1,506 |
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (-0.14)
1881st of 3,141
Nationally
287th of 461
In South East
8th of 9
In Wokingham
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
36.5
'22/23
36.1
'23/24
33.5
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
2022/2351%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 196 pupils).
- School sixth form (stay)51%
- FE college28%
- Sixth form college7%
- Not sustained6%
- Employment3%
- Apprenticeship2%
92% 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
2022/2364%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 83 pupils).
Top-tier university progression
7%
Russell Group
9%
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)64%
- Employment19%
- Not sustained8%
- Further education1%
- Apprenticeship1%
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- Mathematics35
- Chemistry22
- Business Studies:Single20
- Media/Film/Tv Studies20
- Biology19
- History18
- Economics13
- Physics13
- Psychology12
- Computer Studies / Computing9
- English Language and Literature8
- Geography6
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.
Facilities
9Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
15Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
School day
Teaching hours
08:30 – 15:00
Source: thebulmersheschool.com. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.
Attendance & Behaviour
2023/2475% 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.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
9
Total schools
6
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 The Bulmershe 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
School Admissions Timeline 2026/27
Key dates for primary, secondary and nursery applications
School Open Days Calendar 2026/27
When open days happen and what to look for
Contact Information
Woodlands Avenue, Reading
Wokingham, RG5 3EU
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
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