Best secondary schools in Reading
Reading school choices can be strong, but the area decision should still be grounded in postcode quality rather than transport convenience alone. This ranking covers 60 secondary schools across 6 local authority districts. Postcode area SL3 has the highest average school score (82.5 across 6 schools), while SL2 sits at the lower end (27.5). 88% of ranked Reading secondary schools hold an Ofsted Outstanding or Good rating.
Top 10 secondary schools in Reading on the LocaleIQ model
Ordered by composite score within the Reading comparison pool. Rankings reflect published data, not editorial opinion.
More secondary schools in Reading
Positions 11–30 in the Reading ranking.
| # | School | LocaleIQ | Ofsted | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Newlands Girls' School | 91.3 | Outstanding | Secondary |
| 12 | St Bartholomew's School | 90.8 | Outstanding | Secondary |
| 13 | Edgbarrow School | 89.7 | Outstanding | Secondary |
| 14 | Eden Girls' School, Slough | 89.6 | Outstanding | Secondary |
| 15 | The Downs School | 88.8 | Good | Secondary |
| 16 | Bohunt School Wokingham | 87.8 | Good | Secondary |
| 17 | St Crispin's School | 87 | Good | Secondary |
| 18 | Park House School | 82 | Good | Secondary |
| 19 | The Brakenhale School | 79.4 | Good | Secondary |
| 20 | Holyport College | 79 | Good | Secondary |
| 21 | Kennet School | 77.6 | Good | Secondary |
| 22 | Reading Girls' School | 74.5 | Good | Secondary |
| 23 | The Langley Academy | 71.2 | Good | Secondary |
| 24 | Baylis Court School | 70.1 | Good | Secondary |
| 25 | The Willink School | 68.8 | Good | Secondary |
| 26 | Charters School | 68.5 | Good | Secondary |
| 27 | Waingels | 68.3 | Good | Secondary |
| 28 | The Forest School | 68.1 | Good | Secondary |
| 29 | The Emmbrook School | 67.3 | Good | Secondary |
| 30 | Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre | 67.1 | Good | Secondary |
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Questions about secondary schools in Reading
What is the best secondary school in Reading?
Reading School is the top-ranked secondary school in Reading (LocaleIQ score 99.6 out of 100). Ofsted: Outstanding. Attainment 8 83.0. The score combines Ofsted outcome, Progress 8 and Attainment 8, and cohort-weighted percentile ranks within the Reading secondary pool.
What is the best primary school in Reading?
St Edmund Campion Catholic Primary School and Nursery tops the Reading primary school ranking (LocaleIQ 99.9). Ofsted: Outstanding. KS2 expected 92% · higher 34%. See the full primary school ranking for Reading for the complete list.
Which secondary schools in Reading have the best GCSE results?
Attainment 8 measures average GCSE grades across eight subjects; Progress 8 compares actual grades against predictions based on KS2 — a positive figure means pupils outperformed expectations. Top performers in Reading: Reading School (Attainment 8 83.0); Kendrick School (Attainment 8 84.0); Upton Court Grammar School (Attainment 8 79.8). Both metrics feed into the LocaleIQ secondary school score.
Which secondary schools in Reading are rated Outstanding by Ofsted?
13 secondary schools in the Reading ranking hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating: Reading School, Kendrick School, Upton Court Grammar School, Langley Grammar School, St Bernard's Catholic Grammar School, and 8 more. Outstanding means Ofsted judged the school exceptional in all inspection areas. LocaleIQ weighs DfE performance data alongside Ofsted, so a Good-rated school can still rank highly.
How many secondary schools are ranked in Reading?
This ranking covers 60 secondary schools in the Reading comparison pool, across 6 local authority districts. Schools without sufficient published data are excluded but may appear in the LocaleIQ directory.
Which area of Reading has the best secondary schools?
By average LocaleIQ score across postcode areas, SL3 has the strongest cluster — 82.5 average across 6 ranked secondary schools. SL2 sits at the lower end (27.5 average). Reading school choices can be strong, but the area decision should still be grounded in postcode quality rather than transport convenience alone. Postcode averages mask individual variation — always review each school's full profile.
Ranking data last computed 29 March 2026.