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Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre
Surley Row, Emmer Green, Reading, Berkshire, RG4 8LR, Reading
LocaleIQ Score
LocaleIQ Score
64.0 / 100
Top 36%
Better than 64% of all open schools in England. Composite of Ofsted, GCSE outcomes, and parent satisfaction.
Overview
Ofsted
Good
Pupils
1,545
Capacity
1,440
Ages
11–18
Gender
Mixed
Occupancy
107%
Summary
With a Good rating from Ofsted and strong GCSE results, this secondary school demonstrates solid academic performance, particularly with an Attainment 8 score of 50.4, placing it in the top 28% nationally. The school boasts a 75% pass rate in English and Maths at grade 4 or above, and 79% of students progress to university, with 28% attending top-third institutions. However, the EBacc entry rate of 39% may suggest room for improvement in offering a broader curriculum.
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Open area analysis →Ofsted inspection
Last inspected: 30 April 2015Older inspection ⓘLeadership & Management: Good
GCSE Results
| Metric | Value | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Attainment 8Combined grade score across a pupil's best 8 GCSEs. Higher = stronger academic outcomes. National average ~46.7. | 50.4 | Top 28% UK |
| English & Maths — Standard pass (grade 4+)Share of pupils who achieved grade 4+ in both English and Maths. Grade 4 is the minimum threshold for most employers and sixth forms. National average ~64%. | 75% | Top 27% UK |
| English & Maths — Strong pass (grade 5+)Share of pupils achieving grade 5+ in both English and Maths. Required by many universities and competitive sixth-form programmes. National average ~44%. | 57% | Top 22% UK |
| EBacc — Entry rate% of pupils who sat GCSEs in the full EBacc suite: English, Maths, History or Geography, a language, and Sciences. Signals a broad academic curriculum. National average ~39%. | 39% | Top 32% UK |
| EBacc — Achievement (grade 5+)% of pupils who achieved grade 5+ across all EBacc subjects. Reflects both curriculum breadth and academic rigour. National average ~22%. | 31% | Top 32% UK |
University Destinations
| Metric | Value | vs UK |
|---|---|---|
| Progression to university% of sixth-form leavers who went on to study a degree at a UK university. Includes all universities. National average ~55%. | 79% | Top 20% |
| Top-third universities% of leavers who went to a top-third university (Russell Group and equivalents — the most academically selective institutions). National average ~18%. | 28% | Above avg |
Based on 148 leavers (DfE Destinations data, latest available year).
Pupil Ethnicity
White British61.9%
White Other7.8%
Asian Indian3.9%
Asian Other3.4%
Asian Chinese3.4%
Black African3.3%
Mixed Other2.9%
Mixed W+B Carib.2.4%
Mixed W+Asian2.1%
Other1.3%
Asian Pakistani1.2%
Black Other0.8%
Mixed W+B African0.6%
Asian Bangladeshi0.6%
White Irish0.5%
Black Caribbean0.4%
Gypsy/Roma0.1%
Location
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51.48170, -0.97561 · RG4 8LR
School details
Local authorityReading
RegionSouth East
URN136307
School typeAcademy converter
Websitewww.highdown.reading.sch.uk
Frequently asked questions
What is Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre rated by Ofsted?
Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre was rated "Good" by Ofsted at its last inspection on 30 April 2015.
Is Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre a good school?
Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre scores 64.0/100 on the LocaleIQ index, placing it in the top 36% of all open schools in England. The score is a composite of Ofsted inspection results, GCSE outcomes, and parent satisfaction surveys.
How do pupils perform at Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre in GCSEs?
Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre achieved an Attainment 8 score of 50.4. 75% of pupils achieved grade 9–4 in English and Maths.
What are the best schools near RG4 8LR?
Use the LocaleIQ map to explore all schools near RG4 8LR with Ofsted ratings, GCSE results, and parent reviews overlaid. You can filter by Primary, Secondary, Nursery or College.