Reading School Catchment Area
Reading School is an academy converter secondary school in Reading , serving pupils aged 11-18, with 1129 pupils, and a capacity of 1094 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
11-18
Age range
1,129
Pupils
1,094
Capacity
103%
Fill rate
Outstanding
Ofsted 2023
Reading School Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for Reading School?
The catchment area for Reading School is the geographic zone Reading uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, though entry first depends on passing the selective admissions test. Reading publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Entry to Reading School is selective, and applicants must pass the relevant admissions test. Among qualifying applicants, Reading may use distance or catchment area as a tiebreaker when the school is oversubscribed. Check the admissions policy for how the selection and distance criteria interact.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Reading publishes the 2027 Reading School numbers →
The full admissions policy, including test registration dates, qualifying scores, and any distance criteria, is published by Reading before each admissions cycle. Verify your child's eligibility and your home address directly with the council.
Find Reading catchment area documents →Reading School: at or above its 1094 place limit
Reading School has a published admission number of 1094 places. 1129 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 103%. The school is at or above its published limit of 1094 places. Reading allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. The last-distance figure is likely to remain tight if demand holds at this level.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 4.5% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, below the national average. The school draws primarily from a lower-deprivation part of Reading.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Reading publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Reading school admissions →
Reading School: School Information
- Full address
- Erleigh Road, Reading, RG1 5LW
- Local authority
- Reading
- School type
- Academy converter
- Phase of education
- Secondary
- Age range
- 11-18 years
- Gender
- Boys
- Admissions policy
- Selective
- Free school meals
- 4.5% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 136449
Other Secondary Schools in Reading
If Reading School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in Reading are the next closest alternatives.
The Willink School Catchment Area
Community school · RG7 3XJ
Little Heath School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · RG31 5TY
Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School Catchment Area
Voluntary aided school · RG30 3EP
Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre Catchment Area
Academy converter · RG4 8LR
Kendrick School Catchment Area
Academy converter · RG1 5BN
Maiden Erlegh School Catchment Area
Academy converter · RG6 7HS
Nearest secondary schools by distance
These are the secondary schools closest to Reading School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: Reading School
What is the catchment area for Reading School? ▾
The catchment area for Reading School is the geographic zone Reading uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, though entry first depends on passing the selective admissions test. Reading publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is Reading School oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, Reading School currently has 1129 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 1094 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for Reading School? ▾
Reading School is a selective school: admission requires passing the relevant admissions test. Reading publishes the full policy each year, including test dates, qualifying scores, and any distance tiebreaker.
What age range does Reading School cover? ▾
Reading School is a secondary school in Reading, serving pupils aged 11-18. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for Reading School? ▾
Reading School was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.