Reading School 11+ Guide

About Reading School

Reading School is a selective secondary school in Berkshire. For children to get into Reading School they need to pass the school's 11+ entrance test. Hence, Reading School is a traditional grammar school, one of only 163 remaining in England.

Nestled in the heart of Berkshire, Reading School stands as a beacon of academic excellence and rich heritage. As one of the most venerable educational institutions in England, this illustrious boys' grammar school has carved a niche for itself in the annals of British education. With its roots firmly planted in the 12th century, Reading School has nurtured generations of young minds, instilling in them a thirst for knowledge and a passion for personal growth.

The school prides itself on its comprehensive curriculum, meticulously designed to cater to the diverse needs and aspirations of its students. From the realms of science and mathematics to the expressive arts and humanities, Reading School offers a kaleidoscope of subjects that challenge and inspire. The dedicated faculty, with their wealth of expertise and unwavering commitment, guide students on a transformative journey of intellectual discovery and character development.

Beyond the confines of the classroom, Reading School recognizes the importance of extracurricular activities in shaping well-rounded individuals. With an extensive array of clubs and societies, ranging from chess and robotics to music and drama, students have ample opportunities to explore their passions and cultivate new interests. The school's sporting prowess is equally remarkable, with students excelling in various disciplines such as rugby, cricket, and athletics.

At the core of Reading School's ethos lies a steadfast commitment to academic rigor, personal integrity, and community spirit. The school fosters an environment where students are encouraged to think critically, lead with conviction, and embrace their roles as responsible global citizens. This dedication to excellence is reflected in the outstanding achievements of its students, who consistently secure top positions in national examinations and gain entry into prestigious universities worldwide.

For those seeking an immersive educational experience, Reading School offers the unique opportunity of boarding. With state-of-the-art facilities and a nurturing residential community, boarders at Reading School benefit from a holistic learning environment that promotes personal growth, independence, and lifelong friendships. The school's commitment to providing an exceptional boarding experience has been recognized by Ofsted, further cementing its position as a leader in the field of education.

School Information

Below you will find further information about Reading School together with their admissions contact details.

Reading School is a boys only school. It is also an academy, meaning the school is run independently by a trust or sponsor and is directly funded by the central government (not the local authority).

Notably, Reading School is one of very few English grammar schools to also offer boarding facilities.

In total 1,119 pupils attend Reading School and it's led by the Headmaster, Revd Dr Chris Evans.

Reading School Location

Below you will find a map showing the school's location:

GCSE & A-Level Subjects

Below you will find a complete list of GCSE and A-Level subjects offered to pupils at Reading School for the 2022-23 academic year.

FSCE 11+ Information

In order to get into Reading School, children need to pass the FSCE 11+. This 11+ test is written by FSCE for use by the school's admissions process.

FSCE 11+ Subjects & Structure

The FSCE 11+ requires children to complete tests in the following subjects:

• English
• Maths
• Creative Writing

To gain admission to Reading School, prospective students are required to take the 11 plus exam administered by Future Stories Community Enterprise (FSCE), a subsidiary of the school. The assessment consists of three distinct papers designed to evaluate the candidate's abilities in various areas.

The English paper assesses the child's proficiency in reading comprehension, vocabulary, and spelling. The Maths paper tests the applicant's understanding and application of Key Stage 2 mathematical concepts. Lastly, the Creative Writing paper requires the student to compose an original piece of writing based on a given prompt.

The English and Maths papers feature a mix of multiple-choice and free response questions. For multiple-choice questions, students must shade the correct answer on their answer sheet. Free response questions require the student to write their answers in designated answer boxes, with only one number or letter per box.

Other Schools using FSCE 11+

As well as Reading School, several other schools also use FSCE 11+. These are:

• Colyton Grammar School
• Chelmsford County High School for Girls

FSCE 11+ Marking Process

The reality of 11+ tests, selective education and academic institutions such as Reading School is that only children with particularly high marks are admitted. Hence why it is important that children perform well in their 11+ papers.

Different schools (and different 11+ tests) have different marking processes. Some tests are marked in person, some remotely, while others utilise computer-based optical recognition technologies for quickly marking multiple-choice answer sheets.

Many 11+ tests are age-standardised to ensure younger children are not disadvantaged (i.e. their marks may be moderated depending on the month in which they were born). While creative writing papers can be used as tie-breakers, multiple-choice tests in Maths, Comprehension, Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning normally make up the bulk of a child's marks. The specific details and weightings can vary from year to year.

It's worth remembering that once children's 11+ tests are being marked, the admissions process is completely outside of the parents' control. Hence, parents should not worry themselves about whether their child has got a place!

FSCE 11+ Pass Mark

The pass mark for the FSCE 11+ changes every year and isn't generally made public knowledge. This is due to the academic strength of the children taking the test varying and how challenging the test ends up being (as well as plenty of other smaller variables).

Hence, as a vague rule-of-thumb, it's recommended that children aim for roughly 75-80% in their practice tests. Whilst this won't guarantee them a place at Reading School, it's a ballpark exam result figure for successful candidates.

Ofsted Information

Reading School was last inspected by Ofsted on 21/11/2023 and the inspection lasted 0 days. Ofsted published their report on 31/01/2024, declaring that the school was 'Outstanding'. This information is summarised in the table below along with a link to the full report.

Last Ofsted Report Data

Ofsted Report Summary

The inspection of Reading School on 21 November 2023 resulted in an Outstanding overall outcome. The school achieved the highest rating across all key areas assessed by Ofsted, demonstrating exceptional performance in providing quality education, fostering positive behaviour and attitudes, promoting personal development, and exhibiting strong leadership and management.

The Quality of education was deemed Outstanding, indicating that Reading School delivers a high-standard curriculum and teaching practices that enable students to excel academically. The Behaviour and attitudes of students were also rated as Outstanding, reflecting a positive and conducive learning environment within the school.

Furthermore, the school's Personal development provision was found to be Outstanding, showcasing its commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals. The Leadership and management of Reading School were also recognized as Outstanding, highlighting the effective governance and strategic direction of the institution. Lastly, the Sixth form provision was rated Outstanding, demonstrating the school's success in preparing students for higher education and future careers.

GCSE & A-Level Performance

Below are the individual GCSE and A-Level performance tables for Reading School per subject. Note that this may include children taking GCSEs early (e.g. taking a language GCSE in Year 10) or indeed a child in Year 12 retaking a GCSE.

GCSE Results Information (2022-23)

A-Level Results Information (2022-23)

Past 11+ Paper Downloads

Unfortunately, Reading School has not made any of their 11+ past papers publicly available. However, you can use our 11+ practice papers to help your child prepare.

None available.