River Academy
- Type
- Free schools
- Phase
- Secondary
- Location
- Reading, RG1 8EQ
- Distance
- 2.1km away
Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre
Surley Row, Emmer Green, Reading, RG4 8LR
Local ranking3rd of 10 secondary schools in Reading
Ofsted: GoodUpdated— score data refreshed 15 October 2026
Secondary
Phase
1440
Capacity
11-18
Age range
Mixed
Gender
Latest data: 2026 GCSEs · 2025 A-levels · Ofsted inspection 27 March 2024. Figures last updated .
Year:
GCSE Results
2025-26- Average Attainment 8
- 54.9 nat46.2
- Grade 5+ Eng & Maths
- 64.4% nat46.3%
- Grade 4+ Eng & Maths
- 79.6% nat64.8%
- Cohort Size
- 250
Destinations
After GCSE 2024-25
- Sustained education/employment
- 96.0%
- Continued in education
- 93.0%
- Apprenticeships
- 2.0%
- Employment
- 2.0%
- Not sustained
- 2.0%
After A-Levels 2024-25
- Sustained education/employment
- 87.0%
- Higher education
- 45.0%
- Apprenticeships
- 3.0%
- Employment
- 35.0%
- Not sustained
- 9.0%
A-Level Results
2024-25*Data not available for 2025-26 — showing latest available results
C+
Avg A-Level Grade
34.4
Avg Points/Entry
nat 35.0
34.7
Best 3 A-Levels
nat 35.8
141
A-Level Students
- AAB+ with Facilitating
- 16.8% nat17.5%
- Applied General Avg Points
- 32.1
- 16-18 Cohort
- 327
Pupil Demographics
2024-25- Total Pupils
- 1545
- Boys
- 840 (55%)
- Girls
- 697 (45%)
- Capacity
- 1440 (107% full)
- SEND
- 13.3%
- FSM Eligible
- 11.1%
- EAL
- 16.1%
- SEN with EHC Plan
- 1.7%
- SEN Support
- 11.6%
- Pupil:Teacher Ratio
- 17.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 88.5
- Budget per Pupil
- £6,993/yr
*Financial data not available for 2025-26 — showing 2024-25
Attendance & Absence
2024-25*Data not available for 2025-26 — showing latest available results
- Overall Absence Rate
- 8.3% nat6.2%
- Persistent Absence
- 21.0% nat15.8%
Persistent absence: pupils missing 10%+ of sessions.
School Information
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- Nursery
- Not applicable
- Sixth Form
- Has a sixth form
- Boarders
- No boarders
- Admissions
- Non-selective
Pupil Ethnicity
Loading chart
- White British: 64.2%
- White Other: 8.1%
- Asian Indian: 4.0%
- Asian Chinese: 3.5%
- Asian Other: 3.5%
- Black African: 3.4%
- Mixed Other: 3.0%
- Mixed White & Black Caribbean: 2.5%
64.2%
White British
8.1%
White Other
4.0%
Asian Indian
Historical Trends
GCSE Performance
Pupil Demographics
Attendance & Absence
Contact & Location
Surley Row
Reading, South East
Administrative
- URN
- 136307
- UKPRN
- 10032203
- Establishment No.
- 4020
- Trust
- GLF SCHOOLS
Common questions about Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre
Explore schools in Reading
Often compared with
Parents weighing up Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre usually look at the nearest secondary schools too. Put them side by side on results, inspection and intake.
- River AcademyCompare side by side
Reading · 2.1km away
- A89Kendrick SchoolCompare side by side
Reading · 3.5km away
- D49Maiden Erlegh Chiltern EdgeCompare side by side
Reading · 3.7km away
Schools like this
The nearest secondary schools to Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre
Kendrick School
Ofsted: Outstanding
Score
A89
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- Location
- Reading, RG1 5BN
- Distance
- 3.5km away
Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge
Ofsted: Expected
Score
D49
- Type
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase
- Secondary
- Location
- Reading, RG4 9LN
- Distance
- 3.7km away
Reading School
Ofsted: Outstanding
Score
A88
- Type
- Academy converter
- Phase
- Secondary
- Location
- Reading, RG1 5LW
- Distance
- 4.0km away
The WREN School
Ofsted: Expected
Score
D52
- Type
- Free schools
- Phase
- Secondary
- Location
- Reading, RG30 2BB
- Distance
- 4.2km away
Maiden Erlegh School in Reading
Ofsted: Good
Score
C60
- Type
- Free schools
- Phase
- Secondary
- Location
- Reading, RG1 5SL
- Distance
- 4.5km away