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OpenSecondaryOfsted: School remains GoodURN 110107

Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School

Voluntary aided school · Reading · RG30 3EP

Ages 11–18 · 1,082 pupils · Reading

School website

Ofsted

School remains Good

Attainment 8

44.4

Overall absence

7.4%

Admissions demand

1.05 · Balanced demand

Ofsted

Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.

Read full report

Headline

School remains Good

Inspection date

2023-11-08

Source: Ofsted monthly management information

Performance

Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.

Key stage 4 (2023/24)

Progress 8-0.02
−20+2
Attainment 844.4
English & maths grade 5+43%
English & maths grade 4+62%
EBacc entry40%

EBacc APS: 4.0

Source: DfE school and college performance tables

Absence

Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.

Overall absence7.4%
Persistent absence (10%+)19.7%
Unauthorised2.4%
Authorised absence
5.0%
Severe absence (50%+)
3.1%
Enrolments in measure
947

Absence trend

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

  • Overall
  • Persistent (10%+)

Source: DfE pupil absence in schools in England

Admissions demand

Coordinated admissions for secondary entry (2024/25 cycle, national offer day). Demand ratio compares families who listed this school 1st with total offers made — not a catchment or distance guarantee.

Demand ratio

1.05 · Balanced demand

1st preferences

185

Places offered

177

1st-preference offers

154

Total preferences (any rank)
462
Preferred offers (top 3)
177
Applications from outside LA
20
Offers to outside-LA applicants
4
Admissions policy (GIAS)
Non-selective

Source: DfE primary and secondary school applications and offers. Figures reflect offers on national offer day; late applications, appeals and waiting lists are not included.

Size & intake

From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).

Capacity fill117%

1,082 pupils · 922 places

Pupils on roll
1,082
Boys / girls
546 / 536
School capacity
922
Capacity fill
1,082 / 922 (117%)
Free school meals
21.7%
FSM pupils
200
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Gender
Mixed
School type
Voluntary aided school

Age range

Ages 11–18

05111619

Provision

Official GIAS characteristics

2 / 6

  • Nursery
  • Sixth formHas a sixth form
  • Boarding
  • Special school
  • Independent
  • Academy

School characteristics

Religious character
Roman Catholic
Diocese
Diocese of Portsmouth (rc)
Special classes
Has Special Classes
Governance
Voluntary aided school
Headteacher
Dr Simon Uttley

Location

Address
Fawley Road, Southcote
Postcode
RG30 3EP
Town
Reading
County
Berkshire
Local authority
Reading
District
Reading
Constituency
Reading Central
Urban/rural
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

SEN & specialist provision

As recorded in GIAS — provision detail, not an Ofsted judgement.

SEN types
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Special classes
Has Special Classes
Resourced provision
Resourced provision
Resourced places
20 on roll / 25 capacity

Local context

How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.

Mixed voluntary aided school (secondary), Ages 11–18, in Reading, Reading, 1,082 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, special school, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 21.7%. SEN provision includes: ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder. Religious character: Roman Catholic. Diocese: Diocese of Portsmouth (rc).

Open schools in Reading
156
Secondary schools in Reading
21
Academies among open schools in Reading
36% (56)
Open schools in RG30
21
Secondary in RG30
3
Open schools in Reading LA
71
Secondary in Reading LA
11

Nearby secondary schools

Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.

Compare with theseAll in ReadingNear RG30

  • The WREN School

    Ofsted: Expected standard

    Free schools · Secondary

    Reading · RG30 2BB · Reading

    Ages 11–19

    • Att843.0
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+36%
    • Absence9.2%

    0.2 miles away

  • King's Academy Prospect

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Reading · RG30 4EX · Reading

    Ages 11–18

    • Att838.2
    • P8-0.4
    • EM5+28%
    • Absence8.2%

    0.6 miles away

  • River Academy

    Free schools · Secondary

    Reading · RG1 8EQ · Reading

    Ages 11–18

    • FSM33.2%

    1.5 miles away

  • Kendrick School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Reading · RG1 5BN · Reading

    Ages 11–18

    • Att884.4
    • P81.1
    • EM5+100%
    • Absence5.4%

    1.8 miles away

  • Reading Girls' School

    Ofsted: Good

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Reading · RG2 7PY · Reading

    Ages 11–18

    • Att847.8
    • P80.1
    • EM5+54%
    • Absence8.3%

    1.9 miles away

  • Reading School

    Ofsted: Outstanding

    Academy converter · Secondary

    Reading · RG1 5LW · Reading

    Ages 11–18

    • Att881.1
    • P80.9
    • EM5+100%
    • Absence5.7%

    2.1 miles away

  • Hartland High School

    Ofsted: Inadequate

    Academy sponsor led · Secondary

    Reading · RG2 8AF · Reading

    Ages 11–18

    • FSM45.2%

    2.3 miles away

  • Little Heath School

    Ofsted: School remains Good

    Voluntary aided school · Secondary

    Reading · RG31 5TY · West Berkshire

    Ages 11–18

    • Att846.6
    • P8-0.1
    • EM5+42%
    • Absence7.0%

    2.4 miles away

New to reading school data? See Ofsted ratings explained and how to compare schools.

Contact

Headteacher
Dr Simon Uttley
Telephone
01189574730
Website
http://www.hughfaringdon.org/

Official links