OpenSecondaryOfsted: School remains GoodURN 136307
Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre
Academy converter · Reading · RG4 8LR
Ages 11–18 · 1,537 pupils · Reading
Ofsted
School remains Good
Attainment 8
53.5
Overall absence
8.3%
Ofsted
Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.
Headline
School remains Good
Inspection date
2024-05-14
Performance
Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.
Key stage 4 (2023/24)
Progress 8+0.25
−20+2
Attainment 853.5
English & maths grade 5+61%
English & maths grade 4+80%
EBacc entry39%
EBacc APS: 4.9
Absence
Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.
Overall absence8.3%
Persistent absence (10%+)21.2%
Unauthorised3.5%
- Authorised absence
- 4.8%
- Severe absence (50%+)
- 2.4%
- Enrolments in measure
- 1,309
Absence trend
2021/22
2022/23
2023/24
- Overall
- Persistent (10%+)
Size & intake
From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).
Capacity fill107%
1,537 pupils · 1,440 places
- Pupils on roll
- 1,537
- Boys / girls
- 840 / 697
- School capacity
- 1,440
- Capacity fill
- 1,537 / 1,440 (107%)
- Free school meals
- 10.5%
- FSM pupils
- 129
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Gender
- Mixed
- School type
- Academy converter
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
- Special classes
- No Special Classes
- Governance
- Academy trust: GLF SCHOOLS
- Academy trust
- GLF SCHOOLS
- Sponsor
- GLF Schools
- Headteacher
- Ms Laura Mathews
Location
- Address
- Surley Row, Emmer Green
- Postcode
- RG4 8LR
- 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
- VI - Visual Impairment
- Special classes
- No Special Classes
- Resourced provision
- Resourced provision
- Resourced places
- 8 on roll / 8 capacity
Local context
How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.
Mixed academy converter (secondary), Ages 11–18, in Reading, Reading, 1,537 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form, academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 10.5%. SEN provision includes: VI - Visual Impairment.
Nearby secondary schools
Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.
Kendrick School
Ofsted: OutstandingAcademy converter · Secondary
Reading · RG1 5BN · Reading
Ages 11–18
- Att884.4
- P81.1
- Absence5.4%
2.2 miles away
Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge
Ofsted: GoodAcademy sponsor led · Secondary
Reading · RG4 9LN · Oxfordshire
Ages 11–16
- Att837.6
- P8-0.4
- Absence10.9%
2.3 miles away
Reading School
Ofsted: OutstandingAcademy converter · Secondary
Reading · RG1 5LW · Reading
Ages 11–18
- Att881.1
- P80.9
- Absence5.7%
2.5 miles away
The WREN School
Ofsted: Expected standardFree schools · Secondary
Reading · RG30 2BB · Reading
Ages 11–19
- Att843.0
- P8-0.1
- Absence9.2%
2.6 miles away
Maiden Erlegh School in Reading
Ofsted: School remains GoodFree schools · Secondary
Reading · RG1 5SL · Reading
Ages 11–16
- Att847.7
- P80.1
- Absence9.3%
2.8 miles away
UTC Reading
Ofsted: Not judgedUniversity technical college · Secondary
Reading · RG1 5RQ · Reading
Ages 14–19
- Att840.7
- P8-0.8
- Absence12.9%
2.8 miles away
Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School
Ofsted: School remains GoodVoluntary aided school · Secondary
Reading · RG30 3EP · Reading
Ages 11–18
- Att844.4
- P8-0.0
- Absence7.4%
2.8 miles away
Contact
- Headteacher
- Ms Laura Mathews
- Telephone
- 01189015800