Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre
Ofsted: School remains GoodAcademy converter · Secondary
Reading · RG4 8LR · Reading
Ages 11–18
- Att853.5
- P80.3
- EM5+61%
- Absence8.3%
2.3 miles away
OpenSecondaryOfsted: GoodURN 146103
Maiden Erlegh Chiltern Edge
Academy sponsor led · Reading · RG4 9LN
Ages 11–16 · 374 pupils · Oxfordshire
Ofsted
Good
Attainment 8
37.6
Overall absence
10.9%
Ofsted
Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.
Headline
Good
Inspection date
2022-05-10
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding effective
- Yes
Performance
Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.
Key stage 4 (2023/24)
Progress 8-0.40
−20+2
Attainment 837.6
English & maths grade 5+31%
English & maths grade 4+45%
EBacc entry39%
EBacc APS: 3.4
Absence
Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.
Overall absence10.9%
Persistent absence (10%+)29.3%
Unauthorised4.5%
- Authorised absence
- 6.4%
- Severe absence (50%+)
- 6.8%
- Enrolments in measure
- 471
Absence trend
2021/22
2022/23
2023/24
- Overall
- Persistent (10%+)
Size & intake
From the GIAS school census (15 Jan 2026).
Capacity fill40%
374 pupils · 934 places
- Pupils on roll
- 374
- Boys / girls
- 197 / 177
- School capacity
- 934
- Capacity fill
- 374 / 934 (40%)
- Free school meals
- 23.5%
- FSM pupils
- 87
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Gender
- Mixed
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
Age range
Ages 11–16
05111619
Provision
Official GIAS characteristics
1 / 6
- Nursery
- Sixth form
- Boarding
- Special school
- Independent
- Academy
School characteristics
- Special classes
- No Special Classes
- Governance
- Academy trust: MAIDEN ERLEGH TRUST
- Academy trust
- MAIDEN ERLEGH TRUST
- Sponsor
- Maiden Erlegh Trust
- Headteacher
- Miss Emma Bliss
Location
- Address
- Reades Lane, Sonning Common
- Postcode
- RG4 9LN
- Town
- Reading
- County
- Berkshire
- Local authority
- Oxfordshire
- District
- South Oxfordshire
- Constituency
- Henley and Thame
- Urban/rural
- Smaller rural: Nearer to a major town or city
Local context
How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.
Mixed academy sponsor led (secondary), Ages 11–16, in Reading, Oxfordshire, 374 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: academy, non-selective admissions. Free school meals: 23.5%.
Nearby secondary schools
Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.
Kidmore End Church of England Primary School
Ofsted: GoodAcademy converter · Primary
Reading · RG4 9AU · Oxfordshire
Ages 4–11
- KS257%
- Absence5.0%
- FSM6.6%
0.4 miles away
Sonning Common Primary School
Ofsted: School remains GoodCommunity school · Primary
Reading · RG4 9RJ · Oxfordshire
Ages 4–11
- KS259%
- Absence5.2%
- FSM19.5%
0.5 miles away
Bishopswood School
Ofsted: Expected standardAcademy special sponsor led
Reading · RG4 9RH · Oxfordshire
Ages 2–16
- Absence12.4%
- FSM52.1%
0.5 miles away
Other independent special school
Reading · RG4 9EY · Oxfordshire
Ages 5–19
1.3 miles away
Peppard Church of England Primary School
Ofsted: Expected standardVoluntary controlled school · Primary
Henley-on-Thames · RG9 5JU · Oxfordshire
Ages 4–11
- KS258%
- Absence5.9%
- FSM8.2%
1.3 miles away
Emmer Green Primary School
Ofsted: Not judgedCommunity school · Primary
Reading · RG4 8LN · Reading
Ages 4–11
- KS275%
- Absence4.1%
- FSM3.6%
2.3 miles away
The Heights Primary School
Ofsted: Standards maintainedFree schools · Primary
Reading · RG4 7LB · Reading
Ages 4–11
- KS282%
- Absence3.8%
- FSM2.0%
2.5 miles away
Contact
- Headteacher
- Miss Emma Bliss
- Telephone
- 01189721500