Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School
Ofsted: School remains GoodVoluntary aided school · Secondary
Reading · RG30 3EP · Reading
Ages 11–18
- Att844.4
- P8-0.0
- EM5+43%
- Absence7.4%
0.2 miles away
OpenSecondaryOfsted: Expected standardURN 142121
The WREN School
Free schools · Reading · RG30 2BB
Ages 11–19 · 931 pupils · Reading
Ofsted
Expected standard
Attainment 8
43.0
Overall absence
9.2%
Admissions demand
0.81 · Often has places
Ofsted
Latest published inspection outcomes — not a ranking.
Headline
Expected standard
Inspection date
2026-04-14
- AchievementExpected standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- InclusionExpected standard
- Attendance and behaviourExpected standard
- Personal development and wellbeingExpected standard
- Leadership and governanceExpected standard
Safeguarding standards: Met
Performance
Official school-level results. Figures are not rankings — suppressed values are omitted.
Key stage 4 (2023/24)
Progress 8-0.13
−20+2
Attainment 843.0
English & maths grade 5+36%
English & maths grade 4+60%
EBacc entry23%
EBacc APS: 3.8
Absence
Academic year 2023/24. Persistent absence means 10%+ of sessions missed. Lower figures are better.
Overall absence9.2%
Persistent absence (10%+)29.5%
Unauthorised4.5%
- Authorised absence
- 4.7%
- Severe absence (50%+)
- 4.2%
- Enrolments in measure
- 895
Absence trend
2021/22
2022/23
2023/24
- Overall
- Persistent (10%+)
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
0.81 · Often has places
1st preferences
125
Places offered
164
1st-preference offers
113
- Total preferences (any rank)
- 522
- Preferred offers (top 3)
- 164
- Applications from outside LA
- 25
- Offers to outside-LA applicants
- 0
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 fill79%
931 pupils · 1,176 places
- Pupils on roll
- 931
- Boys / girls
- 502 / 429
- School capacity
- 1,176
- Capacity fill
- 931 / 1,176 (79%)
- Free school meals
- 31.8%
- FSM pupils
- 251
- Gender
- Mixed
- School type
- Free schools
Age range
Ages 11–19
05111619
Provision
Official GIAS characteristics
1 / 6
- Nursery
- Sixth formHas a sixth form
- Boarding
- Special school
- Independent
- Academy
School characteristics
- Governance
- Academy trust: EXCALIBUR ACADEMIES TRUST
- Academy trust
- EXCALIBUR ACADEMIES TRUST
- Sponsor
- Excalibur Academies Trust
- Headteacher
- Mr John Salberg
Location
- Address
- 61-63 Bath Road
- Postcode
- RG30 2BB
- 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
- Resourced provision
- SEN unit
- SEN unit places
- 12 on roll / 12 capacity
Local context
How this school sits among open establishments in its area, using official GIAS records. These are counts, not rankings.
Mixed free schools (secondary), Ages 11–19, in Reading, Reading, 931 pupils on roll. Notable characteristics: sixth form. Free school meals: 31.8%. SEN provision includes: ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
Nearby secondary schools
Open schools within about 3 miles, prioritising the same phase where possible. Distances are approximate from GIAS coordinates.
King's Academy Prospect
Ofsted: GoodAcademy converter · Secondary
Reading · RG30 4EX · Reading
Ages 11–18
- Att838.2
- P8-0.4
- EM5+28%
- Absence8.2%
0.8 miles away
Kendrick School
Ofsted: OutstandingAcademy converter · Secondary
Reading · RG1 5BN · Reading
Ages 11–18
- Att884.4
- P81.1
- EM5+100%
- Absence5.4%
1.6 miles away
Reading Girls' School
Ofsted: GoodAcademy sponsor led · Secondary
Reading · RG2 7PY · Reading
Ages 11–18
- Att847.8
- P80.1
- EM5+54%
- Absence8.3%
1.8 miles away
Reading School
Ofsted: OutstandingAcademy converter · Secondary
Reading · RG1 5LW · Reading
Ages 11–18
- Att881.1
- P80.9
- EM5+100%
- Absence5.7%
2.0 miles away
Hartland High School
Ofsted: InadequateAcademy sponsor led · Secondary
Reading · RG2 8AF · Reading
Ages 11–18
- FSM45.2%
2.2 miles away
Maiden Erlegh School in Reading
Ofsted: School remains GoodFree schools · Secondary
Reading · RG1 5SL · Reading
Ages 11–16
- Att847.7
- P80.1
- EM5+47%
- Absence9.3%
2.6 miles away
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Contact
- Headteacher
- Mr John Salberg
- Telephone
- 01182143888