Reading School is a selective grammar school providing free tuition for boys within the state-maintained sector and is suitable for day boys within the Reading area and for weekly boarders.

The school has been placed consistently in the top 25 state schools in the tables of results for both A-Level and GCSE, and also achieves very high positions in value added tables at different levels. Nineteen boys were awarded an Oxbridge place for entry in October 2010.

At A-Level, boys at Reading School achieved 94.5 per cent A*-B grades and 100 per cent gained three or more passes. At GCSE 84.1 per cent of passes were at grade A*/A and 99.2 per cent of grades were A* to C.

In addition to high academic standards, the extra-curricular life of the school is vibrant.

Both music and drama flourish. There are house competitions in a wide variety of activities, both sporting and non-sporting.

Wide-ranging opportunities in sport include football, rugby, cricket, basketball, badminton, rowing, swimming and athletics. There are extensive fixture lists in most sports.

Many school trips are undertaken. Recent destinations have included China, Iceland and Italy, and there have been expeditions for boys to Morocco and Tanzania.

Senior boys enjoyed a football tour to South Africa in August 2007 and a basketball and cricket tour to Grenada in August 2008. The rugby team toured New Zealand in the summer of 2009.

Boarders, like day boys, receive their tuition free. Boarding fees are from £8,940 per year.

Each year there is a maximum of 12 boarding places available at 11-plus, with additional places available at 13-plus and 16-plus.

There are 70 boarders accommodated within two separate boarding houses, each house having its own resident house master and assistant house master. Single rooms are normally available to Year 9 boys and above.

Boarders participate fully in school life and have extra opportunities for using facilities in the evenings.

The primary concern of the boarding staff is the pastoral welfare of the students.

A recent good state school guide described Reading School as a thriving and purposeful community, retaining its traditions and academic distinction in times of change.

A quote from the Ofsted report of May 2010 states: “Reading School has a real sense of community and helps students to reach the highest of academic standards as well as developing a keen sense of purpose and responsibility.”