Reading Bluecoat School Selection

[SuW01]

Hi, Wondering if anyone has any insight into how selective Reading Bluecoat School actually is? Their website states that for the upcoming intake there were 270 applicants for 96 places but presumably a number of those applicants must have taken up places at Reading Boys/other grammars and other independent schools? Any advice gratefully received as seems hard to get more information from the school ? Thanks SuW01

[KittyMcKitty]

Blue Coats is local to us - we’re Marlow. 99% of boys I know who attend we’re not successful in the Bucks 11+. I know boys who were unsuccessful at Blue Coats but gained places at Shiplake. All I hear about the school is positive.

[KittyMcKitty]

Sorry meant to say for many it is very much tge back up school for the Bucks 11+.

[SuW01]

Thanks KittyMcKitty that is really helpful, I presume there are also quite a few who also don't pass the 11+ for Reading Boys, I just wonder how many don't get offered a place at all. So hard to know as there are a number of other independents in the area and boys must apply to multiple schools to keep there options open. I also wonder how Bluecoat entrance exam compares to 11+ in terms of difficulty?

We are nearer Newbury so Shiplake was not on our list as a bit far for us unfortunately.

[KittyMcKitty]

I know nothing about Reading Boys or tge Slough Grammars so cant comment on them.

I can think of 3 boys I know at Blue Coats who passed Bucks - don’t know any who passed Bucks but didn’t get into Blue Coats. I know a few who were unsuccessful at Bucks and Blue Coats but got into Shiplake.

In order of perceived difficulty I would say Bucks, Blue Coats, Shiplake. The other local schools to us where those unsuccessful in Bucks go are Claire’s Court and Abingdon. From you there’s also Teddies in Oxford but I think they’re only 13+ but you could consider Moulsford or another prep.

[SuW01]

Thanks, we are at state primary at the moment so preference is to do one move at Year 7 to a senior school I think. Have twins so need 2 places at a school which works for both which makes it even trickier. Were impressed when we went to Reading Bluecoat and boys liked it but probably need back up options too as sounds like many will come from preps so will be more prepped for entrance!!

[KittyMcKitty]

I wouldn’t worry too much about preps - all tge boys I know at Blue Coats came from state.

[SuW01]

Thanks KittyMcKitty my boys are just normal happy 10 year old boys at a normal state school so hope they will be fine

[Oratory1]

Entry into year 7 is generally from state primary with prep boys joining in year 9

[SuW01]

I think Blueocat entry is all in year 7 to be honest, last year 45 came from state, 55 from prep

[Oratory1]

I stand corrected