Reading grammar school

I agree it is very important that the child drives any decision on boarding. Our daughter passed the 11plus for super selective, but we turned it down for an independent in the end. She started as a day girl, but decided quite quickly she wanted to board, and absolutely loves it. The grammar was comparable on results, but so dull and narrowly focused on academics, compared to the independent school. Very uninspiring extra curricular, limited sports and just a generally jaded feel all round. While at the independent school, she has had the opportunity to try the most amazing array of sports & extra-curricular. Her music has flourished and she has developed talents we would never have imagined. Yes she is very bright, and would probably do well anywhere...but would she have the breadth of experience? Absolutely not. No comparison for us on that score. Good luck with your choice.

It's just my personal preference. If your son would like to board, his opinion is the most important.

@teachcolate
My son also loves Reading boarding.
I don't really understand why it's too early. Early in terms of what to be exact? It's safe environment.
I think that the environment would optimise their time and potentials compared to being at home since parents often either don't have as much time or discipline.

@swangl

What is your son’s opinion?

I know some boys at Reading boys and all of them are v bright but personally I won’t send my 11 years old to a boarding. I also think it’s too early.

Help!
We are looking for advices on whether we should send our son to Reading School boarding.

From the recent visit to the school, I absolutely love every aspect of the school and the boarding life. I even like the way how some boarders talked and confidence. I do really want to send him to the boarding.
However, my wife doesn't want to send him away as she thinks that:
(1) it's too early for him
(2) There is a significant financial obligation.
(3) His 11+ mark allows him to go for other grammar schools in Gloucester whom we did choose to share his mark with. Therefore, there is no need of sending him away. In stead, we can move to Glocestershire/Cheltenham and he can go to Pate's which is of similar quality.
I can't really argue with hers, but my heart & intuitions go with Reading (to be fair we did not have a chance to visit Pate's)

any advice is greatly appreaciated!!!

Yes..and it can’t be a ‘temporary’ move while you wait for results of the tests to decide where to stay...

The Bucks CC Transfer Test registration closes at 3pm on June 25th, so really you are going to have to register your DS speculatively for both while you decide where you most fancy upping and moving to.

Reading School also has weekly boarding. For that option you don’t need to be in such a tight catchment.
Reading is an extremely academic school (I used to work there And loved it) but some of the other grammars will give the same opportunities. The Slough grammars May have a high Asian intake but that doesn’t stop them being diverse. And the grammars in Wycombe and Marlow would offer a different experience again.
Personally I would move into South Bucks and take both exams. That gives you options across the board. Go and visit the schools (online probably) to get a feel.

If your son is year 5 then this is going to be tricky. You have to register your son for the test by end of June. Your son’s school will have to validate the application. It will be clear that you don’t live in the area and you will have to supply your current address. To be considered in the designated area then you have to be resident by 31st August so you’ll have to supply proof of change of address to the school by then. This is going to almost certainly flag your application for further checks, so they will check that you have sold your property and the property you are in is your sole address. This is going to be difficult but probably not impossible.

I agree with postcodes above - I know parents very happy with Bohunt. You might want to consider the boarding places for Reading which you don’t need to be resident in the area for.

The closing date for registration for the entrance test is 30th June, according to the admissions policy.

I would suggest to move to Earley (RG6 but check postcode for catchment), where you are in catchment for Maiden Erleigh, or Woodley RG5 hich has Bulmershe & Waingels, both good schools - both these areas are bus routes away from Reading, or Twyford/Wargrave RG10 which has Piggott catchment, again another good school but you can go to Reading by train/bus. Or I'm hearing good things about Bohunt so Arborfield (RG2) has lots of new housing and is also in Reading catchment (bus ride away)

By the way, how old is your DS? Please be aware of the application deadline. It is usually May.

Well hopefully your vision involves reading the appropriate rules. Yes you are free to move into the area in the hope of your son one day securing a place. But it is not acceptable to rent a house in catchment, with a view to securing a more permanent property, IF your child passes the test.
It doesn't matter if applicants are immigrants or not??..the rules apply to everyone.

You said you don't consider private

‘I think you completely got me wrong with renting part..I meant to rent a property for a year and until we find results and wait to buy a suitable house later in the same area’

You are contradicting yourself...you say of course you’ll be moving permanently, but then attempt to clarify it with the above comment?

This is ‘cheating’... if you want to register your child for Reading grammar, you need to be settled in the area permanently..BEFORE the results, and not after.

Sorry, I understand the situation. I totally agree with @Ionacat . Reading is a lovely place but personally I will not move in the area just for Reading/Kendrick school. It is too risky. If I was in your position, I will research the area where good comp secondary is to secure his place and let him try Reading School. As I said, it is fiercely competitive and most of children are heavily tutored to prepare the exam for a couple of years.

I know many smart children who have been offered places at great private schools but only one from them has been offered a place in this year. I think the place will be even more competitive for upcoming years due to this economic crisis.

Sorry, but this is still not acceptable. You can’t apply to the school..and decide to stay permanently AFTER you get the results. People who play the system like this, will rightfully lose their place..and hopefully more.
Read the rules...it’s what every one else does. This is one of the reasons why we’ve turned down the grammar places our children rightfully earned. I can’t abide by this mentality.

Extract from Reading school website....in plain English

If the home address changes between registering for the entrance test and 31st August 2020, parents must provide proof of the new address which will be requested by Reading School.
Applicants may also need to produce evidence that the previous home is no longer used by the family – for example, proof that the property has been sold or that it is no longer available for you and your family to live in or that a rental agreement has ended. This is to show that the new address is not a temporary arrangement purely to secure a school place.
If the home address changes after 31st August 2020, the new address can only be taken into account after National Offer Day on 1st March 2021.
Reading School will also check the pupil’s home address once offers have been made and at the time of admission. If it is different from the application address then further checks will be carried out. This will include consideration as to whether or not the address used to make an application was temporary and purely to secure a school place. Reading School reserves the right to carry out random checks at any time and this may include a home visit.
If it is found that fraudulent or intentionally misleading information has been provided to the school either during the admissions process or after an offer has been made, the applicant may be withdrawn, even if they have started at the school. Short-term house moves purely to secure a school place may be considered fraudulent or intentionally misleading and in such circumstances the place may be withdrawn.
Where the home address changes after the application or during the pupil’s first term at school, consideration will be given as to the reason why. Where it is established that reason for the change of address constitutes the application being fraudulent or intentionally misleading, the place may be withdrawn

Sorry, that wasn’t clear from your post. You said about renting for 6 months to a year just for catchment hence we all assumed you’d move back.

Moving to Reading in the hope that your son gets into Reading is a big risk as it is so competitive. I like Reading but the school provision is patchy and there is quite a bit of pressure on school places. So you need do your research on back up options and make sure it is right for everyone. Otherwise it isn’t fair to put that amount of pressure on your son.

If you are set on Reading, I would make sure you move into the catchment of one of the really good comprehensives as a back up which might be further out that Reading itself. You might want to look at Maidenhead - but be careful of the postcode as the designated area cuts through it. Some there get into the Bucks grammars, and also gives you Reading and probably Slough as well.

Personally I’d look at the designated area, choose somewhere with a fantastic comprehensive school that you are almost guaranteed and then let your son have a shot at Reading knowing that he’ll have a good school no matter what. If you have a daughter as well then thinking into the future Kendrick is even tougher to get into than than Reading so it makes sense to find somewhere with a good state option if you can’t afford private long term. There are some fantastic schools in the area.