Choosing between Shiplake and Reading Blue coats - can I have your feedback please

@Roxy_Art which school did you end up picking in the end? We are considering shiplake and RBC

Any reason for not considering Reddam House Berkshire? Co-ed, great culture, no toxicity. Curious to know!

Yes not true about SWB - my son has been playing football there for years and I asked him about the coach - the current coach has been there for more than a year....but teachers move so I am not sure why that is OK.
SWBG is more about balance - they have a relatively new gym with associated facilities, they are building a new rowing building on the river, they use off site hockey facilities. Personally, I don't think you can compare a free government school to private schools usually. SWBG subscribes to a special programme for bright learning so do teach in a different way.

(my apologies if the above is not true about SWB - it is simply what I have heard from friends of friends as I look at options for my children)

It's interesting, as I would certainly both RBC and Shiplake are more sporty than SWB. Actually know of a fair amount of people looking to move from SWB due to facilities falling into disrepair (at least compared to the indies, anyway) but also because there isn't enough sport on offer: a football coach recently left for instance, they haven't been able to replace enough coaches and therefore there aren't many teams on offer.
Both Shiplake and RBC are less mixed in Sixth Form, for sure, but that's the (cuurrent, soon to be phased out) nature of boys schools which admit girls for Sixth Form. The girls will always be outnumbered.
As they're both moving to fully co-ed, it will be interesting to see how numbers adjust over time.
For sure, if you'r children are more academic, out of those three SWB and RBC are better. If they're sporty but not academic, Shiplake is the choice. If they're a mixture of academic and sporty, RBC makes sense.

Well yes if they pass the 11+ then William Borlese is fantastic and you need to be in the catchment…

Shiplake is very sporty..

Recommend sir william borlase grammar (coed) in Marlow.
A big difference between Reading Blue Coats and Shiplake is the start and end times for the day.
I took my girl/boy twins to both Reading Blue Coats and Shiplake - my daughter found Reading Blue Coats too masculine. My son found Shiplake not sporty enough. I think both have issues with boy/girl ratio in 6th form mostly Shiplake.

DD just started Y7 at Shiplake - having the best time. Jumps out of bed every morning and has thrown herself into all being offered - learning the violin (free music tuition for all Y7), started LAMDA lessons, drama club, art club, loads of sport including hockey fixtures, netball tour to Disneyland Paris at Easter, and other activities (archery and cooking in particular). Loads of girls (26 I think) and a good ratio of girls and boys. Has made lots of friends. Days are long so she can get tired but she's done homework by the time she gets home - bonus! No issues with the boys-only yrgroups above. Coed 6th form with Y13 buddy and the older girls have been great. Really friendly environment and real sense of community. Happy to answer any questions.

The girl going to Harvard was also a UK Rower I think, she went on a rowing scholarship.

Agreed - as long as single sex girls school exist, which will be for some time yet, then the chances of 50:50 in any coed school is unlikely. Realistically, most schools end up 60:40 at best - which is not at all noticeable.

I'm not sure 50:50 is likely in 2024 - at the open day last week the head teacher seemed to indicate that would take a couple of years yet. I was hoping 60:40 would be good! On the other hand by 2024 Years 7,8,12 and 13 will all be co-ed which should help the overall feel and new girls joining feeling less like an experiment!

I have a son at RBCS and so far we are very happy. Hot on discipline, strong academic focus, great sports and agree with the previous poster about a more inclusive culture. It's our preferred option for our daughter, yr 7 entry in 2024, as long as there's a large enough cohort of girls to create a true co-ed environment.

RBC also passed inspections with flying colours now - their problematic inspection was a while ago and, frankly, all of this says a lot about the inadequacy of inspections. As said we left Shiplake due to a very obvious issue with toxic masculinity, laddish culture, homophobia etc, and moved to RBC which we have found to be much more tolerant and inclusive. And the academic divide between RBC and all other boys/coed Indy schools around Reading now that we are back to ‘normal’ results is stark.

If you want a day school Crosfields now goes to Y11. They have a new HT. I hear locally she's great. We are going to an open morning in a couple of weeks time. Will be interesting to compare with others you have mentioned.
RBCS too boyish not many girls in Y7
Shiplake oversubscribed for girls not sure about the HT a lad's lad! So not surprised someone has noted the culture although recent inspection was excellent unlike RBCS
Oratory too catholic
Leighton Park too quirky
Luckley too small
Marist -also going to see this school. Friends' girls love it. Recently gone co-ed
All these schools also have their good points. I'm trying to get the one that fits best with my dd (Y5) and her interests.

Funny thing is our experiences tell us very differently from some others here - we have left Shiplake to go to Blue Coat.
Shiplake rugby lad toxic masculinity was appalling - especially the widely noticed homophobic chanting at opposition teams. They do nothing about it.
Blue Coat meanwhile now have a far better culture - it is very welcoming with groups openly celebrating all areas of society & the academics are also taken seriously, hence their much better academic results than other schools in the area.
Our children are very happy there and so glad to leave Shiplake behind. I’m sad to write that, as I thought it would be better but it’s the truth. They have a lot of work to do.
Blue Coat is bigger than others in the area (your preference in that sense, bigger might not be better), has a rapidly changing and much better culture, and is by far the better for academics compared to the rest around the place.

*discipline

My son goes to Blue Coat and several families in my friends circle have daughters who go to Blue Coat as well. The school is strong in disciple, academics and sports. My son is thriving and we are quite happy with the school. My friend's daughter just passed her A levels and now her younger one is starting as well from tomorrow.

I’m not sure I’d consider for a boy either given the behaviour seen at matches and referenced above towards girls. Why would you want your son in that sort of environment/culture… results aside?

Also considering Blue Coats for next year entry, however not sure I would if I had a daughter, not long enough established as co-ed in my opinion..

I guess you can get good results and have a bad culture there. They are selective so of course they will get good results.

Usually get a feel for school culture observing behaviours at fixtures. Many oppo schools are a delight to visit and host, some old money ones are genuinely funny and comfortable.

Blue Coat on the other hand were yobs. Awful.

Your mileage may vary!

Hi Anonymous1234567880, can you elaborate at all on Blue Coats? We're interested in the school but are right on the edge of their catchment so don't know a lot about the school and don't really know anyone else who does either. Would be very grateful for info.