Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Reading Girls School

29 replies

TungTungMum · 23/05/2021 02:14

Family from HK. We will move to UK this summer. My DD will admit to yr 10. But we have no idea about the secondary schools in Reading. Would like to seek for your valuable advice.

Is Reading Girls School a good school? No ofsted report? No sixth form?
How would you comment?

The Wren- limited
Prospect school
Reading Girls
John Madejski Academy

Which one is better?

OP posts:
DPotter · 23/05/2021 02:31

Best state girls school in Reading is Kendrick - excellent academic school.

JMA - is good for sports and has sixth form

I don't have any concrete information on the other 3, although reputation of Prospect school isn't brilliant. An additional school to think about is Highdown, which is in northern part of Reading called Emmer Green - very good reputation.

The one thing I do know is that secondary school places in Reading are frequently over-subscribed with young people regularly being offered places in Wokingham schools - which are general good schools just a bit of a journey away. So I would make contact with all the schools to find out what the numbers are like for Year 10. Depending on the school, some may have also have started GCSE syllabus, so your DD may have some catching up to do

Be warned Reading has a major traffic problem - no one gets anywhere fast in Reading! So if you can avoid living on one side of Reading with schools and work on the other, you'll be saving yourselves a lot of hassle and time

Original poster
TungTungMum · 23/05/2021 03:17

I know Kendrick is excellent. But it is oversubscribed and almost impossible to get a place by overseas student. Am I correct?

OP posts:
Missmollypolly · 23/05/2021 05:59

Kendrick is entrance by exam and is extremely competitive so if it’s for this coming September you’ve probably missed it.

I’d say of those Prospect or Wren.

Zodlebud · 23/05/2021 08:39

I think the key issue is which schools have places. As a previous poster notes, the most highly thought of schools are highly oversubscribed. The element of choice might not be available as a result.

Ionacat · 23/05/2021 09:06

Reading Girls is on the up I believe after a rocky few years. The Wren is okay, I would avoid John Madeski Academy. Prospect is large and it’s reputation isn’t great.
Others to consider if they have spaces at Maiden Erlegh in Reading (or their Silverdale one which is Wokingham but in Earley.) Little Heath and Denefield who are Tilehurst which is West Reading but the schools technically come under West Berkshire.
However Reading traffic is awful and make sure you are close to the school. If you’re not tied to Reading - Newbury/Thatcham would be better as the schools are much better.

SignOnTheWindow · 23/05/2021 09:46

My kid is starting yr7 at Reading Girls School in Sept. Highdown is our local school but she didn't get in on the first round of applications.
We were initially a bit sceptical about RGS because it used to be a failing school and is 5 miles away from us. However, it seems that the school has made massive strides in the past 4/5 years and is now second only to Reading Boys (a grammar) in overall performance (according to Guardian Schools Guide). They also have school bus routes.
We were later offered a place at Highdown and turned it down because we were so impressed by RGS.
Kendrick is the local girls' grammar. Very high performing, but this is mostly down to the intake rather than the teaching, which can be rather pedestrian, or so I've heard on the teaching grapevine.
If your DD is going into yr 10, though, it is worth considering that RGS doesn't currently have a sixth form. It might be preferable to pick a school where she can settle for the next 4 years rather than having to move again after her GCSEs.

Original poster
TungTungMum · 23/05/2021 17:07

What are the problems with Reading traffic? I've checked the Reading Buses App. There are many routes which go through schools. It seems places are accessible. Do you mean the traffic congestion?

OP posts:
DPotter · 23/05/2021 18:01

Traffic wise - too many vehicles so congestion, can take me 40 mins to get from just north of the river to the M4 in the east of the town.

Bus service OK for central Reading but not good for the periphery.

Yes there are school bus routes but if your child wants to do an after school activity, it can take 2-3 buses to do same route as the school bus, and there has been a lot of service reduction in the last 2 yrs or so.

I'm sorry I have no idea about places for overseas students at Kendrick - it's a numbers game for many schools in Reading as more kids than school places.

Original poster
TungTungMum · 23/05/2021 18:28

@DPotter

Traffic wise - too many vehicles so congestion, can take me 40 mins to get from just north of the river to the M4 in the east of the town.

Bus service OK for central Reading but not good for the periphery.

Yes there are school bus routes but if your child wants to do an after school activity, it can take 2-3 buses to do same route as the school bus, and there has been a lot of service reduction in the last 2 yrs or so.

I'm sorry I have no idea about places for overseas students at Kendrick - it's a numbers game for many schools in Reading as more kids than school places.

If the school is within 1 mile distance from my home, is it possible to go to school and return by bike regarding safety and weather for a girl aged 14?
OP posts:
Ionacat · 23/05/2021 19:28

Within a mile most of them will walk. I see plenty walking if I have to drive through Reading at morning drop off time.

DPotter · 23/05/2021 21:49

If the school is within 1 mile distance from my home, is it possible to go to school and return by bike regarding safety and weather for a girl aged 14?

should be fine - Reading has cycle lanes on a lot of roads, but as Ionacat says - most kids will walk - to be with friends

Original poster
TungTungMum · 24/05/2021 08:24

Per school website, 1x girls from selective stream at RGS are accepted to Kendrick for sixth form. It seems an alternative way for entry Kendrick.

OP posts:
Ionacat · 24/05/2021 09:04

Kendrick has its own admissions policy for year 12. They take extra girls, there’s no guaranteed entry from Reading Girls selective stream according to their policy. However it sounds like they’ve had girls successful in applying for sixth form places there.

If you are looking for somewhere with a sixth form, I would look at Wokingham admissions as well and consider Maiden Erelgh Silverdale as that is the same side of Reading as Whitley, it is well thought of and has a sixth form.

Original poster
TungTungMum · 24/05/2021 14:20

I was told that the following schools may have places.

The Wren- limited
Prospect school
Reading Girls
John Madejski Academy

If I do not accept the offer from the council, what will be the result in the worst case?

.

OP posts:
User27aw · 24/05/2021 14:41

Have you applied to Little Heath and Denefield? They are under West Berkshire Council but the are on the edge of Reading. Also Maiden Erleigh Silverdale is very good

User27aw · 24/05/2021 14:42

You can live in one council area and apply to schools in a neighbouring council.

ImNotWhoYouThinkIam · 24/05/2021 14:49

I have DC at both The Wren and Maiden Erlegh Reading.
I can't recommend The Wren enough. It's fantastic.
I wouldn't recommend MER at all.

Others from your list -
Prospect has a bad rep and pretty much always has.
Reading Girls - also has a bad rep but is apparently on the up.
JMA - wouldn't touch it with a 10ft barge pole.

Original poster
TungTungMum · 26/05/2021 14:21

You can live in one council area and apply to schools in a neighbouring council.

Confirmed there are places at:
John O’Gaunt
Kennet
Park House
Trinity

Dear mums, Is it difficult to travel from RG1 to the schools above if I prefer to live near the reading station?

OP posts:
DPotter · 26/05/2021 18:11

None of these schools are in Reading - Hungerford must be nearly 30 miles away - way to far. Newbury is 20 odd miles. There are trains but the cost will be expensive. There must be nearer schools with places nearer. Very few children would be travelling Reading to Hungerford or Newbury, or even Thatcham so would be difficult friendship-wise. Have you enquired about Wokingham schools ? These are more usual school places for Reading overspill.

Not sure what you mean by 'near' Reading Station - the station is pretty must slap-bang in the middle of town. Yes there are flats but really there are better parts of Reading to live with a family, than near the station. To give you a rough idea, from the Reading central station to Cemetery Junction which is as far east of RG1, about a miles can take 20-25 mins at rush hour.

A couple of questions for you -
have you been to Reading ? Doesn't sound like you have so appreciate it's difficult to get bearings

where will you be working? guessing from your comment about living near the station, that you might be working in London? In which case you really don't want the children going to school in Hungerford or Newbury - totally the opposite direction from London. Reading is about half way between London Paddington station and Hungerford.

There are companies that help families relocate between countries - might be worth engaging one of these to help you.

Sorry if I've waffled on a lot

Queenoftheashes · 26/05/2021 18:18

I loved reading girls personally. But as I was there in the 90s it has prob changed a lot. There was a sixth form when I was there. Do they still study Latin? That was a bit selling point for me.

Original poster
TungTungMum · 27/05/2021 00:55

Thank you mums. You are all nice and helpful.

The list is fm West Berkshire Council. My mistake. I think it's near to Reading.

As suggested by previous poster, live in a council area can apply to the neighbouring councils. So i check with the West Berkshire Council.

I have never been Reading and am seeking a job in London. I would like to live in RG1 area. It's close to central Reading and the Reading station. Even we don't drive, we can walk to train station, school, supermarkets, shops....etc

However, the schools in Reading are full. Limited choices are available for yr10 student in-year application.

The Wren- limited
Prospect school
Reading Girls
John Madejski Academy

Thats why i am worried. ☹️

OP posts:
DPotter · 27/05/2021 03:03

It must be very difficult trying to arrange some many things, from so far away.

I'd be tempted to take the place at Reading Girls and worry about sixth form once your here and have had a bit of time to familiarize yourself with the area

Reading is in Berkshire, but a separate local authority to West Berks. Contact Wokingham for their school places too.

Original poster
TungTungMum · 27/05/2021 03:35

I've checked the school places in Wokingham. Schools with potential availability will be Emmbrook, Bulmershe or Waingels. The journey to schools takes less than 1 hr.

OP posts:
PreparationPreparationPrep · 27/05/2021 06:35

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

DPotter · 27/05/2021 10:03

Waingels & Bulmershe are barely over the border into Wokingham, so if you're living in RG1 not a problem distance at all. Both schools must have a fair proportion of Reading students.

Are you 100% about living in Reading? If school places are in Wokingham, why not live there. Has a reasonable train service into London - not as good as Reading admittedly, but there again, virtually nowhere has as good a service as Reading.

Swipe left for the next trending thread