Year 7 Entry
Introduction for Entry in 2025
Reading School is a selective boys' grammar school with Academy status. The school caters for day boys and weekly boarders alike and being within the state-maintained sector, all the education provided is free.
All students must be entitled to hold a full British passport or to have the right of residence in the United Kingdom. Boarders pay only for their board and lodging.
Reading School has high academic standards, performing consistently well at all levels. In addition, music, sport and drama flourish. Rugby and cricket have strong fixture lists and most of the other sports are played to a high standard.
Admissions Policy and Guidelines for Entry in 2025 for Year 7
The Governing Body has agreed its policies for 2025 entry. The policies are published below:
- Year 7 Admissions Policy for 2025 Entry for Day Applicants
- Year 7 Admissions Policy for 2025 Entry for Boarding Applicants
- Reasonable Adjustments Policy
- Suitability for Boarding Form (to be completed and sent with the relevant application form if you are applying for a boarding place only)
Admissions Policy and Guidelines for Entry in 2024 for Year 7
The Governing Body has agreed its policies for 2024 entry. The policies are published below:
- Year 7 Admissions Policy for 2024 Entry for Day Applicants
- Year 7 Admissions Policy for 2024 Entry for Boarding Applicants
- Reasonable Adjustments Policy
- Suitability for Boarding Form (to be completed and sent with the relevant application form if you are applying for a boarding place only)
Frequently Asked Questions in response to the consultation can be found at the link below:
Consultation 2024 - Frequently Asked Questions
On-line Registration Form for Entry in 2025 for Year 7
The on-line registration form will be available on the school website from 1st April until midday on Friday 14th June 2024. Please use the following link to access the registration form: Year 7 2025 Entry Registration Form.
We are aware that some parents have been re-directed to our non-routine application form. If this happens, please clear your browsing data including cookies and Cached images and files and select 'All Time' within time range.
Year 7 Entry for Prospective Students
Number of Places Available
For 2025 entry, there will be 150 places in total comprising of 12 boarders (maximum) and 138 day-boys (minimum). Parents should appreciate that not all boys who are deemed suitable for a place at Reading School can be accommodated, as there are many more applications than places available.
For boarding fees 2023-2024, please click here.
Key Dates for Entry to Year 7 2025
- Online registration forms available on school website - 1st April 2024
- Open Day - 25th and 26th March 2024 - Booking required and will be available in the open day section from 1st March 2024
- Closing date for receipt of applications at Reading School - Midday on Friday 14th June 2024
- Sporting Aptitude Assessment - Saturday 31st August 2024
- Testing Date Day and Boarding Applicants - Wednesday 4th September 2024 (tests are taken at Reading School and The Great Hall, Reading University)
- Results will be available online mid October 2024
- Deadline for submitting application form (CAF) to home LA - 31st October 2024
- Offer Date from your Local Authority - 1st March 2025
Nature of Tests
A child may only take the test once. The Entrance Test consists of 3 elements: English, Maths and Creative Writing. Children are expected to show ability appropriate to the Key Stage 2 curriculum. No additional preparation is necessary. All 3 elements will be tested on Wednesday 4th September 2024. All tests will take place at Reading School. There are no ‘practice papers’, but a familiarisation paper is available on the website.
The English and Maths elements are marked by computer and age-standardised. All students with an eligible score from those two elements will have their creative writing element assessed and candidates will be ranked accordingly.
Familiarisation Booklet for Entry into Year 7
The familiarisation booklet can be found at the following link:
Familiarisation Booklet for entry into Year 7
This familiarisation sheets are designed to inform parents and candidates about the Entrance Test in order to:
- Give a feel for the appearance of the actual assessment.
- Introduce some of the symbols and phrases used in the assessment.
- Inform parents and candidates of the invigilation procedure.
- Indicate the range of disciplines that will be tested.
- Highlight the range of answer formats used in the test.
This booklet also includes examples to indicate the range of skills required to complete the assessment and the manner in which questions are answered. This familiarisation booklet is NOT definitive and the inclusion of any question types does not guarantee that they will be found in the final assessment. Please note: there are no commercially available practice test papers for these assessments.
Results
Results will be available online by mid-October 2024. Please note that when results are issued, being assessed as suitable for Reading School will not guarantee that your son will be offered a place as it is extremely likely that more boys will qualify for places than the School can accommodate. In this case we will apply our oversubscription criteria as listed in our Admissions Policy.
Year 7 Open Days 2024
Our Open Days for Year 7 2025 entry were held on 25th and 26th March 2024.
Please view the link below to see the Admissions Open Day Presentation:
Open Day Presentation for 2025 Entry
For more information about the Year 7 admissions process, please read through our admissions pages and admissions policies.
Please note that we do not have the resources to be able to offer bespoke tours of the school.
Discover Your Future Story
Discover your ‘Future Story’ at a school for every high attaining student!
Reading School is a state school that provides an exceptional and free education to high attaining students from all backgrounds. Our purpose is to enable all of our students, regardless of background, to thrive on highly selective courses at elite universities and to be happy and successful in their future careers. We help to improve opportunities and life-chances for individuals and communities. As a result, we aim for our admissions process to be as open and accessible as possible.
Future Stories Programme
We are committed to supporting students who meet the eligibility in Categories 1 and 2 of our admissions policy, to be happy and confident when taking the 11+ test. Those who meet the criteria can expect the following from us:
Online Familiarisation Materials: We provide at least 10 hours of familiarisation materials via our online platform. We are able to review children’s progress and provide feedback to aid confidence in taking the actual test.
Familiarisation sessions at Reading School: Our Year 12 students run sessions in Mathematics and English for primary school aged children. We believe that children will be inspired by the intellectual challenge and exciting atmosphere of these sessions. They will be fun and a great learning experience for children regardless of whether they have considered Reading School as a future secondary school. They will have access to resources that we feel will support your child. Parents/Guardians are most welcome to join us at the final session and we will provide a tour and answer any questions you may have about the school and the admissions process.
Year 7 Admissions
Admission to Reading School is primarily based on an entrance test and we want every student to feel confident and happy that they should take this test. Applicants in receipt of Pupil Premium, or who are looked after or previously looked after, are prioritised when offers of places at the school are made. In effect, a lower contextual entrance mark is required.
Primary School Partnerships
Our admissions test is based on the primary school curriculum for English and Mathematics, and we offer free sessions to primary schools in these subjects to help students to reach the higher level of attainment at Key Stage 2.
In addition, we offer primary school extended support programmes for eligible children in Years 4 to 6, including enrichment activities, mentoring and 11+ familiarisation.
If you would like to know more and would also like to work with us in any of the activities mentioned above, please do not hesitate to contact us at admissions@reading-school.co.uk.
Financial Support - The Reading School Promise
We know that parents may worry about the cost of sending their child to school and we want to take that worry away.
If your child is currently eligible, a free school meal will be provided. In addition, for any student offered a place at Reading School, who is eligible for pupil premium we will provide:
1. Confidentiality: about financial arrangements with regards to your son. Assistance is given automatically with the minimum of fuss so that no family can be identified as receiving support.
2. A £200 grant towards transport: to get your son to and from school.
3. A grant of £100 per year: for compulsory school uniform.
4. A grant of £50 per year: for basic school sports kit. Specialist sports equipment will be provided if your son is chosen to represent the school and Year 7 students will receive a voucher for the purchase of the full PE kit before they start school.
5. Access to a ‘fee free’ locker: allocated before the start of each academic year.
6. Free essential equipment for lessons: provided for students before they start Year 7, including free laboratory coats and goggles for science.
7. Free essential school trips: There will be no charge for educational visits that every student is expected to attend and which are integral to the school curriculum. (Additional opportunities may also be available at no charge such as extended day provision.)
8. A grant of £250: towards one residential trip in Years 7 – 11. Additional funds may also be available through the Reading Foundation subject to assessment.
9. In Years 7&8 there will be the opportunity to take part in a program of instrumental lessons funded by the school and offered to all students
10. Additional discretionary support may be available, with the Headmaster’s approval. Please contact Mr T.Evans for a confidential conversation as required.
Reading School is one of the highest performing school in the region, and we are dedicated to supporting your future. If you have any questions regarding the admissions process, please do contact the admissions team at admissions@reading-school.co.uk.
NB Category 1 and 2 of the Admissions Policies
1. Looked After Children and previously Looked After Children, including those children who appear to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted, who are on the eligible list.
2. Children currently registered as eligible for free school meals and children who have been registered as eligible for free school meals at any point in the last six years; and children whose parent(s)/guardian(s) are serving in the regular UK armed forces, to the children of regular armed forces personnel who were serving in the past 3 years, or to children who are in receipt of a pension under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme and the War Pensions Scheme because their parent(s)/guardian(s) died on active service with the UK armed forces