About Reading School
is a 900-year-old, selective, boys鈥� grammar school in Berkshire. Providing both day and boarding options, the school accepts boys from Years 7 to 11. Consistently ranking among the top schools in Berkshire for GCSE and A level results, Reading School is renowned for its academic excellence. It has a strong track record in helping students from all social and ethnic backgrounds gain places at Oxford, Cambridge and other top universities, as well as various apprenticeships.
Reading School also has an extensive co-curricular program, offering clubs and societies from Street Dance to Bridge Club. Its facilities are expansive, including well-maintained playing fields and its own 鈥楽portsPark鈥�, containing a fitness studio, squash courts and tennis courts. There are also plans to build an 鈥楨xpressive Arts Centre鈥�, which would include a brand-new recital space and various new classrooms to support the arts.
Reading School Entry Points
Similar to most grammar schools, Reading School鈥檚 two main entry points are at the start of Year 7 and Year 12. There are opportunities for entry to other year-groups, though that depends on availability of places. In Year 7, there are around 150 places available in total, with 12 for boarders and 138 for day-students. The school also includes a Sporting Aptitude Assessment; up to 15 places may be awarded to boys who pass both this assessment and the academic tests. In Year 12, there are around 180 places available, which is more than many grammar schools offer.
Admissions Requirements for 11+ Entry
In September of Year 6, months after parents or guardians have registered students for the exam, boys are invited to sit an entrance test. They must achieve a sufficient score in order to qualify for a place, and scores are released around a month after tests are taken. (which students can only take a single time) is comprised of this list of subjects covered in the KS2 curriculum, up to a Year 5 standard:
- Art & Design
- Computing
- Design & Technology
- English
- Geography
- History
- Languages
- Mathematics
- Music
- Physical Education
- Science
This is slightly unusual, as most schools tend only to examine English, mathematics and reasoning at this level. There is also a 鈥榗reativity鈥� element of the test, which is only considered if the other elements of the exam are of a sufficient standard. On the whole, only boys who live within Reading School鈥檚 catchment area will be considered for places. However, students applying for boarding are not required to live in a particular catchment area. If there are more applicants who have achieved a satisfactory score than there are places available, the school will prioritise students in this order:
- Looked after children or those who have been previously.
- Children living in the catchment area who are Service Premium or Pupil Premium (or are within 5 marks of the minimum score).
- Children living in the catchment area with a significant welfare or social need to attend.
- Children living in the catchment area who have passed the Sporting Aptitude Assessment.
- Children living within the catchment area.
- Children living outside the catchment area.
In the case of tie-breakers, test results are compared, particularly the creativity component, followed by relative distances from the school.
Structure of the test
Reading School鈥檚 test for Year 7 entry is a computerised test, which is split into 4 papers:
- Adventure Paper (requiring multiple-choice answers)
- Beacon Paper (requiring written answers)
- Compass Paper (requiring multiple-choice answers)
- Discover Paper (requiring a more creative response)
Each of the 4 papers may contain any of the previously-mentioned subjects.
The test is examining how students think through problems and their academic curiosity, rather than their ability to recall certain facts.
Example questions in the test
Past papers are not available on the Reading School website, though there are various familiarisation materials that can be found, giving further insight into what sort of questions can be expected.
Regarding each subject, here is what students have historically come across, and what Reading School is assessing:
Art & Design: Students鈥� ability to evaluate and analyse creative works is tested. An understanding of artistic language (such as colour, pattern, texture, light and shade) is expected, as well as some form of awareness of varying styles.
Computing: Basic principles of computer science should be understood. Questions have often asked students to explain simple algorithms and to locate errors.
Creativity: The creative assessment tests imaginative thinking, as well as the ability to write in full sentences with appropriate language.
For example:
Q: If a dragon suddenly landed on your school roof, what would you do? Would you hide, talk to it, or ride it? There鈥檚 no 鈥渞ight鈥� answer - just use your imagination!鈥�
Design & Technology: Students should think creatively and imaginatively to design products that solve real-world problems. An understanding of how food is made is also tested here, with some knowledge of the basic principles of nutrition required.
English: Candidates are expected to have a wide vocabulary, an ability to infer meaning from a passage and a strong understanding of grammar.
Here are some examples of questions that may come up:
Q: Underline the correct word:
My parents, who/whom/which/whose I love, are watching television.
Q: Which is the correct prefix for the word 鈥榠nformation鈥�?
A) Un
B) Dis
C) Mis
D) Pre
Geography: Students should have some understanding of how landscapes and environments form and alter over time, as well as topics such as climate and transport. Questions regarding orientation have often come up.
History: The ability to critically assess various historical sources is tested, as well as the understanding of broader concepts such as cause and consequence, rather than the ability to recall information from specific periods of time.
Languages: No particular language will be tested, though children should be able to link the spelling and meaning of words from whatever language they have studied in school with English, as well as a rough understanding of how key patterns or features of that language vary from English.
Mathematics: Practical, multi-step problems in particular are tested here. An understanding of the four operations is vital, as well as other fundamental topics from the KS2 specification, such as fractions, percentages and area.
Here are some examples of questions that may come up:
Q: What鈥檚 bigger: 1/4 or 0.3?
Q: Elliot has 100 sweets and a large amount of boxes. If 12 sweets go in each box, how many boxes will he need to accommodate them all?
Q: A rectangle is 5m long and 3m wide. What is its area?
Music: Students should be able to evaluate various pieces of music and describe differences in genres and styles. They should understand basic musical terminology, such as dynamics, pitch and tempo.
Physical Education: Candidates are given the chance to excel in a wide range of physical activities. Strength, control and flexibility are assessed, and values such as respect and fairness are prioritised.
Science: Topics such as classification of living things, light and sound, magnets and electricity will be tested. Students should have some understanding of scientific language, as well as the ability to draw conclusions from experiments and assess what makes something a fair test.
16+ (Sixth Form) Admission Requirements
Students apply in December and January of Year 11 if they would like to be considered for a place, selecting their preferred A-Level subjects, as well as a reserve subject. Conditional offers are then made upon obtaining satisfactory GCSE results. This includes a minimum of 56 points from students鈥� 8 best GCSEs, as well as at least grade 5 in Maths and English Language. For those wishing to study four A-Levels, the requirement is 64 points. Additionally, there are subject-specific grade requirements for individual A-Level courses that students must meet. If a particular subject is oversubscribed, students with low predicted grades may be asked to change to a reserve subject.
On GCSE results day, students are asked to send their results to Reading School, at which point, places are confirmed.
Non-Routine Admissions
Places, though rare, can become available between Year 7 and 12 when a student leaves the school and creates a space. If a place does become available, students on the 鈥榗ontinued interest鈥� list are invited to take an entrance test at the school, which generally takes place in June.
Appeals
All students who have been refused are able to appeal to an Independent Appeal Panel, which must be made in writing.
Preparation Tips for the Entrance Test for Reading School
Reading School鈥檚 Entrance exam is unlike most schools at 11+ level. Although they do not expect prior knowledge of any material outside the KS2 specification, students鈥� literary and numeracy levels are tested, as well as their critical thinking and problem solving skills, which can all be developed over time. 妻友社区 have provided specialist, experienced 11+ tutors for these exams for over a decade, who can guide candidates through the process.
For more details on how Keystone can help with preparation for the Reading School entrance exams, feel free to call the office for a chat with one of our client managers, or contact us via our request a tutor form.