Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #4 in Reading public Top 12% UK

Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMs Rachel Cave

corporate_fareHIGHDOWN SCHOOL AND SIXTH FORM CENTRE

location_onReading, RG4 8LR

language Visit Website phone 1189015800

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2018

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Students

1,575

trending_up

Attainment 8

50.4

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GCSE Rank

#4 in Reading

#886 of 3,216 nationally

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Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre is a Academy converter secondary school in Reading, serving ages 11-18. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre is an academy converter in Reading, admitting pupils aged 11-18. It has a sixth form offering post-16 education. It is part of HIGHDOWN SCHOOL AND SIXTH FORM CENTRE. The school has approximately 1,545 pupils on roll, of whom 11% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 50.4, placing the school #4 in Reading and #886 of 3,216 nationally. 57.30% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 25.0% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

The sixth form offers 26 A-level subjects. 50.9% of A-level entries were graded A*–B, with 22.2% at A*–A. A-level value added: +0.16 — students made above-average progress at sixth form.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2018. The school's current overall rating is Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 16.6:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there was 1 permanent exclusion. The average suspension rate was 3.3 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

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Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

50.4

Grade 5+ E&M

57.30%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)25.0%

Entering EBacc38.70%

EBacc APS4.61

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.25

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

53.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc39.00%

EBacc APS4.87

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.07

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

53.4

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc38%

EBacc APS4.80

2022

Progress 8 Score

-0.18

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

51.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc40%

EBacc APS4.72

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc29%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

-0.02

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.6

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc27%

EBacc APS4.33

2018

Progress 8 Score

-0.16

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

46.5

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc33%

EBacc APS4.2

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

98%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)95%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)89%

Apprenticeships1%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

93%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)86%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment4%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)6%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

96%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)92%

Apprenticeships2%

Employment2%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)4%

2021

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)90%

Apprenticeships3%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)2%

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Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

A-level results for students who stayed in sixth form at this school. Value added measures how much progress students made relative to their GCSE starting point.

2025

A-Level Value Added

+0.16

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make above-average progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

143

Grade Breakdown

Achieving A*8.4%

Achieving A*–A22.2%

Achieving A*–B50.9%

VA Banding Above average

Retention rate95.8%

A-level subjects offered26

2024

A-Level Value Added

-0.03

vs expected from GCSEs

Pupils make broadly expected progress at A-level.

Avg Grade

C+

Students

144

Retention rate97.20%

2023

Avg Grade

Students

145

Retention rate92.40%

2022

Avg Grade

B-

Students

149

Retention rate95.3%

Source: DfE A Level and Other 16-18 Results

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

26 March 2024

Inspection Report

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02 October 2018

Inspection Report

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30 April 2015

Inspection Report

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30 April 2014

Inspection Report

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04 July 2013

Inspection Report

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01 May 2013

Inspection Report

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14 February 2012

Inspection Report

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20 June 2011

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2018-10-02

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2015-04-30

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

2013-05-01

None EIF

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

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Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

4.5%per term

sentiment_satisfied Below Average (Good)

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

2.8%(43 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,545 pupils. During this period, there were 69 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 4.5%, which is below the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,545	69	4.5%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,538	33	2.1%	7.8%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,562	32	2.0%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,562	37	2.4%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,557	64	4.1%	8.2%	2
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,570	43	2.7%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,575	32	2.0%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,571	20	1.3%	5.9%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,567	22	1.4%	4.7%	2
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,571	38	2.4%	4.9%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,572	22	1.4%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,502	12	0.8%	3.6%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,492	3	0.2%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,491	22	1.5%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,417	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,417	20	1.4%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,414	26	1.8%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,347	13	1.0%	3.1%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,357	24	1.8%	3.8%	1
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,348	27	2.0%	3.8%	2
2017/18 (Summer term)	1,310	15	1.1%	3.4%	1
2017/18 (Spring term)	1,308	20	1.5%	3.0%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	1,314	28	2.1%	3.7%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	1,260	25	2.0%	3.0%	1
2016/17 (Spring term)	1,271	29	2.3%	3.3%	1
2016/17 (Autumn term)	1,271	35	2.8%	3.1%	2

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 62 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 58 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 42 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 10 pupils

Physical Disability 9 pupils

Hearing Impairment 7 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 1 pupils

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Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

81.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

82.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

17.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree17%

agree54%

disagree14%

strongly disagree5%

don't know9%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree18%

agree49%

disagree21%

strongly disagree6%

don't know6%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree29%

agree29%

disagree12%

strongly disagree8%

don't know2%

not applicable19%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes24%

no76%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree13%

agree30%

disagree28%

strongly disagree19%

dont know9%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree33%

agree46%

disagree12%

strongly disagree4%

don't know7%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree31%

agree47%

disagree14%

strongly disagree4%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree28%

agree54%

disagree14%

strongly disagree3%

don't know2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree53%

agree43%

disagree3%

don't know1%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree50%

agree41%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

don't know4%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree28%

agree46%

disagree14%

strongly disagree6%

don't know7%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes76%

no24%

School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Sixth Form (A-Level) Performance

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

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