School of the Year, Reading School, sponsor Qwerty
A selective state grammar school with charitable status is the first in Berkshire to gain a School of Sanctuary Award for children seeking refuge.
Reading School is also proud of its focus on service to the community, said its nominator for School of the Year.
One of the oldest schools in England, it was founded as part of Reading Abbey and the date of the Abbey’s charter, March 29, 1125, is taken as the foundation date.
The school has consistently been named The Sunday Times Parent Power State Secondary School of the Year in the South East for Academic Performance, and was graded ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted in November 2023.
The school’s Future Stories programme demonstrates its commitment to social mobility and inclusion in Reading, added its nominator.
Now in its ninth year, the social mobility programme has grown and developed in partnership with local primary schools in disadvantaged areas, delivering a structured and meaningful educational, sporting and co-curricular programme to more than 100 children every week.
“Future Stories has been shortlisted for its contribution to social mobility by the UK Social Mobility Awards for three years in a row,” said the nominator.
By developing a programme that seeks to work with others in a collaborative way, a positive and purposeful space has been created that allows children to discover the best versions of themselves, they said.
“During 2023/24, 3,285 children benefitted from accessing Future Stories,” they added.
School of the Year is sponsored by Qwerty.
