READING School has been named Secondary School of the Year in the South East for Academic Excellence 2026 in The Sunday Times Parent Power Guide.
The school says it is delighted to receive the award, which recognises the quality of education young people receive at the school and the character-driven focus that underpins students’ outstanding academic achievement.
The award comes in a landmark year for Reading School as it marked nine centuries of education in the town.
Throughout this year, the school has opened its gates to thousands of neighbours, families and alumni for a programme of anniversary events, including a free one-day Community Carnival, a Grand Reunion which brought together current pupils and more than a thousand Old
Redingensians, a series of Open Days for prospective families, several public lectures open to the public, and a moving Commemoration Day which featured a royal visit by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
These public celebrations and outreach activities are part of the school’s commitment to combining academic rigour with social impact and civic engagement.
This year the school featured prominently in regional and national listings and sustained high proportions of A*–B grades at A-level, which it says reflects the quality of teaching and the intellectual curiosity the School seeks to cultivate in its students.
The school also continues its efforts towards ongoing outreach to primary schools, and commitment to increasing accessibility for disadvantaged young people.
Revd Dr Chris Evans, Headmaster of Reading School, said: “We are humbled by this recognition–it is an award that reflects the work of a whole community of students, staff, parents, volunteers, partners and Old Redingensians who have given generously of their time, talent and conviction.
“Though our school is 900 years old, we have been vividly reminded that its true strength lies not in its antiquity, but its impact upon society.
“We give thanks for all that has gone before, and recommit ourselves to making a difference in the world in the years ahead.”
He explained: “Reading School’s mission is to make the world better, and this award is an encouragement to us to sustain our focus on character, on the nurture of happy young people and on policies that provide opportunity.
“When processes promote social impact and encourage community, we become more than the sum of our parts.”
