Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School, Reading

From the headteacher's welcome: "Blessed Hugh has been on a consistent improvement journey for over seven years, and throughout the Lockdown period we were clear that this improvement would not stall, but would continue. The all-important English-Maths threshold results have also improved, reflecting excellent core teaching."

In 2026, pupils at Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.3, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 51.5 in Reading and 47 across England.

45% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 55% in Reading and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 46.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.02: pupils made about average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 32.6, against 49.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 16.7 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 132 families put Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School as their first choice and 345 named it as one of their preferences, for 174 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School are The WREN School (0.2 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 39.2); King's Academy Prospect (0.6 miles, Good, Attainment 8 39.7); River Academy (1.5 miles); and Kendrick School (1.8 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 82.4).

Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

Of the 179 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 89% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 27% to a further education college, 1% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

Of the 51 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 73% went on to university or other higher education, 2% to apprenticeships and 16% into work. 9% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

37.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Black (25%), White British (24%) and Asian (19%).

Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School has a resourced provision for autism: 25 places, 20 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Reading West Rail Station, about 1180 metres away (roughly a 15-minute walk).

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Fawley Road (opp 109), 160 metres away.

In 2024/25, Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School issued 116 suspensions, 11.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School are Southcote Primary School (0.2 miles), Manor Primary School (0.6 miles), Battle Primary Academy (0.7 miles) and St Mary & All Saints Church of England Primary School (0.8 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.