Denefield School, Reading

From the headteacher's welcome: "Located on the western edge of Reading and overlooking the beautiful Thames Valley, Denefield is a school where every young person is supported to achieve well and to flourish. We call this Success for Life - helping students to develop the knowledge, skills and character to lead rich, happy and purposeful lives."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include Duke of Edinburgh and cadets.

In 2026, pupils at Denefield School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 49, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 49.3 in West Berkshire and 47 across England.

49% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 50% in West Berkshire and 47% in England.

That is up from 47 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.16: pupils made above 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 39.8, against 50.9 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 11.1 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 25 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Business Studies and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 217 families put Denefield School as their first choice and 437 named it as one of their preferences, for 203 places offered. That is 1.1 first choices for every place. 30 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Denefield School are Little Heath School (1.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 48.8); King's Academy Prospect (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 39.7); Theale Green School (2.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 42.2); and Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School (2.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.3).

Denefield School's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Of the 189 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 89% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 24% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 79 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 46% went on to university or other higher education, 13% to apprenticeships and 24% into work. 3% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

5% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (75%), Mixed (10%) and Asian (6%).

In 2026, 259 pupils (22.1%) received SEN support and 30 (2.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Tilehurst Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.

7 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Denefield School Inside Grounds (inside), 60 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Denefield School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. On income deprivation affecting children it is in the 7th decile, where the 1st is the most deprived. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In 2024/25, Denefield School issued 276 suspensions, 24.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 2 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Denefield School are Downsway Primary School (0.2 miles), Long Lane Primary School (0.4 miles), Westwood Farm Junior School (0.5 miles) and Westwood Farm Infant School (0.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.