Elstree School, Reading
Elstree School is an independent school for pupils aged 2 to 13 in Reading. It has a Church of England religious character. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in November 2025.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Elstree School in detail
Elstree School in its own words
In its own words: "Elstree is an incredibly special school; it has been a pleasure and a privilege to have been Headmaster here for over 10 years - and with the unstinting support of my wife, Olivia, we look forward to leading the school together for many more years to come."
From the headteacher's welcome: "I believe that children learn best when they don’t even realise that they are learning. Elstree Pre-Prep provides a safe, nurturing and family-friendly environment with the promise of childhood adventure and fun. We aim to inspire curiosity and a love of learning that builds a foundation for knowledge, skills and self-esteem to last a lifetime."
Clubs and activities named on the school's website include cricket and debating.
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:25am.
Coming up: an open day on Saturday 27 February 2027, an open day on Tuesday 23 March 2027, an open day on Friday 23 April 2027 and an open day on Tuesday 27 April 2027. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in West Berkshire
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Clubs (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Elstree School are Bradfield College (3.6 miles); Grantham Farm Montessori School (3.9 miles, Outstanding); Brockhurst and Marlston House Schools (4 miles); and St Andrew's School (4.5 miles).
Bradfield CollegeGrantham Farm Montessori SchoolBrockhurst and Marlston House SchoolsSt Andrew's School
Who goes there
In 2026, 121 pupils (37.8%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Midgham Rail Station, about 950 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 2 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour and violence and sexual offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in West Berkshire (26).
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
4 November 2025
Non-Routine Inspection
27 June 2024
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
22 November 2022
Regulatory Compliance
7 March 2018
Integrated
3 March 2015
About
Elstree School is an English preparatory school for children aged 3–13 at Woolhampton House in Woolhampton, near Newbury, in the English county of Berkshire. The school is co-educational.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 3 nearby independent schools
Latest from Elstree School
Old Boys’ Football Match
28 Sep 2026
Year 8 Big Weekend
28 Sep 2026
Pre-Prep Harvest Festival
25 Sep 2026
Tea at the Headmaster’s House for new pupils!
23 Sep 2026
Pre-Prep Mini-Olympics
22 Sep 2026
Whole School Wellbeing Walk
21 Sep 2026
From Elstree School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Elstree School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025.
The typical figure for schools in West Berkshire is 3 (the median across 99 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
91%
Near capacity
320 pupils
350 places
30 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Reading
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Reading
Across West Berkshire council
Places available
2,143
Applications
1,680
Got 1st preference
94.9%
Got preferred school
99.0%
All secondary applications across West Berkshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
121
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
37.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
320
Total Pupils
204
Boys
116
Girls
2026 academic year
Questions parents ask about Elstree School
When was Elstree School last inspected?
Elstree School is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in November 2025.
How many pupils go to Elstree School?
Elstree School has around 320 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Elstree School?
Elstree School is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
How many road collisions happen near Elstree School?
No injury road collisions were reported to the police within 500 m of the school's mapped location in 2021 to 2025. The typical figure for schools in West Berkshire is 3 (the median across 99 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Elstree School?
Elstree School is at Woolhampton, Reading, Berkshire, RG7 5TD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)