Kennet School, Thatcham

From the headteacher's welcome: "At Kennet School, we believe in the power of a good education to transform lives. We offer a traditional school experience which not only develops the character of each and every pupil but also delivers the best possible academic outcomes."

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 12 November 2026 at 6pm. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Kennet School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 48, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 49.3 in West Berkshire and 47 across England.

48% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 50% in West Berkshire and 47% in England.

That is up from 46.5 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.15: 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 26.8, against 51 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 24.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 29 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Religious Studies, Combined Science and Geography.

For September 2026 entry, 276 families put Kennet School as their first choice and 384 named it as one of their preferences, for 287 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 Kennet School are Trinity School (3.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 43.2); St Bartholomew's School (3.6 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 57.7); Park House School (4.2 miles, Attainment 8 50.5); and The Hurst School (4.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.7).

Kennet School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 4 schools.

Kennet School is one of 3 schools run by Equinox Learning Trust, an academy trust.

Of the 327 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 81% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 26% to a further education college, 7% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

Of the 160 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 53% went on to university or other higher education, 8% to apprenticeships and 24% into work. 23% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

15.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 11.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (76%) and Mixed (6%).

Kennet School has a resourced provision for hearing impairment and physical disability: 35 places, 27 pupils on roll.

The nearest railway station is Thatcham Rail Station, about 950 metres away (roughly a 12-minute walk).

9 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Kennet School (adjacent), 90 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 98 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in West Berkshire (26), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Kennet School issued 574 suspensions, 31.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 4 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Kennet School are Francis Baily Primary School (0.2 miles), Spurcroft Primary School (0.4 miles), Thatcham Park CofE Primary (0.6 miles) and Whitelands Park Primary School (0.9 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.