Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading, Reading
Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading is an independent school for pupils aged 11 to 17 in Reading. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in April 2024.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading in detail
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading are Trinity Christian School (0.2 miles); The Deenway Montessori School (0.3 miles, Good); The Abbey School Reading (0.4 miles, selective); and St Joseph's College (0.6 miles, selective).
Trinity Christian SchoolThe Deenway Montessori SchoolThe Abbey School ReadingSt Joseph's College
Who goes there
Almost every pupil at Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading has an education, health and care plan (21 of 21 in 2026).
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Reading Rail Station, about 1080 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).
14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Eldon Road (adjacent), 30 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 737 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Reading (351), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); 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. Ofsted last inspected this school in 13 March 2013, before the latest ISI inspection.
Routine Inspection
30 April 2024
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
4 February 2020
Regulatory Compliance
18 January 2017
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 4 nearby schools
Keep up with Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 101
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 26
- Children hurt
- 5
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 101 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 26 serious and 75 slight.
5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
23 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Reading is 21 (the median across 71 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
88%
Available places
21 pupils
24 places
3 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Reading
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Reading
Across Reading council
Places available
1,744
Applications
1,794
Got 1st preference
73.1%
Got preferred school
95.4%
All secondary applications across Reading council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
21
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
21
Total Pupils
11
Boys
10
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading
What are GCSE results like at Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading last inspected?
Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in April 2024.
How many pupils go to Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading?
Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading has around 21 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading?
Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading 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 Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 101 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 26 serious and 75 slight. 5 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 4 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 23 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Reading is 21 (the median across 71 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading?
Red Balloon Learner Centre Reading is at 220-222 Kings Road, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 4JJ.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)