River Academy, Reading

In its own words: "We are incredibly proud to have opened this exciting new secondary school benefiting from a multi-million pound building programme and state-of-the-art facilities. Our school, which opened its doors for the first time in September 2024, provides a fantastic and enriching environment for teaching and learning, student care and support; a place for students to thrive and succeed."

From the headteacher's welcome: "It is with great pride and excitement that I introduce myself as the founding headteacher of River Academy. River Academy, which is a member of the Maiden Erlegh Trust, opened to its first intake of Year 7 students in September 2024. This new state-of-the-art, purpose-built secondary school serves the need for additional school places in the Reading area."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, netball, rugby, cricket, athletics, basketball, badminton, drama, choir and chess.

For September 2026 entry, 211 families put River Academy as their first choice and 667 named it as one of their preferences, for 162 places offered. That is 1.3 first choices for every place. 75 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to River Academy are Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre (1.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 54.9); The WREN School (1.3 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 39.2); Kendrick School (1.4 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 82.4); and Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School (1.5 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.3).

River Academy is one of 11 schools run by Maiden Erlegh Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50.7 in 2024/25.

37.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (27%), Asian (24%) and Mixed (13%).

In 2026, 78 pupils (20.9%) received SEN support and 31 (8.3%) 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 autism.

River Academy has a resourced provision for moderate learning difficulties: 7 places, 7 pupils on roll.

River Academy had 22 teachers in 2026, one for every 9 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest railway station is Reading West Rail Station, about 1040 metres away (roughly a 13-minute walk).

6 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is River Academy (adjacent), 200 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 720 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and other theft. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Reading (351), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, River Academy issued 6 suspensions, 3.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to River Academy are E P Collier Primary School (0.5 miles), Civitas Academy (0.6 miles), Oxford Road Community School (0.6 miles) and Thameside Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.