The Willink School, Reading
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
The Willink School creates a welcoming, calm environment where pupils feel safe and know what is expected of them. Teachers are experts in their subjects and provide strong support, particularly for pupils with additional needs. The school offers a broad curriculum with excellent career guidance and plenty of enrichment activities to prepare pupils well for their futures.
Key Strengths
- Pupils achieve well at GCSE with most reaching above national average
- Safe, calm school environment built on positive relationships and clear behaviour expectations
- Highly effective support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities
- Strong sixth-form provision with rigorous teaching and excellent career guidance
- Extensive trips, clubs and leadership opportunities for all pupils
Areas for Improvement
- Support for disadvantaged pupils not as precisely developed as for pupils with SEND
- Some pupils with gaps in early reading and writing skills need more specific phonics help
- Attendance of disadvantaged pupils slightly below peers
- Governors' understanding of academic needs of most vulnerable pupils could be stronger
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has created an open, positive safeguarding culture where all staff understand their responsibilities and concerns are actively identified and acted upon.
Extracurricular Activities
Trips, clubs, leadership opportunities, volunteering, reading support for younger pupils
The Willink School is a well-run secondary school where pupils achieve above national averages and benefit from a safe, positive environment. Leaders have created a calm atmosphere with clear expectations and strong staff support for all learners.
At a Glance
12.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
21.8
Avg class size
51
Total classes
10 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
121%
Over capacity
1,205 pupils
995 capacity
210 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Reading
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Reading
Admissions Demand - West Berkshire
Places available
2,143
Applications
1,749
Got 1st preference
88.3%
Got preferred school
97.4%
Secondary admissions across West Berkshire (2025/26)
Inspection History(10)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.12584%
Overall absence
20.66986%
Persistent absence
1,045
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Willink School
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