UTC Reading, Reading

In its own words: "Our brains are like a muscle and the more we use them the cleverer they become. So effort and working hard is critical as the more we work at something the better we become. Every time we practise something it strengthens our brain, so the next time it’s not as hard."

From the headteacher's welcome: "I am extremely proud to be Headteacher of such a ground-breaking and innovative learning environment. We are a school, but we are different and our aim is to truly Transform Lives Through Learning. UTC Reading is a future-focused talent pipeline for students who are passionate about STEM, leading to world class careers in the engineering and computer science industries."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, basketball, badminton, dance, drama, coding and robotics.

In 2026, pupils at UTC Reading averaged an Attainment 8 score of 34.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 51.5 in Reading and 47 across England.

28% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 55% in Reading and 47% in England.

That is down from 42 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.8: pupils made well below 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 21.2, against 39.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 18.5 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 13 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Computer Science, Biology and Physics.

Across Reading, 73% of families were offered their first-choice secondary school for 2026 entry, and 95% were offered one of the schools they named.

In 2026, families in Reading lodged 58 appeals against secondary school offers; 49 reached a hearing and 6 succeeded (12.2% of those heard).

The nearest other state secondary schools to UTC Reading are Maiden Erlegh School in Reading (under 0.1 miles, Good, Attainment 8 47.5); Reading School (0.6 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 80.6); Maiden Erlegh School (1 mile, Outstanding, Attainment 8 59.3); and Kendrick School (1.1 miles, Outstanding, selective, Attainment 8 82.4).

Each of them had higher 2026 results than UTC Reading.

UTC Reading is one of 6 schools run by Activate Learning Education Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 40.3 in 2024/25.

10 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about UTC Reading (as of September 2025): 80% would recommend the school, 90% say their child is happy there and 100% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (100%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (80%).

Of the 106 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 83% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 29% to a further education college and 6% to an apprenticeship.

Of the 128 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 54% went on to university or other higher education, 13% to apprenticeships and 11% into work. 6% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

10.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 36 pupils (12%) received SEN support and 5 (1.7%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

The nearest railway station is Earley Rail Station, about 1.1 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Mockbeggar (nw-bound), 220 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 234 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, shoplifting and anti-social behaviour. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Reading (351).

In 2024/25, UTC Reading issued 33 suspensions, 11.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to UTC Reading are Alfred Sutton Primary School (0.1 miles), Redlands Primary School (0.3 miles), Earley St Peter's Church of England Primary School (0.6 miles) and St John's Church of England Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.