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Reading, South East
Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre is a secondary academy in Reading, South East.
Government data shown for the 2024/25 academic year
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Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre is a secondary academy in Reading, South East. It has not yet been rated by students on y.school. Be the first to rate this academy and help other students and parents understand what the school experience is really like.
In terms of academic performance, Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre has a Progress 8 score of +0.25 (above the national average), an Attainment 8 score of 53.5, 80% of students achieving grade 4+ in English and Maths, an average A-Level grade of C+.
The school has 700 pupils on roll, a teacher turnover rate of 15.7%, 9% of pupils eligible for free school meals, an overall absence rate of 8.3%.
After leaving Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre, student destinations include 64% going on to university and 3% entering apprenticeships.
All student scores on y.school are calculated from anonymous ratings using a transparent, deterministic methodology. Scores are freshness-weighted (18-month half-life) and include confidence tiers based on sample size, diversity, and consistency. For full details, see the y.school methodology.
Profile completeness: 6 of 8 data domains · Good coverage
6.3
Above Average
/ 10
Data Score
Computed from 21 government data points. Not based on student reviews.
Source: DfE / Ofsted · context onlyGovernment data is shown for context and does not influence the student-review Student Score. Small schools can show extreme percentages from small sample sizes.
Latest government data shown is for the 2024/25 academic year; some figures cover earlier years.
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The area around this school
Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre has a Progress 8 score of +0.25, which is above the national average of 0. Progress 8 measures how much progress students make between the end of Key Stage 2 and their GCSE results, compared to students with similar starting points nationally.
The school's Attainment 8 score is 53.5. Attainment 8 measures the average achievement of students across 8 qualifications including English, Maths, three EBacc subjects, and three open group qualifications.
80% of students at Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre achieved grade 4 or above in both English and Maths GCSEs.
Students at Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre achieve an average A-Level grade of C+. This metric covers all A-Level and equivalent qualifications taken at the school.
Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre has an overall absence rate of 8.3%. The national average for secondary schools was approximately 8.5% (DfE, 2023/24).
The teacher turnover rate at Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre is 15.7%. This measures the percentage of teachers who left the school in the past year.
Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre has 700 pupils on roll.
9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is used as a proxy for socioeconomic disadvantage.
13% of pupils receive SEN (Special Educational Needs) support or have an Education, Health and Care plan.
In context — vs similar-intake schools
Below par for its intakeHighdown School and Sixth Form Centre's Progress 8 of +0.25 looks strong against the national average, but for its intake (0–11% of pupils eligible for free school meals) it sits in the lower half of comparable schools.
Compared with 698 schools nationally that have a similar share of disadvantaged pupils (0–11% of pupils eligible for free school meals). Raw league-table positions are heavily shaped by intake; this comparison isolates how a school performs relative to others facing similar circumstances. Progress 8 already accounts for prior attainment. Source: Department for Education.
Schools like this one
Matched on the share of disadvantaged pupils plus special-needs, English-as-an-additional-language and school size — so you can compare like with like, not just by postcode.
National percentiles (100 = best) for the area around the school · 5/5 measures · Police.uk, DEFRA, NaPTAN, DfT STATS19, MHCLG IoD 2025.
Other schools in the Reading area
After leaving Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre, 64% go on to university and 3% enter apprenticeships.
Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre was rated "Good" by Ofsted following an inspection in March 2024 (2 years ago). Based on Ofsted's inspection cycle, Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre is next inspection expected around 2028.
A "Good" rating means Ofsted found the school provides a high standard of education across all areas assessed. It has historically been the most common Ofsted rating.
Note: From November 2025, Ofsted replaced single-word judgements with detailed report cards covering multiple categories. While Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre's rating shown above was awarded under the previous system, Ofsted now provides more granular assessments. For the most up-to-date inspection information, check the school's report card on the Ofsted website.
Ofsted data is shown for context only and does not influence the Student Score. For the official report, visit reports.ofsted.gov.uk.