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Senior school

Reading Blue Coat School

SeniorCo EdAges 11–18Day824 pupils
Day fees
£26,100
How competitive entry is
School Own Exam + InterviewCompetitive entry
Pupils
824
Founded
1646
Next deadline
Registration closes: 30 Oct 2026
Houseroom Index 2026Provisional
73.5/100
47% data confidence·v2026.4.0
How is this calculated? →
Pillar breakdown
Academic outcomes68
Destinations & outcomes81
Future-readiness62
Pastoral & wellbeing70
Pupil flourishing65
Value-add60
Access & breadth55
Parent sentiment70
External consensus50

Get your personalised Fit Score — tell us about your child to see how well this school matches your priorities.

About the head

Mr Pete Thomas joined Reading Blue Coat School as Headmaster in September 2020, having served as Second Master from 2015. He read Geology at Durham University and began his career as a Special Constable with Sussex Police before entering teaching. He has worked at Judd School and Dauntsey's School prior to RBCS. BA Geology (Durham)

Latest exam results

60%
A-level A*–A
61%
GCSE 9–7
4%
Oxbridge offer rate
72%
Russell Group rate

Data from 2025 results

Where leavers go

4%
to Oxbridge (2025)
202520242018
Cohort142
Oxbridge661
Russell Group87
US Ivy000
Medicine2
Top universities (2025)
Oxford
Cambridge
Bath
Bristol
Durham
Exeter
King’s College London
Imperial College London

Recent coverage

In 2026, Reading Blue Coat School marked several notable achievements including the completion of the final field training exercise by the CCF Army Section and a memorable football season. Students also earned Ocean Diver qualifications in Lanzarote, showcasing the school's commitment to diverse extracurricular excellence. Additionally, the school presented a fresh production of Peter Pan and Wendy, highlighting its vibrant arts program.

Notable alumni

Sir Roger Bannister (athlete)Sir John Madejski (businessman)Tom McQueen (footballer)David Hempleman-Adams (adventurer)Mark Haddon (author)
Recommended next step

Registration deadline confirmed

Reading Blue Coat School closes registrations on 30 Oct 2026. Add the deadline to your plan and start booking visits before applications.

Fit for your child

How well does Reading Blue Coat match?

Tell us your child's age, location, needs and entry point. We'll score commute, academics, support, budget and culture against London schools.

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Application timeline

4 of 8 admissions stages have confirmed dates. Save this school to be notified when dates are published.

Open dayNot published
Not published
Registration opensNot published
Not published
Registration closesConfirmed
30 Oct 2026
Bursary deadlineNot published
Not published
AssessmentConfirmed
1 Nov 2026
InterviewNot published
Not published
OffersConfirmed
11 Jan 2027
Acceptance deadlineConfirmed
5 Mar 2027
Registration windows
YearOpensClosesReply byStatus
2027-28TBC30 Oct 20265 Mar 2027Tbc

Open events

Open Morning
Sat, 3 Oct 2026
11:30 am
Sixth Form Evening
Tue, 13 Oct 2026
Sixth Form Open Evening

Talks & tasters

Sat, 3 Oct 2026Open MorningOpen Morning
Tue, 13 Oct 2026Sixth Form Open EveningSixth Form Evening

Fees

£26,100per year · Day · 2026-27
VAT-inclusive estimate £26,100VAT status TBCYear 7-13 projection £206,145
vs London avg (£24,000)9% above
Also budget for · Registration fee, deposit, uniform, lunches, trips, music tuition, exam fees. These vary by school — check with admissions for the full cost breakdown.

Bursaries & Scholarships

Inspection

Isi 20 Feb 2024

One inspection report on file. Worth reading before booking a visit — covers safeguarding, leadership and overall standard.

Met

Term dates 2025-26

autumn2 Sept 202512 Dec 2025Half-term 17 Oct 2025–2 Nov 2025
spring6 Jan 202627 Mar 2026Half-term 13 Feb 2026–23 Feb 2026
summer21 Apr 20263 Jul 2026Half-term 22 May 2026–1 Jun 2026
autumn7 Sept 202611 Dec 2026Half-term 16 Oct 2026–2 Nov 2026
spring6 Jan 202725 Mar 2027Half-term 12 Feb 2027–22 Feb 2027
summer15 Apr 20279 Jul 2027Half-term 28 May 2027–7 Jun 2027

Questions parents ask

Common questions about Reading Blue Coat School, answered from this school’s structured profile data. Always confirm specifics with admissions before applying.

How does admissions work?+

Admissions style isn't fully documented in our profile. Contact the school directly using the details in the contact card.

Are fees published?+

Yes — see the Fees table further down the page. Add extras (uniform, trips, lunches, music tuition, registration fees) on top of the base figure before budgeting.

Does the school support SEND?+

SEND provision isn't documented in our profile. If your child has identified needs, contact admissions early to discuss capacity.

Are there open days?+

No open days currently listed. Save this school and we'll email when booking opens, or contact admissions to ask about private tours.

How do I contact admissions?+

phone on 0118 944 1005 or the registrars listed in the contact card. Reference your child's age and intended entry year in the first message.

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