The WREN School
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The WREN School is a free school in Reading for boys and girls aged 11 to 19. It has 931 pupils and room for 1,176. About 32 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, a bit more than at most schools. We give it 42 out of 100. That puts it in line with schools like it, ahead of 48% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted visited in April 2026 and gave it a report card, which is below.
61-63 Bath Road, Reading, RG30 2BB0118 214 3888wren.excalibur.org.ukMr John Salberg headteacherAll details
What Ofsted found
Ofsted visited on 14 April 2026. Instead of one overall word, it now gives a grade for each part of school life. Read the full report on Ofsted's website.
Ofsted says these new grades can't be lined up against the old one-word grades.
Earlier inspections (1)
| Date | Type | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 23 January 2024 | S5 Inspection | Requires improvement |
Results
GCSE results, summer 2025
156 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.
All GCSE measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | Reading | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils at the end of Year 11 | 156 | 186 | 156 | 165 | – | – |
| Average GCSE scoreAttainment 8 | 44.8 | 43.0 | 38.7 | 39.0 | 53.8 | 46.8 |
| Progress from age 11Progress 8 | – | -0.13 | -0.30 | -0.74 | – | – |
| Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths | 41% | 36% | 29% | 24% | 56% | 46% |
| Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths | 60% | 60% | 58% | 45% | 71% | 66% |
| Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score | 3.89 | 3.78 | 3.42 | 3.28 | 4.94 | 4.15 |
| Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry | 14% | 23% | 31% | 18% | 53% | 41% |
| Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged | 32.5 | 32.0 | 29.4 | 32.4 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged | 50.5 | 46.1 | 42.3 | 41.7 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers | – | 27.2 | 26.1 | 24.8 | – | – |
| Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers | – | 63.4 | 53.6 | 63.0 | – | – |
Subjects
Results came out for 17 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.
Strongest subjects
Subjects that did worse than the England average: Physical Education (25% here, 56% across England), Art and Design (47% here, 58% across England), English Literature (47% here, 58% across England).
The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.
Every subject against England, 2025
| Subject | Entries | Grades 9 to 7 | Grades 9 to 5 | Grades 9 to 4 | England 9 to 5 | Rank in England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 153 | 26% | 50% | 67% | 53% | 1,651 of 3,211 |
| English Literature | 153 | 16% | 47% | 63% | 58% | 2,243 of 3,202 |
| English Language | 153 | 20% | 46% | 64% | 54% | 2,092 of 3,210 |
| Combined Science | 152 | 22% | 47% | 61% | 36% | 683 of 3,084 |
| History | 90 | 21% | 43% | 54% | 52% | 2,024 of 3,126 |
| Business | 84 | 13% | 46% | 60% | 51% | 944 of 1,806 |
| Art and Design | 77 | 14% | 47% | 69% | 58% | 1,978 of 2,818 |
| Geography | 61 | 20% | 51% | 67% | 51% | 1,360 of 3,116 |
| Social Studies | 40 | 25% | 70% | 85% | 54% | 209 of 1,043 |
| Physical Education | 32 | 9% | 25% | 34% | 56% | 1,402 of 1,559 |
| Design & Technology | 29 | 21% | 52% | 62% | 50% | 658 of 1,478 |
| Computer Science | 29 | 35% | 79% | 93% | 56% | 306 of 1,861 |
| Spanish | 13 | 54% | 85% | 92% | 54% | – |
| Other Modern Languages | 12 | 42% | 42% | 42% | 49% | – |
| Religious Studies | 12 | 8% | 75% | 92% | 60% | – |
| Music | 10 | 20% | 40% | 40% | 61% | – |
| Drama | 8 | 0% | 38% | 63% | 60% | – |
In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.
A level and sixth-form results, 2025
80 students finished sixth-form courses.
All sixth-form measures, year by year
| Measure | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students | 80 | 80 | 72 | 49 |
| Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry | 24.97 | 21.83 | 22.74 | 22.35 |
| Average A level grade | D+ | D+ | D+ | D+ |
| Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS | 28.48 | 21.17 | 23.33 | 22.16 |
| AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects | 6% | 3% | 3% | 0% |
| A level progressA level value added | -0.16 | -0.31 | – | – |
| Applied general courses: points per entry | 19.88 | 21.79 | 18.55 | 25.00 |
| Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed | 97% | 87% | 87% | 100% |
A level subjects
13 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.
Every A level subject against England, 2025
A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.
Does every child do well here?
A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. None of the gaps is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.
At GCSE, 2025
Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.
Getting a place
Admissions policy not published.
195 places were empty (17% of the total), so almost everyone who applies gets in. Pupil numbers have stayed about the same since 2021/22.
In 2026 every child who applied got a place, so how far away you live didn't matter. That could change if the school gets more popular.
We measure in a straight line from the middle of your postcode to the school. The council measures its own way, and the cut-off changes every year. Use this as a rough guide, and read the council's admissions booklet before you apply.
How places were given out for September 2026. Every child who applied got a place.
| Entry | Places | How far the last child lived | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Secondary | 168 | – all offered | LA |
Who goes here
Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.
Specialist SEND provision. SEN unit with 12 pupils, for autism.
To get a place in the unit or resourced provision, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school. Other schools in Reading with autism provision.
The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: Autistic spectrum disorder (39), emotional and mental health (30), Moderate learning difficulty (21), Specific learning difficulty (18), Other difficulty or disability (10), language and communications needs (10).
How the mix of pupils has changed
| Census | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pupils on roll | 931 | 979 | 1,003 | 994 | 978 | 906 |
| Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals | 30% | 27% | 24% | 23% | 21% | 22% |
| Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language | 52% | 52% | 45% | 45% | 41% | 36% |
| Pupils getting extra supportSEN support | – | 9% | 8% | 12% | 11% | 15% |
| Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans | – | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
Attendance and behaviour
In 2024/25 pupils were in school 91.7% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.
Attendance year by year
| Measure | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19 | England |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sessions missedOverall absence | 8.3% | 9.3% | 9.9% | 12.5% | 6.6% | 7.5% | 8.6% |
| Missed with permissionAuthorised absence | 4.4% | 4.7% | 4.6% | 6.3% | 3.0% | 3.0% | – |
| Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence | 3.9% | 4.5% | 5.3% | 6.2% | 3.6% | 4.5% | – |
| Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence | 26.9% | 29.5% | 31.8% | 44.4% | 19.6% | 21.7% | 23.9% |
| SuspensionsSuspension rate | 33.8 | 27.5 | 22.1 | 16.5 | 6.0 | – | – |
| Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions | 2 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 0 | – | – |
What pupils do next
After GCSEs
Where the 156 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.
Among pupils from low-income families it was 77%, compared with 93% for everyone else.
Earlier years
| Destination | 2022/23 leavers | 2021/22 leavers | 2020/21 leavers | 2019/20 leavers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Still in education, work or training | 88% | 92% | 93% | 92% |
| Education | 85% | 88% | 87% | 90% |
| Apprenticeship | 2% | 1% | 3% | 1% |
| Work | 1% | 4% | 3% | 1% |
| Not in education, work or training | 5% | 4% | 6% | 6% |
After sixth form
Where the 62 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.
Among pupils from low-income families it was 91%, compared with 77% for everyone else.
Where the ones heading for university went
Among students from low-income families, 58% went on to degree-level study or training.
Earlier years
| Destination | 2022/23 leavers | 2021/22 leavers |
|---|---|---|
| Still in education, work or training | 79% | 80% |
| Education | 47% | 51% |
| Apprenticeship | 5% | 2% |
| Work | 27% | 27% |
| Not in education, work or training | 11% | 10% |
Staff and money
From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.
Money
From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.
Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.
The area around the school
Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.
Nearby schools
The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School | Roman Catholic | 350 m | 1,082 | Good 2023 | 53 | Compare |
| King's Academy Prospect | Academy | 0.8 miles | 1,157 | Good 2022 | 23 | Compare |
| River Academy | Free school | 1.3 miles | 373 | Not inspected | – | Compare |
| Kendrick School | Academy (grammar) | 1.6 miles | 939 | Outstanding 2022 | 99 | Compare |
| Reading Girls' School | Academy | 1.8 miles | 905 | Good 2021 | 60 | Compare |
| Reading School | Academy (grammar) | 2.0 miles | 1,138 | Outstanding 2023 | 99 | Compare |
| Hartland High School | Academy | 2.2 miles | 589 | Inadequate 2023 | 0 | Compare |
| Maiden Erlegh School in Reading | Free school | 2.6 miles | 889 | Good 2023 | 54 | Compare |
Compared with schools like it
Our score compares The WREN School with the 50 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 50 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.
Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher
Of those 50 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than The WREN School, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.
| School | Type | Distance | Pupils | Ofsted | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maiden Erlegh School in Reading | Free school | 2.6 miles | 889 | Good 2023 | 54 | Compare |
How the score was worked out
The score is out of 100. A 42 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 42% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 32 to 53. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.
| What we looked at | How much it counts | Against schools like it | Effect on the score | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results over three years | 20% | below | -0.09 | 2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 156 pupils |
| Ofsted inspection | 20% | below | -0.11 | Ofsted report card, 0.4 years old |
| Progress pupils make | 20% | in line | -0.04 | DfE progress measure; 156 pupils |
| Direction of travel over five years | 10% | well above | +0.23 | results and attendance rising year on year |
| Attendance and behaviour | 10% | in line | -0.02 | 2024/25; 889 pupils |
| Results, allowing for the mix of pupils | 10% | below | -0.07 | Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 156 pupils |
| What pupils do next | 5% | below | -0.03 | 156 pupils |
| What parents say | 0% | no data | – |
Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.
Questions parents ask
Is The WREN School a good school?
It is about average. The WREN School scores 42 out of 100. That is in line with schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 48% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 32 to 53, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been getting better over the last five years.
What is The WREN School's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted no longer gives schools one overall grade. When it visited on 14 April 2026 it rated teaching as as expected, achievement as as expected, behaviour and attendance as as expected, leadership as as expected.
How good are The WREN School's GCSE results?
In summer 2025, 41% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 44.8, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished a little behind children across England who started secondary school at the same level.
How many pupils does The WREN School have?
931 pupils aged 11 to 19 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,176 places, so it is 79% full.
Is The WREN School oversubscribed?
Probably not. 195 places were empty in 2024/25 (17% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.
What is attendance like at The WREN School?
Pupils were in school 91.7% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 27% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.
How big are the classes at The WREN School?
The average class had 21.7 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 3% of classes had more than 30 pupils.
Does The WREN School have specialist SEND provision?
Yes. It has sen unit for autism. To get a place there, a child normally needs an education, health and care plan (EHCP) that names the school.
Does The WREN School have a sixth form?
Yes. The average A level grade in 2025 was D+. 13 A level subjects had results in 2025; the full list is in the results section.
These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.
Contact and details
- Address
- 61-63 Bath Road, Reading, RG30 2BB
- Telephone
- 0118 214 3888
- Website
- wren.excalibur.org.uk
- Headteacher
- Mr John Salberg
- Type of school
- Free school (Free schools, free schools)
- Phase
- Secondary school, ages 11-19, with sixth form
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- None
- Multi-academy trust
- Excalibur Academies Trust (20 schools)
- Local authority
- Reading
- Ward
- Southcote
- Constituency
- Reading Central
- Setting
- Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
- Opened
- 1 September 2015 (new provision)
- URN
- 142121 · LAESTAB 8704002 · UKPRN 10053828
Recent changes
- New KS4 results for 2024/25
Where these figures come from
- School details: Department for Education, Get Information About Schools, refreshed daily (this page rebuilt 13 September 2026).
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, monthly; latest publication in our data 27 August 2026.
- GCSE results: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25 final.
- Attendance: DfE pupil absence in schools in England, 2024/25 full year.
- Pupil characteristics: DfE school census, January 2026.
- Staff: DfE school workforce census, November 2025.
- Class sizes: DfE schools, pupils and their characteristics, January 2026.
- Pupil premium: DfE allocations and conditions of grant, 2026 to 2027.
- Money: DfE financial benchmarking and insights tool, academy accounts return 2024/25.
- A level subjects: DfE A level and other 16 to 18 results, subject entries and grades, 2024/25.
- Admissions outcomes: Reading council's published allocation statistics (source), entry years 2026.
- Neighbourhood: police.uk street-level crime, HM Land Registry price paid data, NaPTAN bus stops, English Indices of Deprivation 2025.
- All under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Full list and update calendar.