Secondary school

The WREN School

  • Free School
  • ages 11–19
  • Mixed
  • Reading
  • RG30 2BB
  • Sixth form
Ofsted report card · inspected Apr 2026

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Results · 2024/25

Ranked 1,796 of 3,280 secondaries in England · top 55%

Top % in England, by year
2021/22: top 90%90%2022/23: top 84%2023/24: top 64%2024/25: top 55%

A-level results

#358 of 394 South East sixth forms, state and independent, 2024/25

Independent and selective (grammar) schools choose their pupils, so high results partly reflect who gets in, not only teaching. Some independent schools don't publish results.

Against South EastArrows: South East rank change since 2021/22

Attainment 844.8 · South East 465/10 Middle+32.8 pts
Grade 5+ English and maths41% · South East 44.8%5/10 Middle+34.5 pts
EBacc point score3.89 · South East 4.035/10 Middle+28.4 pts
Progress 8 · 2023/24-0.13 · South East +0.014/10 Below
A level points per entry24.97 · South East 33.472/10 Well below South East+8.4 pts
Show exam results by year
Attainment 8
2021/22: 39 · 165 pupils · South East 49.12022/23: 38.7 · 156 pupils · South East 46.52023/24: 43 · 186 pupils · South East 46.22024/25: 44.8 · 156 pupils · South East 4644.838.7
Grade 5+ English and maths
2021/22: 24% · 165 pupils · South East 51%2022/23: 29% · 156 pupils · South East 45%2023/24: 35.5% · 186 pupils · South East 45.9%2024/25: 41% · 156 pupils · South East 44.8%41%24%
A level points per entry
2021/22: 22.35 · 41 pupils · South East 36.42022/23: 22.74 · 58 pupils · South East 32.822023/24: 21.83 · 66 pupils · South East 32.832024/25: 24.97 · 70 pupils · South East 33.4724.9721.83

Getting in · 2026

First-choice families who got in100.0%
70 of 70 who put it first2016 · 100.0%2026 · 100.0%
By preference
ChoiceAppliedOffered
1st7070
2nd10815
3rd584

Last distance offered: London only

Inspections · 2018–2026

  • InclusionExpected
  • AchievementExpected
  • Curriculum and teachingExpected
  • Attendance and behaviourExpected
  • Leadership and governanceExpected
  • Personal development and wellbeingExpected
  • Post-16 provisionNeeds attention
  • SafeguardingMet
  1. 2018Good
  2. 2024Requires improvement
  3. 2026Lowest Needs attention

Pupils · 2024/25

On roll · Jan 2026931
Free school meals (past 6 years)29.1%
First language not English51.8%
SEN support8.5%
EHC plan2.1%
Absence (sessions missed)8.3%
Persistently absent pupils26.9%

Girls 43.9%Boys 56.1%

79.2% full · 1,176 places · 154 in sixth form

Parent View

Earlier survey (before Nov 2025) · as at 2 Sep 2024 · 114 responses (11.4% of pupils)

  • My child is happy at this school76.3% agree
  • My child feels safe at this school75.4% agree
  • The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved64.9% agree
  • My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively · 55.3% not applicable43.1% agree
  • The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year57% agree
  • When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly · 16.7% not applicable52.6% agree
  • My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed29% agree
  • The school has high expectations for my child64% agree
  • My child does well at this school70.2% agree
  • The school lets me know how my child is doing71.9% agree
  • There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school83.3% agree
  • My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school88.6% agree
  • The school supports my child's wider personal development53.5% agree
  • I would recommend this school to another parent59.6% yes

Workforce · 2025/26

Pupils per teacher14.9
Pupils per adult10.9
  • Classroom teachers 56.7
  • Leadership 5.9
  • Teaching assistants 11.3
  • Other support 36.8

Teachers 62.6 FTE · Whole workforce 110.8 · 128 people

Financials · 2024/25

Income per pupil£8,158
Spend per pupil£7,968
Staff spend per pupil£6,233
Reserve per pupil£0
  • £0revenue reserve
  • +£186,000in-year balance

Grants £7,999 · self-generated £159 · premises £459 per pupil

Multi-academy trust: EXCALIBUR ACADEMIES TRUST (20 academies) · trust reserve £4,863,000 · Reserves in a multi-academy trust belong to the trust; this academy's figures include the share of central costs the trust gives it

Destinations · 2023/24 leavers

After Year 11

186 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained91.9%
  • Education87.1%
  • Apprenticeship4.3%
  • Employment0.5%
  • Not sustained4.8%
  • Unknown3.2%

After sixth form (16–18)

76 students, followed through 2024/25 · Provisional

  • Sustained75%
  • Education53.9%
  • Higher education43.4%
  • Apprenticeship2.6%
  • Employment18.4%
  • Not sustained15.8%
  • Unknown9.2%