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Beyond 900

As Reading School enters its tenth century, we are proud to launch the Beyond 900 campaign — a bold initiative to ensure the school continues to thrive for generations to come. For 900 years, Reading School has shaped the lives of young people through character, knowledge, and opportunity. Now, we are looking to the future with renewed ambition.

We know our students have remarkable potential, and our role is to help them develop the skills, values and passions that will lead to lifelong success and meaningful impact. However, our current facilities no longer reflect the aspirations or abilities of those we serve.

Through the Beyond 900 campaign, we aim to raise £28.5 million to transform our campus. This includes:

  • Phase One: A new Sports Hall
  • Phase Two: Revitalised Expressive Arts spaces for music, drama, and visual arts
  • Phase Three: A purpose-built Sixth Form Centre in the historic Junior School building

Watch the Masterplan Video

These projects, alongside continued investment in our Future Stories social mobility programme, will shape a school environment worthy of our students’ talents and dreams.

We invite you to join us. Your support for the Beyond 900 Fund will help unlock extraordinary opportunities and ensure Reading School remains a place where ambition meets purpose — now and well into the next century.

DONATE NOW

Transforming Sport at Reading School

At Reading School, sport is a vital part of life — central to building character, teamwork and resilience, and essential in supporting our students’ academic and personal growth.

Each week, over 1,000 students train, compete and learn through a wide range of activities, from rugby, football and basketball to squash, cross-country and tennis. Our students also give back through our Future Stories programme, helping to coach and run Sports Days for local primary schools.

To truly match the potential of our school community, we must transform our provision. Hear from Steve Allen, Head of Sport & PE, as he shares his vision.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

A Legacy of Excellence, A Vision for the Future

With a 900-year history of world-class education, Reading School continues to nurture the brightest minds. Proudly named State Secondary School of the Year for Academic Excellence South East by The Sunday Times Parent Power Schools Guide 2025 — for the fifth year running — we equip students with the skills and character to shape tomorrow.

We aim to create a world-class Sixth Form Centre that supports both study and wellbeing. This purpose-built environment will empower our students to thrive academically and personally as they prepare for top universities and future careers. Hear from Alun Lloyd, Assistant Head (Head of Sixth Form) and Boarding Housemaster (South House).

SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS

Inspiring Creativity Through the Arts

We believe music, art and drama are not just subjects, they’re vital to student growth, creativity and self-expression. Each year, our students showcase their remarkable talents: from the energy of the House Music Competition to striking visual art exhibitions and powerful drama performances.

Yet, while their creativity thrives, our current facilities do not. Recital and rehearsal spaces are limited, outdated, and lack the capacity to support their ambitions. To match their passion with opportunity, we are committed to building a new, state-of-the-art Expressive Arts Centre.

With your support, we can ensure every student has the space to explore, create, and perform to their full potential. Hear from Ben Sandiford, Head of Drama, and Oliver Griffin, Director of Music, as they share their vision for the future of Expressive Arts at Reading School.

Ben Sandiford – Head of Drama
Oliver Griffin – Director of Music
MAKE A GIFT

Future Stories: A Vision for Change

We recognise that Reading is a town of profound inequality and our Future Stories initiatives work with local primary schools in the most disadvantaged areas to raise aspiration and deliver lasting social impact. Crucially, this is not only for current and future Reading School students but the wider youth community as a whole.

Future Stories has been expanding, partnering with Get Berkshire Active, Love Rowing, Reading FC, Berkshire Cricket, and others to reach over 15 local primary schools. Our programmes focus on five core areas:

1. Rowing training, including indoor rowing sessions for thousands of children each year and on-water experiences for Year 6 students, coached by Team GB rowers.

2. Weekly maths mentoring for Years 4, 5 and 6.

3. Sporting activities and tournaments, delivered in partnership with Reading Football Club Community Trust as part of the School Games for Reading.

4. Science & STEM workshops, offering hands-on learning in Reading School’s labs to around 300 Year 6 students annually.

5. Adventurous activities, including water sports and residential experiences.

The programme brings together passionate staff, Reading School student mentors, and pupils from local schools such as Whitley Park, Battle Primary and St Marys Coley. From coaching SATs in maths to leading sports tournaments and science workshops, our young leaders and expert staff inspire and support the next generation.

We run all our social impact programmes for free and rely on external funding and staff time to make it all happen!

CONTRIBUTE NOW