Reading School
Reading School is a selective state-funded boys' grammar academy in Reading, UK, founded in 1125, serving pupils aged 11-18 through selective admissions and offering full and weekly boarding alongside co-curricular and outreach programmes.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersReading, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Reading School does
Reading School is a selective single-sex (boys) grammar academy located on Erleigh Road in Reading, Berkshire, founded in 1125 and currently led by Headmaster Dr Chris Evans. The institution provides secondary education for boys aged 11-18 across Years 7-13, admitting pupils via its own entrance examinations for Year 7 and Year 12 entry, with additional in-year admission routes. The school operates as a state-funded academy within the UK state sector and additionally offers full and weekly boarding facilities, including a dedicated Sixth Form boarding programme with associated fees.
The school's core products are its academic curriculum, boarding services, and a portfolio of co-curricular offerings such as the Combined Cadet Force (formed 1900, claimed as one of the oldest in the UK), the House Eisteddfod, and a community rowing programme. Supporting platforms include Bromcom/MyChildAtSchool for parent and student communications, Microsoft SharePoint portals for staff, students and governors, and a ToucanTech-powered Redingensians alumni platform hosted on AWS EU servers. The school runs the Future Stories widening-access programme targeting Pupil Premium students and Looked After Children, and the 365 Fund for annual giving alongside the Beyond 900 capital campaign.
Revenue is derived from a hybrid mix: per-pupil state funding for day education, recurring boarding fees for residential students, voluntary donations through the 365 Fund and Beyond 900 campaign (Giving Day 2025 raised over £150,000), venue hire via the SchoolBookings platform, and merchandise sales (900th Anniversary items, history books, memorabilia) through the alumni shop. The school also generates income from corporate sponsorship (Phantom Brewing Co., Reading Foundation) and community events. The Old Redingensians Association, with global alumni chapters in Oxford, the USA, and London, functions as both a community engagement layer and a long-tail fundraising and careers network.
Reading School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Reading School
- Legal name
- Reading School
- Website
- https://www.reading-school.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Reading School is a selective state-funded boys' grammar academy in Reading, UK, founded in 1125, serving pupils aged 11-18 through selective admissions and offering full and weekly boarding alongside co-curricular and outreach programmes.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Reading School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Selective Secondary Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB)
Keywords
Where Reading School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Reading
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Reading School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Tuition and Academic Fees: State sector selective academy with boarding facilities - tuition is free at point of delivery for day students; boarding fees charged separately
- Boarding Fees: Fees for boarding students including Sixth Form boarding, with pastoral care and boarding activities
- Donations and Fundraising: The 365 Fund supports academic, pastoral and co-curricular provision. Beyond 900 campaign for major redevelopment. Giving Day 2025 raised over £150,000. Corporate sponsorship opportunities available.
- Venue Hire: Venue hire services through SchoolBookings platform for external events and activities
- Shop Sales: Sale of merchandise including 900th Anniversary items, books (Reading School: The First 800 Years, Old School Ties), pin badges, and commemorative models
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Boarding fees for residential students |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | 365 Fund donations for academic and co-curricular support |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Interdisciplinary Academic Conference 2026 |
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | Conference accommodation partner rates |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
Reading School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Reading School is a selective boys' grammar academy founded in 1125, delivering state-funded secondary education for pupils aged 11-18 across Years 7-13, including Sixth Form and full/weekly boarding. The school runs its own entrance examinations for admissions and supplements its academic provision with an extensive co-curricular programme (Combined Cadet Force, music, drama, sport, House Eisteddfod, community rowing) and a global Old Redingensians alumni network.
Product overview
Reading School is a Selective Single Sex (Boys) Academy founded in 1125, providing secondary education for Years 7-13 with full and weekly boarding options. The school operates a comprehensive portfolio including core educational services, the Redingensians alumni network (powered by ToucanTech), the Future Stories outreach programme for widening access, and the 365 Fund for charitable giving. Co-curricular offerings include the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), House Eisteddfod, and Community Rowing Programme. The school also provides MCAS mobile applications for Parents, Students, and Teachers, operates an alumni shop for merchandise and history books, and offers venue hire services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Selective Boys' Secondary Education
- Boarding Services
Quantifiable outcome
- 71% A*-A grades at A Level (2025)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Reading School
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Reading School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature3 records
Reading School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Novotel Reading CentreminorNovotel Reading Centre (25b Friar Street, Reading, RG1 1DP) provides special accommodation rates for conference attendees at £81 single/£92 double per night including breakfast, VAT, Wi-Fi and leisure access. Rate valid for 4 nights from 22nd October 2026 with booking reference SCHOOL26.
- Phantom Brewing Co.corePhantom Brewing Co. is Reading School's official events sponsor, providing support for alumni and school events in conjunction with the Building for the Future Fund. Local craft beer brewery based in Reading, Berkshire.
- Reading FoundationcoreThe Reading Foundation sponsors alumni events including the School Ties regional reunions (e.g., Oxford event). The foundation supports the school's mission and fundraising initiatives including the 900th Anniversary celebrations.
- ToucanTechcoreToucanTech provides the alumni management software platform powering the Redingensians online community. Data stored on secure AWS cloud servers in the EU. Platform enables alumni profiles, networking, events, business directory, careers resources and donations.
- Royal Ocean Racing Club, St James'sminorVenue for ORA Drinks in the City alumni networking event bringing together Old Redingensians across generations and professions.
- Mug House at London BridgeminorVenue for ORA Drinks in the City events hosted by retired teacher Ned Holt, providing alumni networking opportunities in London.
- Mamma Mia JerichominorOxford venue hosting the inaugural School Ties Old Redingensians reunion event sponsored by Reading Foundation.
- 3rd Battalion The Royal WelshminorMilitary band performed at Reading School CCF (Combined Cadet Force) Annual Dinner, supporting the cadet force's military-themed training programme.
Scale indicators11 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Reading School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tiffin School: A selective state-funded boys' grammar school in Kingston upon Thames with academic selection at 11+, directly comparable to Reading School in admissions model, single-sex boys' focus, and high-achieving state grammar positioning.
- The Henrietta Barnett School: A selective girls' grammar school in Hampstead, London — a direct counterpart to Reading School in the grammar school model but with girls' intake, useful as a sibling/structural comparator for selective state schooling.
- Queen Elizabeth Grammar School: A selective boys' grammar school in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, comparable to Reading School in selective state grammar model, boys-only intake, and focus on academic excellence and Oxbridge preparation.
- King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford: A highly selective boys' grammar school in Chelmsford with a long history, sharing Reading School's selective state-funded grammar model and strong track record of top university placements.
- Altrincham Grammar School for Boys: A selective boys' grammar school in Greater Manchester operating under an essentially identical model to Reading School: state-funded, academic selection at 11+, and a strong focus on university preparation.
- The Judd School: A selective boys' grammar school in Tonbridge, Kent, comparable to Reading School in state-funded selective model, single-sex boys' intake, and academic excellence focus.
- Kendrick School: The local girls' grammar school in Reading, directly comparable as the sister selective grammar school sharing Reading's catchment and admissions framework, although serving girls rather than boys.
- Wilson's School: A selective boys' grammar school in Sutton (London Borough), sharing Reading School's model of state-funded selective admissions for boys with strong A Level/GCSE outcomes and university progression.
Broad incumbents
- Eton College: The UK's most prestigious independent boys' boarding school and a long-established elite grammar-style institution. Comparable to Reading School in single-sex boys' boarding model and academic positioning, though operating at a different price point and scale.
- Manchester Grammar School: A prestigious independent (fee-paying) boys' school in Manchester with a similar selective, high-achieving academic profile to Reading School, but funded through tuition fees rather than state per-pupil grants — useful as a higher-pricing comparator.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Reading School social profiles
Digital presenceReading School compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Reading School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Reading School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Reading School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Reading School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Reading School
What does Reading School do?
Reading School is a selective boys' grammar academy founded in 1125, delivering state-funded secondary education for pupils aged 11-18 across Years 7-13, including Sixth Form and full/weekly boarding. The school runs its own entrance examinations for admissions and supplements its academic provision with an extensive co-curricular programme (Combined Cadet Force, music, drama, sport, House Eisteddfod, community rowing) and a global Old Redingensians alumni network.
Is Reading School a public or private company?
Reading School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Reading School founded?
Reading School was founded in -1.
Where is Reading School based?
Reading School is headquartered in Reading, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Reading School make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Academic Fees are the primary driver. The others are boarding Fees, donations and Fundraising, venue Hire and shop Sales.
Who are Reading School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tiffin School, The Henrietta Barnett School, Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, King Edward VI Grammar School, Chelmsford, Altrincham Grammar School for Boys, The Judd School, Kendrick School and Wilson's School. Broad incumbents are Eton College and Manchester Grammar School.
Does Reading School have an API?
No public API is recorded for Reading School.
What industry is Reading School in?
Reading School's product category is Selective Secondary Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAAAB, Public Elementary Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.