The Willink School
The Willink School is a state-funded secondary school and sixth form in Burghfield Common, Reading, UK, serving around 1,250 students aged 11-18, with a curriculum emphasising language learning, mathematics excellence, and international education.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1957
- HeadquartersBurghfield Common, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Willink School does
The Willink School is a state-funded secondary school and sixth form located in Burghfield Common, Reading, Berkshire, England. Founded in 1957, it serves approximately 1,250 students aged 11-18 across Years 7-13, including around 220 in the Sixth Form, and employs roughly 83 staff (around 75 teachers plus nearly 70 admin/non-teaching staff). It positions itself as a Language Specialist School ('Village School, Global Outlook') teaching three foreign languages, with a long-running International Schools Award at Gold Standard from the British Council and a 22-year partnership with Ion Creanga School in Moldova. The school also acts as lead school for the Mobius Maths Hub (one of 40 DfE-funded Maths Hubs) and the Two Counties Teacher Training Partnership with the University of Reading.
The Willink's core technology stack comprises off-the-shelf UK edtech: Arbor MIS for student data and the parent portal, Scopay for online payments, Evolve for trip management, Microsoft Office 365 for communication, and a Yondr pouch system (implemented 19 June 2025) that makes the school device-free for students in Years 7-11. A biometric fingerprint cashless catering system is operated by Harrison Catering with a £7 daily spend cap. The school received an Ofsted inspection in May 2026 meeting Expected Standard in every assessed area, achieved Eco-Schools Green Flag accreditation in July 2024, and was listed in the top ten non-selective schools in Berkshire in 2019.
Revenue derives principally from per-pupil state funding via West Berkshire Council, supplemented by transactional ancillary streams: canteen sales, uniform and PE kit (Oliver Signs and Embroidery), school trips and visits, facilities hire to external parties, and donations channelled through The Willink School Charitable Trust (registered 2015; £11,131.20 raised in 2025/26). Pricing is effectively zero for tuition; ancillary spend is pay-as-you-go. Go-to-market is community-led, with prospective families recruited via the West Berkshire Council admissions process, annual Open Evenings (next: 17 September 2026), appointment-only Open Morning Tours, a Year 6/7 transition programme, and a prospectus/video content suite. Sixth Form intake uses a direct online application with interview. The school is oversubscribed and draws pupils from beyond its catchment into Hampshire, Reading, and Wokingham.
The Willink School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Willink School
- Legal name
- The Willink School
- Website
- https://willinkschool.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1957
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Willink School is a state-funded secondary school and sixth form in Burghfield Common, Reading, UK, serving around 1,250 students aged 11-18, with a curriculum emphasising language learning, mathematics excellence, and international education.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Willink School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Secondary Education
- NAICS
- Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Public Elementary Schools (EDAJAAAB)
Keywords
Where The Willink School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Burghfield Common
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Willink School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
Revenue model
- State Education Funding: The Willink is a state-funded secondary school receiving government funding for education delivery. Funding pressures are noted, with capital development funding cut by 80% in recent years.
- Canteen and Catering Sales: Revenue generated through the school canteen (operated by Harrison Catering) and ERA Eats food pod. Students use the Scopay online payment system with biometric fingerprint payment. Daily spend limit of £7 per student.
- School Trips and Educational Visits: Revenue from educational trips and visits across the UK and internationally, managed through the Evolve trip management system with payments via Scopay.
- Uniform and PE Kit Sales: Revenue from sales of school uniform and PE kit through Oliver Signs and Embroidery, a local family-run business.
- Facilities Hire: The school offers facilities for hire to external parties, governed by The Willink Lettings Policy.
- Donations and Fundraising: The Willink School Charitable Trust (registered with the Charities Commission since 2015) raises funds for capital projects and school support. Individual donations range from £5 to £35 per month. The school also receives donations via easyfundraising and the CAF Donate platform. In 2025/26, total fundraising was £11,131.20.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Canteen meals and snacks |
| Transaction based/ take rate | One time/ perpetual license | School uniform and PE kit |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Yondr Pouch (mobile device management) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | School trips and visits |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels10 records
The Willink School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Willink School is a state-funded secondary school and sixth form providing full-time education for approximately 1,250 students aged 11-18 (Years 7-13) in Burghfield Common, Reading, Berkshire. It delivers a broad curriculum across 18 subject areas leading to GCSE qualifications at Key Stage 4 and A Level / Level 3 courses at the Sixth Form, supplemented by extra-curricular programmes, international language trips, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, and pastoral/wellbeing services. The school also operates as lead school for the Mobius Maths Hub (one of 40 national Maths Hubs) and the Two Counties Teacher Training Partnership.
Product overview
The Willink School is a secondary school offering Years 7-13 education with approximately 1,250 students. The core educational offering includes a broad and balanced curriculum with strong international ethos, delivering GCSEs at Key Stage 4 and A Levels/Level 3 qualifications at Sixth Form. Key programmes include the Mobius Maths Hub (mathematics excellence centre), Two Counties Teacher Training Partnership (teacher development), Eco Schools (sustainability), International Schools Award (global education), and Duke of Edinburgh Awards. The school also operates a Yondr Pouch initiative for device management. The institution positions itself as having 'Village School, Global Outlook' with house names representing international cities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Willink School Sixth Form Post-16 education provision offering 29 A Level and Level 3 courses across Art, Business, Sciences, Languages, Humanities, and Social Sciences for approximately 220 Sixth Form students, including UCAS support, careers guidance, and enrichment programmes.
- Mobius Maths Hub National centre of excellence for mathematics education; part of a network of 40 Maths Hubs in England funded by the Department for Education, led by The Willink, developing and spreading excellent practice in mathematics teaching from early years to post-16 across schools in the region.
- Two Counties Teacher Training Partnership Initial Teacher Training programme offering PGCE with QTS in partnership with University of Reading Institute of Education, with The Willink serving as lead school for a partnership of seven local secondary schools. Trainees spend approximately 75% of training time in school.
- Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme Character development programme offering Bronze, Silver, and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards with expeditions and community service for students at The Willink School.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2025 GCSE: 74% grades 9-4 in English & Maths, 52.87 Attainment 8 score, 48% English Baccalaureate
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use The Willink School
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
The Willink School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration6 records
Feature3 records
The Willink School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Mobius Maths HubcoreThe Willink is the lead school for The Mobius Maths Hub, one of a network of 40 Maths Hubs in England. The programme is funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and coordinated by the National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM). The hub covers Wiltshire, Swindon, West Berkshire, Reading, Bracknell Forest, and Wokingham, developing and spreading excellent practice in mathematics teaching from early years to post-16.
- Teaching School Hub BerkshirecoreThe Willink is a strategic partner to the Teaching School Hub Berkshire, supporting the development of initial teacher training and professional development. The school has experience and expertise in Initial Teacher Training.
- Two Counties Teacher Training PartnershipcoreThe Willink is the lead school for the Two Counties Teaching Training Partnership, working in partnership with the University of Reading's Institute of Education. The network includes seven local secondary schools (Little Heath School, King's Academy Prospect School, The Hurst Community College, Theale Green, The Wren, Denefield School). The partnership offers PGCE with QTS training places via the School Direct route.
- British CouncilcoreThe school holds the International Schools Award at Gold Standard, awarded by the British Council for academic years 2025 to 2028. The school has held the award for over 20 years with Gold Standard since 2012.
- Ion Creanga School, MoldovaminorSince 2004, students and adults from The Willink have visited the village of Tintareni in Moldova to run a summer scheme for up to 150 children at Ion Creanga school. Volunteers have supported community projects with young and elderly. The most recent trip took place in July 2024.
- KIVAminorThe school supports the global charity KIVA which microfinances projects across the world. Students organise fundraising activities and research and choose entrepreneurs and communities to support through KIVA's lending programme. In 2025-2026, students collectively raised £336 through KIVA.
- West Berkshire FoodbankminorThe Willink School and Sixth Form supports the West Berkshire Foodbank, part of the Trussell Trust's national network. The school has collected essential goods and funds for the foodbank, including a cash donation of £302 in December 2025.
- University of Reading Institute of EducationcoreThe Two Counties Partnership works in partnership with the University of Reading's Institute of Education (which has been transforming lives through education for over 100 years). Trainees spend approximately 75% of their time in school and attend the university for subject knowledge development.
- Launchpad (Reading)minorReading-based charity dedicated to supporting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The Sixth Form raised £116 for Launchpad through a dress-up day in July 2026.
- Great Ormond Street HospitalminorThe school raised £400 for Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) through the Peter Pan production in June/July 2026. In 1929, J.M. Barrie gifted the rights of Peter Pan to GOSH.
- Guide DogsminorThe school raised £1,237 for Guide Dogs through the 'Willink Meets Broadway' production in November 2025. Guide Dogs is one of the UK's leading sight loss charities.
- Macmillan Cancer SupportminorThe Sixth Form hosted a Macmillan Cancer Support coffee morning in September 2025, raising £227. Macmillan provides vital support to people affected by cancer.
- Thames Valley Air AmbulanceminorThe school raised £300 for Thames Valley Air Ambulance through Christmas Jumper Day in December 2025. The charity provides lifesaving care at scene and ongoing support to patients.
- Save the ChildrenminorThe school raised funds for Save the Children through Christmas Jumper Day in December 2025, alongside Thames Valley Air Ambulance.
- Berkshire YouthminorThe Willink collaborated with other West Berkshire schools to support Berkshire Youth, a not-for-profit organisation helping young people reach their full potential. The school raised funds through a 'Wear it Blue' non-uniform day in October 2025.
- Harrison CateringcoreHarrison Catering manages the school canteen, including breakfast, breaktime, and lunch menus. The canteen operates a cashless biometric fingerprint payment system. Free porridge is available to all students before school.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights6 records
The Willink School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Little Heath School: Reading-based state secondary school and named partner in the Two Counties Partnership; overlapping Reading catchment and similar non-selective model make it a direct competitor for the same parental pool.
- Theale Green School: West Berkshire state secondary school in Theale, partner in the Two Counties Partnership; comparable academic profile and West Berkshire local-authority catchment overlap make it a near-direct peer for parental choice.
- King's Academy Prospect: Reading-based secondary school and named partner in the Two Counties Partnership; similar non-selective state model with Reading-area catchment overlap, making it a directly comparable peer for parental choice.
- Kennet School: West Berkshire state secondary school in Thatcham, similar size (~1,500 students) and non-selective model within the same local authority as The Willink; one of the closest direct competitors for parental choice in West Berkshire.
- The Wren School: Reading-based secondary school and named partner in the Two Counties Partnership; comparable state-funded model with overlapping Reading catchment for families choosing between Reading secondaries.
- The Hurst Community College: State-funded secondary school in Hook, Hampshire, and named partner in the Two Counties Teacher Training Partnership alongside The Willink; similar non-selective model, comparable scale, and adjacent Berkshire/Hampshire catchment demographic make it the closest comparable school in the same partnership network.
- Denefield School: West Berkshire state secondary school in Tilehurst, partner in the Two Counties Partnership led by The Willink; comparable curriculum, demographic profile, and academy model within the same local authority catchment.
Regional players
- Bradfield College: Independent boarding and day school in West Berkshire; regional peer in the same Berkshire secondary education market with overlapping catchment families, but operates a fee-paying model distinct from The Willink's state-funded model.
- Reading School: Selective boys' grammar school in Reading with strong academic reputation; regional peer sharing catchment area with The Willink, with families often choosing between state selective and high-performing non-selective options.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Willink School social profiles
Digital presenceThe Willink School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Willink School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
The Willink School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Willink 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 The Willink School
What does The Willink School do?
The Willink School is a state-funded secondary school and sixth form providing full-time education for approximately 1,250 students aged 11-18 (Years 7-13) in Burghfield Common, Reading, Berkshire. It delivers a broad curriculum across 18 subject areas leading to GCSE qualifications at Key Stage 4 and A Level / Level 3 courses at the Sixth Form, supplemented by extra-curricular programmes, international language trips, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, and pastoral/wellbeing services. The school also operates as lead school for the Mobius Maths Hub (one of 40 national Maths Hubs) and the Two Counties Teacher Training Partnership.
Is The Willink School a public or private company?
The Willink School is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was The Willink School founded?
The Willink School was founded in 1957. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The Willink School based?
The Willink School is headquartered in Burghfield Common, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Willink School make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. State Education Funding is the primary driver. The others are canteen and Catering Sales, school Trips and Educational Visits, uniform and PE Kit Sales, facilities Hire and donations and Fundraising.
Who are The Willink School's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Little Heath School, Theale Green School, King's Academy Prospect, Kennet School, The Wren School, The Hurst Community College and Denefield School. Regional players are Bradfield College and Reading School.
Does The Willink School have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Willink School.
What industry is The Willink School in?
The Willink School's product category is Secondary Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAAAB, Public Elementary Schools. Its NAICS code is 6111 and its SIC code is 8200.