Read is a small, rural, independent school, renowned for its family ethos and supportive parent and teacher community. Our children are happy and well-looked after, all known to us and part of a mutually supportive community. The teacher to pupil ratio is high, with class sizes being small, and never larger than 18. 

We have a broad curriculum, which covers a range of traditional subjects offered at every age-range within the school, which goes from reception at 3 years old through to 18, where students leave after A-Levels to pursue study at university, or a career via apprenticeships or other on-the-job training.  This means our site houses three layers of schooling to attend to different ages’ curricular requirements: 

• Lower Junior School (for boys and girls in reception to Y1);

• Upper Junior School (for pupils of Y2 through to Y6);

• The Senior School (for students of Y7 through to Y13).

Lessons in these three areas take place over a six-period day, with each one being 50 minutes in length. There is a break in the morning and one in the afternoon for lunch. Lunchtimes are staggered for the pupils, dependent on how old they are. Lessons take place in classrooms designed for classes of anywhere between 2 and 18 pupils, with the average class-size being currently around 12. Classrooms are equipped with whiteboards, projectors and have good internet connectivity, comprehensively across the site.

We have an expansive 17-acre site, which means our pupils have access to a great deal of outdoor space, where sport and leisure activities take place alongside the daily academic routine. We have an outdoor all-weather MUGA (Multi Use Games Area) pitch, alongside our sports hall, to facilitate the playing of indoor and outdoor sport. We have a further large natural pitch space, with 3 large rugby and cricket pitches; 3 large football pitches, and space allocated for multiple rounders and netball pitches.

We also have a whole host of additional fun extracurricular activities which take place on-site. In the senior school, pupils take part in the CCF (Combined Cadet Force) where they have the opportunity to join either the RAF or the Army contingent, and undertake many different problem-solving activities, including orienteering and the opportunity to go flying. 

There is also The Duke of Edinburgh scheme, which gives pupils the chance to attain the coveted Bronze, Silver and Gold awards, highly prized by universities and employers alike, with regular walks and camping weekends scheduled throughout the year.

In all areas of Read, after-school activities take place, where a whole range of academic, creative and sporting activities are hosted by various members of staff. This takes us up to 4.50pm, when pupils go home. These are diverse offerings and include:

• extra clinics for GCSE and A-Level students; 

• sporting clubs taking place to augment practices for pupils in various sports;

• creative art, drama, cooking and music classes, which feed into school productions at each age-group level; 

• other miscellaneous after-school clubs (chess, model-making etc.).

 

We have a large intake of Y7 pupils, both from our own Junior School, but also from external primary schools. We have Outreach days in the Summer term to facilitate this, alongside various orientation days for pupils to experience a smooth and comfortable transition from primary school to senior. The inter-connectedness between each area of our school allows the family ethos of Read to be fully realised with pupils feeling comfortable when making important transitions between Key Stages.

As Deputy, one of my key roles is pastoral support. The pastoral team and I pride ourselves on our ability to look after pupils and resolve any challenges they might have in school. Diversity and inclusion are two key touchstones, as with a pupil base from all over the world, we have between 8 and 12 languages being spoken in school at any one time. We also have strong provision for pupils with SEN requirements, as we have a number of dedicated TAs supporting pupils in school, both in the classroom and outside, to ensure pupils are supported in the individually tailored way that supports their needs best.

Please do get in touch should you have any further questions, not answered here. Welcome to our wonderful school!

Mark Voisey

Deputy Head