Berkshire’s best secondary schools 2025

Trying to find the right school for your child in Berkshire? You’re in the right place.

With so many options, many parents find themselves drowning in league tables and Ofsted reports. That’s exactly why we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Our expert team has analysed the latest 2023/2024 Department for Education data to bring you a list of the top-performing state secondary schools in Berkshire.

We show two ranking tables, one for Progress 8 and one for GCSE 9–7 results, and also provide a complete list of all secondary schools in Berkshire. This full list includes Progress 8 scores, GCSE 9–7 percentages, and Ofsted ratings where available. The schools in this table are ordered alphabetically rather than ranked, so you can easily see every school in one place, even if some data points are missing.

Top secondary schools in Berkshire by Progress 8

Eden Girls' School, Slough in Berkshire is currently ranked #1 in Berkshire based on its published Progress 8 score of +1.15. Progress 8 is a headline accountability measure used by the Department for Education to show how much progress pupils make between the end of primary school and their GCSEs, compared to students with similar prior attainment nationally.

RankSchool nameTypeGenderProgress 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
1Eden Girls' School, SloughFree schoolsGirls+1.15Outstanding40.61%
2Kendrick SchoolAcademy converterGirls+1.07Outstanding89.8%
3The Holt SchoolAcademy converterGirls+0.96Outstanding48.1%
4St Bernard's Catholic Grammar SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed+0.93Outstanding71.9%
5Reading SchoolAcademy converterBoys+0.89Outstanding85.3%
6Upton Court Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.85Outstanding77.17%
7Herschel Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.76Outstanding68.82%
8Langley Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.75Outstanding74.06%
9The Piggott SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.74Good37.13%
10Newlands Girls' SchoolAcademy converterGirls+0.66Outstanding37%
11Maiden Erlegh SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.64Outstanding37.15%
12Baylis Court SchoolAcademy converterGirls+0.6Good28.57%
13Park House SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.6-29.55%
14Ranelagh SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.59-30.47%
15Holyport CollegeFree schoolsMixed+0.58Good34.14%
16Mary Hare SchoolNon-maintained special schoolMixed+0.52Good2.8%
17St Crispin's SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.52Good32.53%
18The Langley AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.48Good24.72%
19St Joseph's Catholic High SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.45Good17.79%
20Bohunt School WokinghamAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.44Good27.6%
21St Bartholomew's SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.37Outstanding34.64%
22Furze Platt Senior SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.36Good26.34%
23Edgbarrow SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.34Outstanding27.29%
24The Downs SchoolFoundation schoolMixed+0.32-25.92%
25Charters SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.25Good34.44%
26Highdown School and Sixth Form CentreAcademy converterMixed+0.25Good29.39%
27WaingelsAcademy converterMixed+0.21Good24.25%
28Altwood Church of England SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.2Good12.99%
29Denefield SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.16Good21.17%
30Kennet SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.15Good23.14%
31The Windsor Boys' SchoolAcademy converterBoys+0.14Good20.76%
32Maiden Erlegh School in ReadingFree schoolsMixed+0.12Good21.41%
33Windsor Girls' SchoolAcademy converterGirls+0.12Requires improvement24.17%
34The Westgate SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.12-15.29%
35Trinity SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.09Good21.04%
36Ditton Park AcademyFree schoolsMixed+0.06Good16.07%
37Reading Girls' SchoolAcademy sponsor ledGirls+0.05Good23.88%
38The Willink SchoolCommunity schoolMixed+0.04Good18.07%
39King's Academy BinfieldFree schoolsMixed+0.02Good20.51%
40Churchmead Church of England (VA) SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed0-11.06%
41The Emmbrook SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.01Good23.31%
42Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.02Good19.95%
43Grove AcademyFree schoolsMixed-0.06Inadequate13.69%
44The Forest SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.12Good23.84%
45King's Academy Easthampstead ParkAcademy converterMixed-0.13Good14.54%
46The WREN SchoolFree schoolsMixed-0.13Requires improvement12.1%
47The Bulmershe SchoolCommunity schoolMixed-0.14-20.6%
48Little Heath SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.15Good18.21%
49Desborough CollegeAcademy sponsor ledBoys-0.17Good16.53%
50Slough and Eton Church of England Business and Enterprise CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.17-13.2%
51Garth Hill CollegeCommunity schoolMixed-0.21Good19.99%
52The Brakenhale SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.29Good13.6%
53Cox Green SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.31Requires improvement14%
54Sandhurst SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.37Good18.5%
55OakbankFree schoolsMixed-0.38-14.04%
56King's Academy ProspectAcademy converterMixed-0.39Good9.37%
57John O'Gaunt SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.53-8.6%
58Lynch Hill Enterprise AcademyFree schoolsMixed-0.63-8.47%
59Beechwood SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.74-2.9%
60UTC ReadingUniversity technical collegeMixed-0.8-18.02%
61Wexham SchoolCommunity schoolMixed-0.83Good10.1%
62John Madejski AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.92-5.78%
63Hamilton SchoolAcademy special sponsor ledMixed-1.79Good0%
64Thames Valley SchoolFree schools specialMixed-1.85Good4.17%
65High Close SchoolNon-maintained special schoolMixed-2.52Good0%

Note: Rankings use 2023/2024 CSP data for state-funded schools and may not reflect recent changes, check school websites for the latest information.

Source

Examiner-written GCSE revision resources that improve your grades 2x

  • Written by expert teachers and examiners
  • Aligned to exam specifications
  • Everything you need to know, and nothing you don’t

Top secondary schools in Berkshire by GCSE % 9–7

Kendrick School in Berkshire is currently ranked #1 in Berkshire based on the percentage of GCSE grades awarded at 9–7. This measure highlights how many pupils achieve the very top exam results, giving a clear picture of each school’s academic excellence.

RankSchool nameTypeGenderProgress 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
1Kendrick SchoolAcademy converterGirls+1.07Outstanding89.8%
2Eton CollegeOther independent schoolBoys--88.51%
3Reading SchoolAcademy converterBoys+0.89Outstanding85.3%
4The Abbey School ReadingOther independent schoolGirls--83.96%
5St Mary's School AscotOther independent schoolGirls--80.95%
6Wellington CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--77.72%
7Upton Court Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.85Outstanding77.17%
8Langley Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.75Outstanding74.06%
9Downe HouseOther independent schoolGirls--72.95%
10St Bernard's Catholic Grammar SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed+0.93Outstanding71.9%
11Reading Blue Coat SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--69.18%
12Herschel Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.76Outstanding68.82%
13The Marist SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--62.52%
14Queen Anne's SchoolOther independent schoolGirls--60.64%
15St George's SchoolOther independent schoolGirls--56.25%
16Bradfield CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--52.31%
17The Holt SchoolAcademy converterGirls+0.96Outstanding48.1%
18Al-Madani Independent Grammar SchoolOther independent schoolBoys--47.8%
19Reddam House BerkshireOther independent schoolMixed--46.75%
20Leighton Park SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--45.59%
21Heathfield SchoolOther independent schoolGirls--42.34%
22St Joseph's CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--42.26%
23Luckley House SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--41.23%
24Eden Girls' School, SloughFree schoolsGirls+1.15Outstanding40.61%
25St Gabriel's SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--39.47%
26OneSchool Global Reading Senior CampusOther independent schoolMixed--39.39%
27Maiden Erlegh SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.64Outstanding37.15%
28The Piggott SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.74Good37.13%
29Newlands Girls' SchoolAcademy converterGirls+0.66Outstanding37%
30Holme Grange SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--36.78%
31Al-Madani Girls SchoolOther independent schoolGirls--35.9%
32St Bartholomew's SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.37Outstanding34.64%
33Charters SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.25Good34.44%
34Holyport CollegeFree schoolsMixed+0.58Good34.14%
35Long Close SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--33.63%
36LVS AscotOther independent schoolMixed--33.4%
37St Crispin's SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.52Good32.53%
38Claires Court SchoolsOther independent schoolMixed--32.34%
39Ranelagh SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.59-30.47%
40Park House SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.6-29.55%
41Highdown School and Sixth Form CentreAcademy converterMixed+0.25Good29.39%
42Baylis Court SchoolAcademy converterGirls+0.6Good28.57%
43Bohunt School WokinghamAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.44Good27.6%
44Edgbarrow SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.34Outstanding27.29%
45Furze Platt Senior SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.36Good26.34%
46The Downs SchoolFoundation schoolMixed+0.32-25.92%
47The Langley AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.48Good24.72%
48WaingelsAcademy converterMixed+0.21Good24.25%
49Windsor Girls' SchoolAcademy converterGirls+0.12Requires improvement24.17%
50Reading Girls' SchoolAcademy sponsor ledGirls+0.05Good23.88%
51The Forest SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.12Good23.84%
52The Emmbrook SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.01Good23.31%
53Kennet SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.15Good23.14%
54Maiden Erlegh School in ReadingFree schoolsMixed+0.12Good21.41%
55Denefield SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.16Good21.17%
56Trinity SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.09Good21.04%
57The Windsor Boys' SchoolAcademy converterBoys+0.14Good20.76%
58The Bulmershe SchoolCommunity schoolMixed-0.14-20.6%
59King's Academy BinfieldFree schoolsMixed+0.02Good20.51%
60Garth Hill CollegeCommunity schoolMixed-0.21Good19.99%
61Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.02Good19.95%
62Pangbourne CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--19.08%
63Sandhurst SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.37Good18.5%
64Little Heath SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.15Good18.21%
65The Willink SchoolCommunity schoolMixed+0.04Good18.07%
66UTC ReadingUniversity technical collegeMixed-0.8-18.02%
67St Joseph's Catholic High SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.45Good17.79%
68Desborough CollegeAcademy sponsor ledBoys-0.17Good16.53%
69Ditton Park AcademyFree schoolsMixed+0.06Good16.07%
70The Westgate SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.12-15.29%
71King's Academy Easthampstead ParkAcademy converterMixed-0.13Good14.54%
72OakbankFree schoolsMixed-0.38-14.04%
73Cox Green SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.31Requires improvement14%
74Grove AcademyFree schoolsMixed-0.06Inadequate13.69%
75The Brakenhale SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.29Good13.6%
76Slough and Eton Church of England Business and Enterprise CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.17-13.2%
77Altwood Church of England SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.2Good12.99%
78The WREN SchoolFree schoolsMixed-0.13Requires improvement12.1%
79Churchmead Church of England (VA) SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed0-11.06%
80Wexham SchoolCommunity schoolMixed-0.83Good10.1%
81King's Academy ProspectAcademy converterMixed-0.39Good9.37%
82John O'Gaunt SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.53-8.6%
83Lynch Hill Enterprise AcademyFree schoolsMixed-0.63-8.47%
84Padworth CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--6.9%
85John Madejski AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.92-5.78%
86Thames Valley SchoolFree schools specialMixed-1.85Good4.17%
87Beechwood SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.74-2.9%
88Mary Hare SchoolNon-maintained special schoolMixed+0.52Good2.8%
89Queensmead House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--1.96%
90Hamilton SchoolAcademy special sponsor ledMixed-1.79Good0%
91High Close SchoolNon-maintained special schoolMixed-2.52Good0%
92Beech Lodge SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
93New Barn SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
94Red Balloon Learner Centre ReadingOther independent schoolMixed--0%
95The Green Room SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%

Note: Rankings use 2023/2024 CSP data for state-funded schools and may not reflect recent changes, check school websites for the latest information.

Source

All secondary schools in Berkshire

Below is the complete list of secondary schools in Berkshire, including both state-funded and independent schools where data is available. This table provides an at-a-glance view of each school’s key performance metrics, including Progress 8 scores, the percentage of GCSE grades awarded at 9–7, and Ofsted ratings, where published.

School nameTypeGenderProgress 8Ofsted ratingGCSE 9-7%
Addington SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed---
Addington SchoolAcademy special converterMixed-Outstanding-
Al-Madani Girls SchoolOther independent schoolGirls--35.9%
Al-Madani Independent Grammar SchoolOther independent schoolBoys--47.8%
Altwood Church of England SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.2Good12.99%
Arbour Vale SchoolAcademy special sponsor ledMixed-Good-
Baylis Court SchoolAcademy converterGirls+0.6Good28.57%
Beech Lodge SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
Beechwood SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.74-2.9%
Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.02Good19.95%
Bohunt School WokinghamAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.44Good27.6%
Bradfield CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--52.31%
Brockhurst and Marlston House SchoolsOther independent schoolMixed---
Brookfields SchoolAcademy special converterMixed-Outstanding-
Brookfields Special SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed---
Charters SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.25Good34.44%
Chiltern Way Academy WokinghamAcademy special sponsor ledMixed-Outstanding-
Churchmead Church of England (VA) SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed0-11.06%
Claires Court SchoolsOther independent schoolMixed--32.34%
Cox Green SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.31Requires improvement14%
Dedworth Middle SchoolAcademy converterMixed-Good-
Denefield SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.16Good21.17%
Desborough CollegeAcademy sponsor ledBoys-0.17Good16.53%
Ditton Park AcademyFree schoolsMixed+0.06Good16.07%
Dolphin SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
Downe HouseOther independent schoolGirls--72.95%
Eden Girls' School, SloughFree schoolsGirls+1.15Outstanding40.61%
Edgbarrow SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.34Outstanding27.29%
Elstree SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
Engaging PotentialOther independent special schoolMixed---
Eton CollegeOther independent schoolBoys--88.51%
Forest Bridge SchoolFree schools specialMixed-Good-
Furze Platt Senior SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.36Good26.34%
Garth Hill CollegeCommunity schoolMixed-0.21Good19.99%
Grove AcademyFree schoolsMixed-0.06Inadequate13.69%
Groveside SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Hamilton SchoolAcademy special sponsor ledMixed-1.79Good0%
Haywards Farm SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Heathermount SchoolNon-maintained special schoolMixed---
Heathermount SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Heathfield SchoolOther independent schoolGirls--42.34%
Herschel Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.76Outstanding68.82%
High Close SchoolNon-maintained special schoolMixed-2.52Good0%
Highdown School and Sixth Form CentreAcademy converterMixed+0.25Good29.39%
Highfield Preparatory School LimitedOther independent schoolMixed---
Hillingdon Grange SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Holme Grange SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--36.78%
Holyport CollegeFree schoolsMixed+0.58Good34.14%
John Madejski AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-Inadequate-
John Madejski AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.92-5.78%
John O'Gaunt SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.53-8.6%
Kendrick SchoolAcademy converterGirls+1.07Outstanding89.8%
Kennel Lane SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed---
Kennel Lane SchoolAcademy special converterMixed-Good-
Kennet SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.15Good23.14%
King's Academy BinfieldFree schoolsMixed+0.02Good20.51%
King's Academy Easthampstead ParkAcademy converterMixed-0.13Good14.54%
King's Academy ProspectAcademy converterMixed-0.39Good9.37%
LVS AscotOther independent schoolMixed--33.4%
Lambrook SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
Langley Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.75Outstanding74.06%
Langley Hall Arts AcademyOther independent schoolMixed---
Leighton Park SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--45.59%
Little Heath SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed-0.15Good18.21%
Long Close SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--33.63%
Luckley House SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--41.23%
Ludgrove School Trust LimitedOther independent schoolBoys---
Lynch Hill Enterprise AcademyFree schoolsMixed-0.63-8.47%
Maiden Erlegh SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.64Outstanding37.15%
Maiden Erlegh School in ReadingFree schoolsMixed+0.12Good21.41%
Manor Green SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed---
Manor Green SchoolAcademy special converterMixed-Good-
Mary Hare SchoolNon-maintained special schoolMixed+0.52Good2.8%
New Barn SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
Newbury CollegeFurther educationMixed---
Newlands Girls' SchoolAcademy converterGirls+0.66Outstanding37%
Northcroft Vocational SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Oak Tree SchoolFree schools specialMixed---
OakbankFree schoolsMixed-0.38-14.04%
Oaklands SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Odyssey House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Odyssey House School - WokinghamOther independent special schoolMixed---
OneSchool Global Reading Senior CampusOther independent schoolMixed--39.39%
Padworth CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--6.9%
Pangbourne CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--19.08%
Papplewick SchoolOther independent schoolBoys---
Park House SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.6-29.55%
Priors Court SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
Queen Anne's SchoolOther independent schoolGirls--60.64%
Queensmead House SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--1.96%
Ranelagh SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.59-30.47%
Reading Blue Coat SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--69.18%
Reading Girls' SchoolAcademy sponsor ledGirls+0.05Good23.88%
Reading SchoolAcademy converterBoys+0.89Outstanding85.3%
Red Balloon Learner Centre ReadingOther independent schoolMixed--0%
Reddam House BerkshireOther independent schoolMixed--46.75%
River AcademyFree schoolsMixed---
Sandhurst SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.37Good18.5%
Slough and Eton Church of England Business and Enterprise CollegeAcademy converterMixed-0.17-13.2%
St Andrew's SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
St Bartholomew's SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.37Outstanding34.64%
St Bernard's Catholic Grammar SchoolVoluntary aided schoolMixed+0.93Outstanding71.9%
St Crispin's SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.52Good32.53%
St Edward's Royal Free Ecumenical Middle School, WindsorVoluntary aided schoolMixed-Good-
St Gabriel's SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--39.47%
St George's SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
St George's SchoolOther independent schoolGirls--56.25%
St Joseph's Catholic High SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.45Good17.79%
St Joseph's CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--42.26%
St Mary's School AscotOther independent schoolGirls--80.95%
St Peter's Church of England Middle SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-Good-
Sunningdale SchoolOther independent schoolBoys---
Thames Valley SchoolFree schools specialMixed-1.85Good4.17%
The Abbey School ReadingOther independent schoolGirls--83.96%
The Avenue Special SchoolAcademy special converterMixed-Good-
The Brakenhale SchoolAcademy sponsor ledMixed-0.29Good13.6%
The Bulmershe SchoolAcademy converterMixed-Good-
The Bulmershe SchoolCommunity schoolMixed-0.14-20.6%
The Castle SchoolCommunity special schoolMixed-Outstanding-
The Deenway Montessori SchoolOther independent schoolMixed---
The Downs SchoolFoundation schoolMixed+0.32-25.92%
The Emmbrook SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.01Good23.31%
The Forest SchoolAcademy converterMixed-0.12Good23.84%
The Grange SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
The Green Room SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed--0%
The Holt SchoolAcademy converterGirls+0.96Outstanding48.1%
The King's House School, WindsorOther independent schoolMixed---
The Langley AcademyAcademy sponsor ledMixed+0.48Good24.72%
The Marist SchoolOther independent schoolMixed--62.52%
The Mile House Therapeutic SchoolOther independent special schoolMixed---
The Piggott SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.74Good37.13%
The WREN SchoolFree schoolsMixed-0.13Requires improvement12.1%
The Westgate SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.12-15.29%
The Willink SchoolCommunity schoolMixed+0.04Good18.07%
The Windsor Boys' SchoolAcademy converterBoys+0.14Good20.76%
Trevelyan Middle SchoolAcademy converterMixed-Good-
Trinity SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.09Good21.04%
UTC ReadingUniversity technical collegeMixed-0.8-18.02%
Upton Court Grammar SchoolAcademy converterMixed+0.85Outstanding77.17%
WaingelsAcademy converterMixed+0.21Good24.25%
Wellington CollegeOther independent schoolMixed--77.72%
Wellington College PrepOther independent schoolMixed---
Wexham SchoolCommunity schoolMixed-0.83Good10.1%
Windsor Girls' SchoolAcademy converterGirls+0.12Requires improvement24.17%

Source

Disclaimer

All data on this page is sourced from the Department for Education’s 2023/2024 Compare School Performance dataset. It includes state-funded and, where available, independent secondary schools. Some schools may be missing data for Progress 8 scores, GCSE 9–7 results, or Ofsted ratings due to unpublished or unavailable figures. Rankings are based only on schools with published data and may not reflect recent changes. Please check school websites for the latest information.

How we ranked the best schools in Berkshire?

Why trust our rankings? Our analysis is based on the latest 2023/2024 data from the Department for Education’s Compare School Performance (CSP) database, which publishes official performance data for all secondary schools in England, including both state-funded and independent schools where available.

We’ve created separate tables to highlight top performers in three key areas:

  • Progress 8 (pupil progress from KS2 to GCSE)
  • GCSE 9–7 grades (academic excellence)
  • Overall school listings, with available Ofsted ratings

Schools are primarily ranked by their Progress 8 score. This clever metric doesn’t just reward schools with high-attaining intakes – it highlights the ones that genuinely support student growth by measuring progress from the end of primary school to GCSEs. It adjusts for prior attainment, making it one of the fairest ways to compare schools.

Where available, we also show the percentage of GCSE grades at 9–7 to reflect high academic achievement, and Ofsted ratings for added context. All figures come directly from CSP’s official dataset.

Where Progress 8 data is not available for any schools in Berkshire, the corresponding table will not be shown. This simply means that no schools in this area had published Progress 8 scores at the time of the latest dataset, it does not reflect on the quality of the schools themselves.

How to support your child at home

Helping your child succeed at school doesn’t just happen in the classroom, the right support at home can make a big difference. Encourage a regular study routine, provide a quiet space for learning, and take an interest in what they’re covering in lessons. Even small actions, like checking in on homework or discussing what they learned that day, can build motivation and accountability.

If you’re looking for extra structure, our GCSE Revision Resources are designed to make studying easier. With expert-written notes, topic-by-topic exam questions, and mark schemes, your child can practise exactly what they need to know, when they need to know it.

Boosting confidence before exams

Confidence can make a huge difference to exam performance. Start by helping your child identify their strengths and weaknesses, then focus revision time on areas that need improvement. Practising under timed conditions can reduce exam-day nerves, while celebrating small wins along the way builds self-belief.

Our GCSE Exam Practice pages include hundreds of past-paper style questions and worked solutions, so students can walk into their exams knowing exactly what to expect. By building familiarity with the question styles and formats, they’ll feel prepared and ready to perform at their best.

Share this article

FAQs - best secondary schools in Berkshire

Based on the latest Department for Education CSP data, the highest-rated secondary school in Berkshire is Eden Girls' School, Slough by Progress 8 and Kendrick School by GCSE 9–7 results. In the case of an exact tie across these measures, the first school in alphabetical order is shown here. For full details and to compare all schools, please refer to the performance tables above.
No. This guide covers state-funded secondary schools only, including grammar, comprehensive, academy, and free schools. Independent/private schools are not included in our rankings.
Applications are usually managed by Berkshire County Council. You can find deadlines, admissions policies, and catchment area maps on the council’s official website.
Use Ofsted inspection reports, the Department for Education’s CSP performance tables, and our rankings to compare schools side by side. Visit schools during open days for first-hand impressions.
Ofsted rates secondary schools as Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, or Inadequate. Outstanding secondary schools excel in teaching quality, student behaviour, leadership, and outcomes.
A Progress 8 score above 0 means students make better progress than the national average. Scores above +0.5 indicate well above average progress, while top-performing secondary schools typically achieve +0.7 or higher. The best schools in Berkshire consistently score above +0.8.

Explore our GCSE study tools