Reading Blue Coat School

Who we are

Reading Blue Coat is a leading independent day school of 785 pupils; 705 boys aged 11 – 18 and a further 80 girls in the co-educational sixth form.

The School was founded in 1646 by Richard Aldworth, a Master of The Skinners’ Company and a Governor of Christ’s Hospital.  The School was established near St Mary’s Minster Church in Reading and was originally known by its historic name of Aldworth’s Hospital. In 1947, Reading Blue Coat School moved to the magnificent estate of Holme Park in the Berkshire village of Sonning, where it remains today.

The ethos of the School derives from its Christian foundation and traditions, fostering care and concern within the community and enabling all pupils to develop their full potential. The School aims to provide a stimulating and friendly atmosphere in which each pupil can realise his or her full intellectual, physical and creative potential. Pupils are encouraged to be self-reliant and adaptable, and the School intends that they will learn the basis of good citizenship, founded on honesty, fairness and understanding of the needs of others. The curriculum provides a balanced blend of academic and non-academic activities that combine to meet these objectives.

The most recent full ISI Inspection was in November 2019 from which we achieved the highest rating possible in all categories of the inspection. 

The School employs in excess of 170 salaried staff, of whom about 50% are academic. Reflecting the character of our co-educational sixth form, nearly half of our academic staff are female.