READING RESULTS 2018 (2019 entry)

[Gloriousparent]

For those who are more visual, here is a table recapping Reading school's admission history. Apologies I could not find a way to centre justify the numbers in the columns.

Data Point	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Day places	110	138	138	138	138
Qualifying grade	110	110	108	108	108
Sat at Reading	n/a	675	697	737	873
Sat elsewhere	n/a	746	184	238	309
Total candidates	n/a	1421	881	975	1182
Qualified total	n/a	365	282	317	361
% of total candidates	n/a	26%	32%	33%	31%
Qualified in area	n/a	189	198	200	230
% of total candidates	n/a	13%	22%	21%	19%
Lowest admitted score	112.69	111.79	110.69	110.45	n/a

What is interesting is that even though these are standardised scores, the % of children at 108+ keeps reducing, implying a tighter bell curve, and the admission score keeps going down even though the number of qualifying children goes up every year.
However, this is the biggest jump in qualifying kids in the recorded years: +11 from 2016-2018, and +30 this year. Curious to know what is driving this? More tutoring? Economy forcing some parents out of private schools? Or simply the effect of the birth rates 10 year ago?

Hi Confusedfather,

I think I know the answer to your question - "Immigration".

The immigrants in Reading are mostly from Asia and South Asia in particular. They all immigrated in the country from 1997 (Before Y2K bug) - 2010 Period mostly form the IT background. After 2010 the gates were closed. It is this community which has now matured with kids and emphasis on education, causing huge demand on Grammar school places.

You would see the impact of this community in other areas as well like housing. Reading having geographical advantages is the favoured location.

Nothing against the community, but this would help you answer the questions.

Ciao

[wasabi1]

My DS got 111.67 wonder if he will make it to the cutoff this year. When will we get any clarity ?

[ConfusedFather]

My DS got 111.67 wonder if he will make it to the cutoff this year. When will we get any clarity ?

March 1st I am afraid, all the rest is musing and hypothesising with no real data to support any sort of calculations.
I share your frustration.

[thatdayistoday]

Hello
do you think Reading School will announce the anonymised scores with the catchment in/out information so we can see what raking our child has?? It appears they disclosed this information last year but the current FAQ says they won't do this before March 2019. Am I understanding this correctly?

[Tinkers]

For those who are more visual, here is a table recapping Reading school's admission history. Apologies I could not find a way to centre justify the numbers in the columns.

Data Point	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Day places	110	138	138	138	138
Qualifying grade	110	110	108	108	108
Sat at Reading	n/a	675	697	737	873
Sat elsewhere	n/a	746	184	238	309
Total candidates	n/a	1421	881	975	1182
Qualified total	n/a	365	282	317	361
% of total candidates	n/a	26%	32%	33%	31%
Qualified in area	n/a	189	198	200	230
% of total candidates	n/a	13%	22%	21%	19%
Lowest admitted score	112.69	111.79	110.69	110.45	n/a

What is interesting is that even though these are standardised scores, the % of children at 108+ keeps reducing, implying a tighter bell curve, and the admission score keeps going down even though the number of qualifying children goes up every year.
However, this is the biggest jump in qualifying kids in the recorded years: +11 from 2016-2018, and +30 this year. Curious to know what is driving this? More tutoring? Economy forcing some parents out of private schools? Or simply the effect of the birth rates 10 year ago?

There has been a recent increase in PAN in the last couple of years to factor in. The historic data thread will pinpoint which year.

[tonyheung]

PAN = Published Admission Number, in case anyone ask. Increased from 110 to 138.

For those who are more visual, here is a table recapping Reading school's admission history. Apologies I could not find a way to centre justify the numbers in the columns.

Data Point	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Day places	110	138	138	138	138
Qualifying grade	110	110	108	108	108
Sat at Reading	n/a	675	697	737	873
Sat elsewhere	n/a	746	184	238	309
Total candidates	n/a	1421	881	975	1182
Qualified total	n/a	365	282	317	361
% of total candidates	n/a	26%	32%	33%	31%
Qualified in area	n/a	189	198	200	230
% of total candidates	n/a	13%	22%	21%	19%
Lowest admitted score	112.69	111.79	110.69	110.45	n/a

What is interesting is that even though these are standardised scores, the % of children at 108+ keeps reducing, implying a tighter bell curve, and the admission score keeps going down even though the number of qualifying children goes up every year.
However, this is the biggest jump in qualifying kids in the recorded years: +11 from 2016-2018, and +30 this year. Curious to know what is driving this? More tutoring? Economy forcing some parents out of private schools? Or simply the effect of the birth rates 10 year ago?

There has been a recent increase in PAN in the last couple of years to factor in. The historic data thread will pinpoint which year.

[ConfusedFather]

And it's the first line of the table

Though why increasing the PAN increases the number of children above qualifying grade is still unclear. A 30 jump (+15%) in one year is very sizeable, and would be surprising if driven by birth rates alone.

[elf01]

Really disappointed that DS scored just 105.50.
He was doing well but then it's the performance on the day that matters. Maybe Reading school wasn't the right school for him as he's a very sporty and playful boy and doesn't have the seriousness.
Could someone please enlighten me on state schools that we can apply to? We are in spencers Wood and the only school closest is Oakbank but we aren't too keen on it.
Congratulations to all those that passed

Don't be disappointed - that would have got him into every Slough grammar - tell him that! His score of 115 (approximate to Slough - add '10') is comfortably above the 111 for Slough. Everyone seems to forget it is the same exam and that Kendrick/Reading are superselective schools with huge catchments. The reason that the mark is 'higher' for Slough is that more kids take it so the distribution of the scores is wider (don't forget it is not an absolute mark but calculated using standard deviation). Depending how tight the distribution of the marks, a '105' may only be a few percent below a 112. That is why the exam is actually quite 'cruel' in a superselective area - all the kids are bright. A kid getting 105 is a clever, able child - particularly if they lean to the maths/nvr side which is only 50% of the paper - the verbal side the tutorable side for many (some don't need it if gifted in language) - unfortunate but true. Take heart - your kid will do well and should feel confident with that score NOT less confident.

[elf01]

Having had a DD go through Kendrick and now in sixth form I’d just add that’s it not a high pressure environment, and not everyone get 11 grade 9s, not by any means.

Absolutely - for those that are superselective, bright kids. But many are put through 11+ who are not at that standard naturally and those that are tutored from 6 or 7 may struggle (I have met such children) - and these kids are known to do better being at the top of a comprehensive. This is an unusual case in Reading when the only other option to comp is a superselective (different if you live in Kent for example where the top 25% or so go to grammar and there is greater variation). So, if they haven't excelled at the 11+ with a 'safe' mark (which to be fair all entrants will have done anyway) - there is not a lot of point in angst over 'not passing' for those who have not got the required mark as they would have found it overwhelming at a superselective and should not be there. ALL the children who sat the 11+ have parents who care about education - this is the one factor that will make the difference. It would be nice to think that all the 11+ parental energy will continue to be pushed into schools. Roll on the GCSEs - that's what will make a difference to your child - not 11+. Quite possible to get 15 gcses with 8A* in a comp - far more likely to be snapped up by Oxbridge!! Its the parents that matter -your child can do anything if you are there to guide them - children of parents of this website are the lucky ones - a grammar/comp place will only make a difference if you let it - just keep up the work (or tutoring if that's what you have been doing) at home. I promised to buy my DC a GCSE maths book if it wasn't a passing grade (I said I wouldn't bother if it was a pass!).

[melsby]

I was kind of hoping for the coup de grâce when the reading boys results arrived. My son scored 111.15 so it seems the coin is still spinning as far as I can see. With the increase in catchment passes from 200 to 230 who knows if he will make the cut. March seems a very long way away.