Denefield School

Denefield School exhibits a good overall performance characterized by its inclusive and ambitious approach towards education. The school promotes high expectations among pupils, including those with special educational needs, and has developed a rich curriculum that enhances learning in all key stages. Notably, the 'Success For Life' programme fosters personal development and helps students navigate life's complexities. Despite these strengths, there's room for improvement in ensuring consistent assessment practices and meeting the varying needs of students, particularly those with SEND, to enhance their learning experiences fully. Additionally, the sixth form's personal development strategies require further embedding to cultivate independent skills among students.

Strengths

• Inclusive and caring school environment
• High expectations for pupil achievement
• Well-developed and ambitious curriculum
• Strong emphasis on reading and literacy support
• Excellent pastoral provision
• Effective careers education from Year 7 to 13
• Extensive extra-curricular activities and trips
• Supportive professional development for staff

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent depth in assessment practices
• Some pupils with SEND do not fully access learning activities
• Strategies for personal development in the sixth form are not fully embedded

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Denefield School attended 91.1% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 24.4% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 7.2% of pupils at Denefield School were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 2 pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Denefield School had 18.0 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 5.8% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 22.1% of pupils at Denefield School were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 2.6% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Denefield School received £7,455 and spent £7,355 for each of its 1,144 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £553,000 (£483 per pupil).

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Reading · West Berkshire local authority: places and applications

What is Denefield School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Denefield School is Good, from an inspection in December 2023.

When was Denefield School last inspected by Ofsted?

Denefield School was last inspected in December 2023.

How many pupils does Denefield School have?

Denefield School has 1,171 pupils on roll.

What age range does Denefield School cover?

Denefield School for pupils aged 11 to 18.

What are Denefield School's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 49.0, and 49% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Denefield School?

Denefield School is at Long Lane, Tilehurst, Reading, Berkshire, RG31 6XY.