Reading has two outstanding grammar schools — Reading School (boys, founded 1125, making it the second-oldest school in England) and Kendrick School (girls). Both regularly feature in England's top 10 state schools for results.
Test format
Both schools use the same Slough Consortium test (Reading is administered as part of the Slough & Reading group), with two papers sat in early September of Year 6:
- Paper 1 — English and Verbal Reasoning combined (~60 min).
- Paper 2 — Maths and Non-Verbal Reasoning combined (~60 min).
Qualifying score
Both Reading School and Kendrick School use a qualifying score of around 121 standardised. Reading School then ranks by distance from the school gate. Kendrick uses a similar distance tie-break.
Catchment
Reading School effectively draws from a 4-mile radius. Kendrick has historically had a wider catchment due to weaker public transport links for some applicants.
Preparation
The Slough Consortium format makes English papers comparatively long. Quest Arena's mock library includes Reading/Kendrick-style mocks under the "Slough Consortium" tag.