School profile

Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School

Secondary · Voluntary aided school · Reading, RG30 3EP

Good

Map showing Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School

Schools
Numbers on map: pupil ages
Outstanding
Good
Requires improvement
Inadequate
Not rated

National ranking

GCSE 2025/26

#1,577 of 3,312

Similar to most schools in England

Ranked by Attainment 8 score, state-funded mainstream schools.

A-level 2024/25

#1,604 of 2,536

Worse than 63% of schools in England

Ranked by average points per A-level entry.

Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School Ofsted rating

Ofsted four-point inspection gradesInspected 21 Nov 2012

Ofsted rating
Good
Leadership and management
Good

School facts

PhaseSecondary
TypeVoluntary aided school
Ages11 to 18
Pupils1,082
GenderMixed
Religious characterRoman Catholic
Admissions policyNon-selective
Head teacherDr Simon Uttley
Local authorityReading
WebsiteVisit

Source: Get Information about Schools, URN 110107.

GCSE results

2025/26

GCSE and equivalent results at the end of year 11. Attainment 8 averages results across 8 subjects.

MeasureThis schoolReadingEngland
Attainment 8 scoreResults across 8 subjects, English and maths count twice. 50 is about a grade 5 average.46.3, similar to England, worse than Reading51.146.2
Grade 4 or above in English and mathsGrade 4 is a standard pass.61.8%, similar to England, worse than Reading67.9%64.8%
Grade 5 or above in English and mathsGrade 5 is a strong pass.44.6%, similar to England, worse than Reading54.7%46.3%
Grade 7 or above in English and mathsGrade 7 is roughly an old A grade.12.9%, similar to England, worse than Reading27.4%14.2%
5 or more GCSEs at grade 9-4, including English and maths58.6%, similar to England, worse than Reading64%60.2%
Pupils at the end of key stage 4186--

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 performance, Academic year 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

A-level results

2024/25

Results for students at the end of 16 to 18 study.

MeasureThis schoolReadingEngland
Average points per A-level entryA* is 60, A is 50, B is 40, C is 30, D is 20, E is 10.31.51, worse than England, worse than Reading37.7335
Average A-level gradeC--
Average points, best three A-levels33.06, worse than England, worse than Reading38.5935.78
Average grade, best three A-levelsC+--
AAB or better8.3%, worse than England, worse than Reading36.1%17.5%
A-level progress scoreCompared with students with similar GCSE results. 0 is average.-0.07, similar to England--
A-level progressAverage, similar to England--
Students at the end of 16 to 18 study46--
Average applied general gradeVocational qualifications, such as BTECs.Merit+--

Source: DfE, 16 to 19 performance, Academic year 2024/25, published 23 Apr 2026.

Pupils

2025/26

Pupils at the January school census.

MeasureThis school
Total pupils1,082
Girls536
Boys546
Eligible for free school mealsPupils from low-income families who can get free school meals.20.1%
First language not English37.8%
School places2024/25Capacity, not including nursery.1,072
Unfilled placesShare of school places not taken.0%
Sixth form places2024/25172
SEN supportPupils with special educational needs who get extra help at school.122
EHC planEducation, health and care plan: a legal plan for pupils with more complex needs.59
Average class size23.8

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics and School capacity, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Pupils ethnicity

2025/26

Share of pupils in each ethnic group, as recorded at the January school census.

Pupils ethnicity

White British
23.5%
African
19.8%
Other White
18.3%
Indian
8.8%
Other Asian
7.9%
White and Black Caribbean
4.2%
Other mixed
3.9%
Other Black
3.4%
White and Black African
2%
White and Asian
1.8%

Source: DfE, Schools, pupils and their characteristics, Academic year 2025/26, published 04 Jun 2026.

Teachers and staff

2025/26

Staff numbers are full-time equivalent (FTE). Teacher turnover shows where the school's teachers were by the following year's census.

MeasureThis school
Pupils per teacher16.8
Pupils per adultAdults include teaching assistants.11.4
Teachers (FTE)64.5
Teaching assistants (FTE)23.77
Support staff (FTE)50.38
Teachers in census year (FTE)2024/2561.4
Teachers who stayed (FTE)2024/2554.3
Teachers who moved to another state school (FTE)2024/250
Teachers who left state schools (FTE)2024/257.1

Source: DfE, School workforce in England, Reporting year 2025, published 04 Jun 2026.

Admissions

2026/27

Applications and offers for the main entry points. Offers from oversubscribed schools depend on each school's admissions criteria; check the local authority admissions page.

MeasureThis school
Offers made (Year 7)Places offered on national offer day.174
Applications (Year 7)Includes every preference parents listed.345
First preference applications (Year 7)Families who put this school as their first choice.132
First preference offers (Year 7)First-choice applicants who were offered a place.132
Applications from another local authority (Year 7)18

Source: DfE, Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, published 18 Jun 2026.

Attendance

2025/26

Share of possible sessions missed.

MeasureThis schoolReadingEngland
Overall absence7.7%, similar to England, similar to Reading7.8%8%
Persistent absencePupils missing 10% or more of sessions.18.5%, better than England, similar to Reading20.1%21.6%
Severe absencePupils missing 50% or more of sessions.4.2%, worse than England, worse than Reading3.4%3.6%

Source: DfE, Pupil absence in schools in England, Autumn and spring term 2025/26, published 15 Oct 2026.

Suspensions and exclusions

2024/25

Suspension rate is the number of suspensions per 100 pupils, so one pupil can be counted more than once. A permanently excluded pupil is removed from the school roll.

MeasureThis school
Suspension rate11.1%
Pupils with one or more suspensions6.7%
Permanent exclusion rate0.1%
Permanent exclusions1

Source: DfE, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England, Academic year 2024/25, published 09 Jul 2026.

Destinations after GCSEs

2023/24

Where pupils went after year 11, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.92.2%
Staying in educationSixth form, college or further education.89.4%
School sixth form58.1%
Further education26.8%
Sixth form college4.5%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.2.2%
Employment1.7%
Apprenticeship1.1%

Source: DfE, Key stage 4 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Destinations after A-levels

2023/24

Where students went after 16 to 18 study, sustained for at least two terms.

MeasureThis school
Sustained destinationIn education, an apprenticeship or work for at least two terms.92.2%
Higher education72.5%
Employment15.7%
Not sustainedDid not stay in education, an apprenticeship or work for two terms.5.9%
Apprenticeship2%
Further education0%

Source: DfE, 16 to 18 destination measures, Academic year 2024/25, published 15 Oct 2026.

Nearby schools

Ratings include official Ofsted judgements and Area360 summaries of inspection grades. Open a school’s profile for its inspection grades and results.

Schools near Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School
DistancePhaseNameTypeRatingLinks
0.2 miPrimarySouthcote Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.2 miSecondaryThe WREN SchoolFree schools
Good
0.6 miPrimaryManor Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.6 miSecondaryKing's Academy ProspectAcademy converter
Good
0.7 miNot applicableSt Edward's PrepOther independent school
Unrated
0.7 miPrimaryBattle Primary AcademyAcademy sponsor led
Outstanding
0.8 miPrimarySt Mary & All Saints Church of England Primary SchoolAcademy sponsor led
Good
0.8 miPrimaryWilson Primary SchoolCommunity school
Good
0.8 miPrimaryAll Saints Church of England Aided Infant SchoolVoluntary aided school
Outstanding
0.8 miPrimaryAll Saints Junior SchoolFree schools
Outstanding

Frequently asked questions about Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School

What is Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School's Ofsted rating?

Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School is rated Good by Ofsted, last inspected on 21 Nov 2012.

How does Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School rank in England?

Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School ranks 1,577 of 3,312 schools in England for GCSE 2025/26 (similar to most schools) and 1,604 of 2,536 schools in England for A-level 2024/25 (worse than 63% of schools).

What are Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School's GCSE results?

In 2025/26, 44.6% of pupils at Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School got grade 5 or above in English and maths (England 46.3%). The Attainment 8 score was 46.3 (England 46.2).

What are Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School's A-level results?

In 2024/25, the average A-level grade at Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School was C, and 8.3% of students got AAB or better (England 17.5%).

How hard is it to get into Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School?

For Year 7 entry in 2026/27, Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School made 174 offers from 345 applications (2 per offer), and 132 of 132 first-preference applicants got a place. Applications include every preference parents listed.

How many pupils attend Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School?

Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School has 1,082 pupils aged 11 to 18.

What is the capacity of Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School?

Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School had 1,072 school places in 2024/25.

Does Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School have a sixth form?

Yes, Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School has a sixth form with 172 places in 2024/25.

How big are classes at Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School?

At Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School, the average class had 23.8 pupils in 2025/26, and there were 16.8 pupils per teacher.

What is attendance like at Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School?

In 2025/26, pupils at Blessed Hugh Faringdon Catholic School missed 7.7% of sessions (England 8%), and 18.5% were persistently absent, missing 10% or more of sessions (England 21.6%).

Figures are the latest published by the Department for Education for each measure. Small numbers are suppressed by the publisher to protect pupils' privacy. Read how Area360 school ratings and rankings work.