Highdown School
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox school
| name = Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre
| image = Highdown School logo.svg
| image_size = 160px
| caption =
| coordinates = {{coord|51.481551|-0.975113|type:edu_region:GB_dim:100|format=dec|display=inline,title}}
| motto = Aspire and Achieve
| established = 1971
| closed =
| type = Academy
| religious_affiliation =
| president =
| head_label =
| head = Laura Mathews
| r_head_label =
| r_head =
| chair_label = Chair Of Governors
| chair = A Rajantie
| founder =
| specialist = Maths and Computing
| address = Surley Row
| city = Reading
| county = Berkshire
| country = England
| postcode = RG4 8LR
| local_authority = Reading Borough Council
| dfeno =
| urn = 136307
| ofsted = Good
| staff =
| enrolment = 1550
| gender = Mixed
| lower_age = 11
| upper_age = 18
| houses =
| colours = Black, red, and white {{color box|Black}} {{color box|Red}} {{color box|White}}
| publication =
| free_label_1 =
| free_1 =
| free_label_2 =
| free_2 =
| free_label_3 =
| free_3 =
| website = http://www.highdown.reading.sch.uk/
}}
Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre is an academy in Emmer Green on the outskirts of Reading, Berkshire, England. It has a capacity for approximately 1600 students aged 11–18. There are currently 1459 students on roll at the school with 262 students attending the Sixth Form.{{cite web|title=DfE : Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre|url=https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/136307/highdown-school-and-sixth-form-centre/absence-and-pupil-population|access-date=3 March 2020}} Highdown School is a non-selective school with provision for Special Education Needs and is a specialist school for maths and computing.{{cite web |title=Department of Education |url=https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/136307/highdown-school-and-sixth-form-centre/16-to-18 |access-date=3 March 2020}} Laura Mathews has been the head teacher since January 2025.{{cite web |title=Headteacher's Welcome |url=https://www.highdown.reading.sch.uk/page/?title=Headteacher%27s+Welcome&pid=373 |access-date=3 March 2020}} The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, in 2024, rated the school "good".{{cite web |title=GOV.UK |url=https://www.compare-school-performance.service.gov.uk/school/136307/highdown-school-and-sixth-form-centre/secondary |access-date=3 March 2020}}
History
Grove house, a grade II listed building on the school grounds was built in the 1780s as a small farmhouse for thirty acres of arable farmland.{{Cite web|url=https://www.highdown.reading.sch.uk/page/?title=Highdown%27s+History&pid=278|title=Highdown's History|website=Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre|access-date=20 February 2020}}
Highdown School was established as a comprehensive school in September 1971.{{cite web|title=School Information |url=http://www.highdown.reading.sch.uk/page/?title=School+Information&pid=494 |publisher=Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre |access-date=2 May 2011 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604153257/http://www.highdown.reading.sch.uk/page/?title=School+Information&pid=494 |archive-date=4 June 2011 }}
Highdown School has three Grade II listed buildings within its grounds. The main building was altered and extended by Richard Norman Shaw from 1878–80.{{cite web|title=Highdown School, Reading|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-39200-highdown-school-reading|publisher=British Listed Buildings|access-date=3 June 2011}}{{cite web|title=Music Room at Highdown School, Emmer Green, Reading, Reading|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-39197-music-room-at-highdown-school-emmer-green|publisher=British Listed Buildings|access-date=3 June 2011}}{{cite web|title=The Stable Block at Highdown School, Emmer Green, Reading|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-39198-the-stable-block-at-highdown-school-emmer|publisher=British Listed Buildings|access-date=3 June 2011}}
On 1 November 2010, Highdown School became an independently run academy after being judged outstanding by Ofsted.{{cite web|title=Academy Status |url=http://www.highdown.reading.sch.uk/news/?pid=502&nid=66&storyid=332 |publisher=Highdown School and Sixth Form Centre |access-date=2 May 2011 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726220703/http://www.highdown.reading.sch.uk/news/?pid=502&nid=66&storyid=332 |archive-date=26 July 2011 }} It was the first school in Berkshire to be awarded academy status.{{cite news|title=Reading's Highdown School given academy status|date=31 October 2010|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-11660984|publisher=BBC News|access-date=21 December 2013}} During April 2015 Highdown School was judged as "Good" by Ofsted.{{Cite web|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/highdown-school-good-says-ofsted-9313940|title=Highdown School is "good" says Ofsted|date=22 May 2015}}
On 6 December 2012, the school’s governing body announced that Rachel Cave, formerly a Deputy Headteacher at The Heathland School in Hounslow, would take over the school from Easter 2013, replacing Tim Royle, Headteacher of 13 years.{{cite web|title=New Highdown head "excited" to be taking over school 7 Dec 2012 00:00|date=7 December 2012|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/new-highdown-head-excited-taking-4193571|access-date=20 December 2013}}
Controversy
Former headteacher Timothy Royle was accused of three counts of fraud and one count of theft in a case at Reading Magistrates Court.{{Cite web|url=https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/former-highdown-school-headteacher-tim-7604483|title=\Former Highdown School headteacher Tim Royle denies fraud charges|website=Berkshire Live|date=13 August 2014|access-date=4 March 2020}}
Royle was accused of falsely reporting how bursary funds were being spent, keeping £7,000 and stealing computers and computer equipment from the school.{{Cite web|url=https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/highdown-school-headteacher-tim-royle-8763195|title=Highdown School headteacher Tim Royle stole cash, computers and cameras, court hears|website=Get Reading|date=3 March 2015|access-date=4 March 2020}} The ex-headteacher was one of the first appointed National Leaders in Education to advise the Government on education policy who left the school in December 2012.{{Cite web|url=https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/local-news/former-highdown-school-headteacher-tim-7604483|title=Former Highdown School headteacher Tim Royle denies fraud charges|website=Berkshire Live|date=13 August 2014|access-date=4 March 2020}} He was cleared of these charges in March 2015.{{Cite web|url=https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/timothy-royle-trial-former-highdown-8805192|title=Timothy Royle trial: Former Highdown School headteacher CLEARED of fraud charges|website=Berkshire Live|date=9 March 2015|access-date=4 March 2020}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|www.highdown.reading.sch.uk}}
{{Schools in Berkshire}}
{{Listed buildings in Reading}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Educational institutions established in 1971
Category:Grade II listed buildings in Reading
Category:Richard Norman Shaw buildings