The Bearwood Estate, with its magnificent 1865 Victorian mansion at its heart, houses a school that bears little resemblance to its predecessor. In 2015, Reddam House Berkshire arrived here, transforming a troubled heritage institution into a vibrant 670-student through-school where academic rigour sits comfortably alongside serious sporting achievement and performing arts. Set across 125 acres of parkland just 40 miles west of London, the campus feels removed from the ordinary but never isolated. With day and boarding options for students from age three to 19, this independent school operates from the philosophy that excellence emerges from breadth, not specialisation. The 2022 ISI inspection awarded the school Outstanding in Early Learning Years and Excellent across all other phases, placing it firmly among the highest-performing independent schools in England (FindMySchool ranking).
Step through the Victorian stone archways onto the Reddam House campus and you immediately sense intentionality. The mansion, which Nikolaus Pevsner described as "the climax of country mansions," now pulses with contemporary learning. Classrooms feature the latest technology, including VR headsets for Metaverse learning experiences. Yet the historic bones remain; there is something grounding about studying physics in a building that has stood for 150 years.
Principal Rick Cross leads the school with expertise earned through roles at Oundle and King's College, demonstrating the calibre of leadership the institution attracts. The three curriculum pillars, Academic Excellence, Performing and Creative Arts, and Sport, are not marketing language here; they are genuinely embedded in daily experience. Students are not tracked or sorted early; instead, the school's CHEX Programme (Challenge and Extension for all) ensures that teaching moves beyond the basics for every learner.
The pastoral infrastructure is substantial. Three dedicated boarding houses, Drake House, Blake House, and The Loft, accommodate students from Year 7 onwards. The Loft, completed in 2022, sits atop the mansion with views over the lake. Boarders speak of a genuine international community; students come from over 50 countries. Relationships, respect, and responsibility form the school's pastoral trinity, operationalised through house systems, tutor groups, and daily interaction with specialist staff.
Across the two examination cohorts Reddam House demonstrates consistent strength well above England averages. At GCSE, 60% of entries achieved grades 9-7, compared to the England average of 54%. This places the school in the top 10% for GCSE performance (FindMySchool ranking of 291st in England). The school's own messaging understates the achievement, claiming results are "more than double" the England average for top grades, in raw percentage terms, the school does not reach that threshold, but the consistency and breadth of high achievement across all subjects suggests real depth.
Locally, the school ranks 1st among Wokingham schools for GCSE outcomes, a significant positioning in a competitive area.
At A-level, 63% of grades achieved A*-B, compared to the England average of 47%. This performance places Reddam House in the top 25% of sixth form providers (FindMySchool ranking of 597th in England). 28% of grades were A*, indicating that the school not only achieves top grades broadly but does so at the highest level for a significant proportion of students.
The breadth of A-level subjects on offer (26 subjects, including Classical Greek and Russian) reflects the school's commitment to genuine choice. Students choose 4-5 subjects for depth, with the option to extend to 5-6 with evidence of excellence.
In the 2024 leavers cohort, 51% of students progressed to university, with a significant proportion securing Russell Group places. The school claims over 60% of boarders receive Russell Group offers. One student in 2024 secured a Cambridge place, with five further applications to Oxford. While Oxbridge numbers remain modest in absolute terms, they represent sustained engagement with elite institutions. Beyond Oxbridge, placements regularly include Imperial College, UCL, Durham, Edinburgh, and Bristol.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
62.96%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
60%
% of students achieving grades 9-7
The teaching model at Reddam House prioritises specialist expertise paired with small class sizes. Most classes have fewer than 20 students; sixth form subjects operate with classes typically below 10. This ratio allows the personalised tutoring that the school emphasises. Every sixth form student receives weekly one-to-one meetings with their tutor throughout the course of study.
The CHEX Programme sits at the heart of pedagogy. This framework ensures that lessons contain explicit challenge and extension opportunities built in for all learners, not as afterthought enrichment. It manifests as extension exercises within lessons, higher-order questioning, and the explicit expectation that success emerges from effort and strategic learning, not innate ability.
The curriculum emphasis on breadth in earlier years, with 10 GCSEs covering core subjects and genuine choice across humanities, sciences, languages, and the arts, reflects a school philosophy that specialisation comes later. The school offers public speaking as a timetabled lesson until Year 9, building confidence in communication as a baseline competency.
The progression pathway from Reddam House is deliberately diverse. The school's university guidance programme begins formally in Year 12 and includes one-to-one support for applications, interview preparation, and gap year planning. Beyond university, the school acknowledges that not all students follow this path; in the 2024 cohort, 4% entered apprenticeships and 4% entered direct employment, though 51% proceeded to higher education.
The school's own data, combined with sixth form attainment, suggests that university destinations cluster around research-intensive institutions. The emphasis on Russell Group placements reflects both the academic profile of the students and the teaching approach. Students regularly compete in national competitions across mathematics, science, poetry, debating, and public speaking, signalling genuine academic engagement beyond examination preparation.
Total Offers
1
Offer Success Rate: 14.3%
Cambridge
1
Offers
Oxford
0
Offers
Music sits at the absolute core of Reddam House culture. Every student learns an instrument and participates in an ensemble; this is not optional enrichment, it is expectation. The school employs peripatetic music teachers who visit regularly to deliver tuition in piano, violin, flute, drums, and singing across all age groups.
The performing groups form a genuine pyramid. At the base, students develop foundational skills. The orchestra, ensemble, rock band, and choir provide structured options for collaboration. Annual productions represent significant undertakings; recent years have seen ambitious musicals that involve 100+ participants on stage and in technical roles. The Palace Opera, a tradition where external opera is performed in the school's 350-seat theatre, positions the school as a venue of cultural standing locally.
Students can pursue music at GCSE and A-level. Beyond examination study, the music programme emphasises performance experience; many students sit music diplomas through ABRSM, LAMDA, and Trinity College. For some students, music becomes the defining thread of their school experience. For all, the embedded expectation of musicianship creates a cultural norm uncommon in co-educational schools of this size.
The Bearwood Theatre, built in 1991 and formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II in her capacity as Patron of the predecessor college, underwent complete refurbishment in 2015. At 350 seats, with dedicated technical facilities, it is a professional-grade space. This is not a school hall; it is a theatre that hosts external performances, corporate conferences, and serves as a genuine cultural hub.
Drama is taught in all year groups, available at GCSE and A-level, and embedded within the co-curriculum. Students pursue LAMDA qualifications (London Academy of Music and Drama) for certification of performance skills. Major school productions happen multiple times annually, ranging from classical drama to contemporary musicals. What distinguishes Reddam House is the seriousness of production values; students work with genuine technical equipment, take responsibility for lighting, sound, costumes, and props, and develop transferable skills in project management.
Year 9 students participate in a mandatory drama experience, building baseline confidence in expression and risk-taking. Sixth form students involved in drama often cite it as the most formative element of their school experience, developing resilience and self-belief.
Sport infrastructure is among the finest in the independent sector. The school operates a 25-metre heated indoor swimming pool, a 4G Astro turf hockey pitch, 5 netball courts, 4 outdoor tennis courts, 8 cricket pitches, and 6 rugby pitches, alongside a fitness suite, athletic facilities, and pavilions. This is not merely provision; it is abundance. Students have immediate access to first-class facilities during both curricular and co-curricular time.
Competitive sport is serious. Teams compete regularly in rugby, hockey, football, netball, cricket, tennis, and athletics. The school has produced county-level performers, and boarding students particularly benefit from the infrastructure, using facilities for evening practice and weekend fixtures. The school competes in regional leagues and hosts match fixtures against local independent schools.
Yet the school maintains distinction between elite pathways and broader participation. Younger juniors access skills development clubs; older students progress to sport-specific clubs. The A2B Programme (Aspire to Be) addresses nutrition, lifestyle, and exercise physiology as complementary to competition. Less traditional sports flourish alongside; scuba diving, mountain biking, golf, and fencing are available. This creates genuine choice rather than a narrow "win at all costs" culture.
House competitions run throughout the year, mixing team sport with individual challenges. This structure ensures that students compete for house points in familiar contexts, building camaraderie and spirit beyond elite performance.
Art provision spans from 'Make and Do' sketching clubs in the junior wing to specialist studio work in the mansion. The school operates multiple art studios, including specialist spaces for photography, screen printing, sculpture, textiles, watercolours, and oils. Animation and movie-making are available as co-curricular pathways. The curriculum includes design, and students regularly exhibit work in school galleries and external spaces.
What distinguishes art here is the integration across age groups. Younger students develop foundational skills and confidence. Older students pursue art at GCSE and A-level, developing technical and conceptual sophistication. The facilities, light-filled studios within the Victorian mansion, create environment that elevates creative work.
Beyond the mainstream curriculum, the school operates a substantive academic enrichment programme. Maths clubs run for all ages, offering competitive challenge and extension into areas beyond the syllabus. Science CREST Awards provide structured pathways for students investigating scientific questions independently. Creative Writing clubs complement English provision.
Computing provision includes coding, robotics, website design, and app creation, taught using contemporary devices (iPads and Surface Pro). This sits within a broader commitment to technological literacy; all students benefit from VR headsets for immersive learning in subjects from geography to science.
The Reddam Adventure Department (RAD), integrated into the wellbeing programme, uniquely leverages the 125-acre estate. From outdoor learning in junior and middle school to expeditions within the UK and internationally, RAD develops resilience, collaboration, and self-belief. Students learn practical skills (fire building, knots, cooking) and navigate complex outdoor challenges as teams. Forest activities throughout the year create rhythms of outdoor learning uncommon in schools confined to urban sites.
Beyond the formalised activities listed above, the school advertises over 40 optional clubs spanning academic, sporting, artistic, and social interests. Debating thrives, with inter-house competitions and external participation. Book groups, chess, Warhammer gaming, and relaxation-focused activities sit alongside competitive sports and prestigious academic societies (Medical Society, Journalism and News, Brainiacs Challenges).
Students pursuing Duke of Edinburgh Awards progress from Bronze to Silver to Gold; the school serves as an accredited assessor, ensuring pathways through all levels. Year 9 and above students can participate in the Combined Cadet Force (CCF), undertaking leadership training, first aid, fieldcraft, shooting, and expedition work, with termly field days and adventurous training camps.
The breadth is deliberate: the school holds that every student should find somewhere to belong, develop leadership, and experience mastery outside formal academic assessment.
Tuition fees for 2025-26 are structured by phase:
Junior School (Reception to Year 6): £4,922-£6,195 per term (£14,766-£18,585 annually)
Middle and Senior School (Year 7-13): £7,893 per term (£23,679 annually)
Full Boarding (Years 7-9): £13,710 per term; (Years 10-13): £14,641 per term
Weekly Boarding (Years 7-9): £12,987 per term; (Years 10-13): £13,970 per term
These fees include meals, snacks, personal accident insurance, and some stationery. Uniform is additional. Registration fee is £140; substantial deposits are required as outlined in the fees booklet.
Financial assistance is available through both scholarships and bursaries. The school advertises scholarships across academic, music, sport, and art criteria, typically offering 10-25% reduction. Bursaries are means-tested and available to qualifying families. The school's website directs interested families to contact admissions for detailed information on available support, though specific percentages of bursary recipients are not published.
Fees data coming soon.
Reddam House operates continuous admissions, accepting applications throughout the academic year. Entry from age three is available at the Early Learning School, with transitions to Junior, Middle, and Senior School at natural progression points. From Year 3 onwards, formal assessment forms part of the entry process, identifying students who can benefit from the balanced, academic-focused curriculum.
The admissions philosophy explicitly screens for fit rather than raw ability alone. School materials state that assessment is "to identify those children to whom we can offer a good fit academically, socially and pastorally." This allows the school to maintain balance within cohorts while remaining genuinely selective.
Siblings of current students have priority, though admission is not automatic; the school reserves the right to place siblings elsewhere if different environment suits them better. The waiting list operates for some age groups, and early application is recommended. International families can arrange remote assessments.
The school recommends application at least one year prior to desired entry date to secure admission in competitive age groups, particularly at secondary entry.
The three named boarding houses, Drake House (capacity 66), Blake House, and The Loft (opened 2022), provide spaces where students live and form the core of non-curricular experience for boarders. Dedicated boarding staff live on-site, providing 24-hour pastoral and academic support. Single, double, and triple rooms are available; older sixth form students typically occupy singles. Common areas include kitchens, games rooms, flat-screen televisions, gaming consoles, and (in The Loft) a cinema for boarders from all houses.
Flexible boarding options accommodate different family circumstances: full-time boarding (seven days per week), weekly boarding, and ad-hoc day-to-day stays allow families to choose the arrangement that suits them. Regular exeats and half-term holidays provide contact with families. Weekends at school include structured activities, shopping trips to Windsor, cinema visits, sports competitions, cultural events, and social activities designed to prevent weekend isolation and develop independence.
Boarders describe a strong international community where cross-cultural friendships form naturally. The school emphasises that boarding is about independence and global perspective development, not segregation from day students. Mixed day and boarding cohorts, with boarders integrated into all academic and social structures, create this effect.
Pastoral care policy emphasises relationships, respect, and responsibility. Tutor groups are small; form tutors know pupils deeply and provide first-line support. The school employs counsellors and senior pastoral staff focused specifically on wellbeing, with referral pathways to external services where needed.
8:30am to 4:00pm (with extended hours available). Breakfast provision from 8:00am; after-school care available until 6:00pm.
Situated on Bearwood Road, Sindlesham, Wokingham (RG41 5BG), approximately 35 miles west of central London and 30 minutes from Heathrow Airport. The location is accessible by car; transport links to Reading and London via rail are viable for some families. The school operates a bus service; details are available on the website.
On-site parking is available for visitors and day families.
Breakfast club from 7:45am and after-school care until 6:00pm are available. Holiday clubs operate during main school holidays and half terms for families requiring childcare.
Continuous entry and assessment. The school admits throughout the year based on available spaces and entry assessment. Families cannot assume entry at specific points; spaces are limited and competitive at popular entry ages. Early application (12+ months prior to desired entry) significantly increases chances of securing a place.
The academic load is genuine. While the school emphasises wellbeing, the curriculum is rigorous and expectations are high. Students here work meaningfully; free periods are genuinely rare. This suits intellectually curious children and those who thrive on challenge. For students who struggle with pace or volume, more flexible independent schools may be preferable.
Boarding intensity. For full boarders, the school operates as a total environment, not merely a place of education. Students navigate living away from home, managing independence, and integrating with a diverse peer group. This is transformative for many; for others, the intensity requires careful family consideration. The school's assertion that weekly and full boarding options are both available suggests genuine flexibility, but commitment to the communal experience remains significant.
Independence culture. The school explicitly places responsibility on students for their learning and behaviour. The philosophy holds that "success is in their own hands"; staff provide support structures but not hand-holding. Independent, self-directed learners thrive. Students requiring very high degrees of adult direction may find the environment less well-suited.
Distance from London. While 35 miles from central London, the location means that some families choose boarding to access London cultural opportunities within weekends. Day families with long commutes should factor travel time into decision-making.
Reddam House Berkshire represents an unusual combination: a school with genuine historical presence (the Bearwood Estate and its iconic Victorian mansion), transformed into a thoroughly contemporary institution with serious investment in facilities, teaching, and support. The three-pillar philosophy, Academic Excellence, Sport, and Performing Arts, is lived rather than marketing language; students credibly engage in all three domains.
Results place the school in the top 10% in England at GCSE and top 25% at A-level (FindMySchool rankings). These figures, combined with a rigorous curriculum, small classes, and specialist teaching, create an environment where meaningful academic progress is the norm. The breadth of university destinations, strong Russell Group placements, and Oxbridge engagement suggest that the school successfully prepares ambitious students for competitive applications.
The facilities and programme breadth are genuinely impressive. The 125-acre estate, 350-seat theatre, state-of-the-art science labs, and sports infrastructure create an environment where co-curricular engagement is not peripheral but integral. The embedded assumption that every student learns an instrument and participates in ensemble work, competes in team sports, and engages in resilience-building outdoor activities creates a distinctive culture.
The boarding provision, with its genuine international community and 24-hour pastoral infrastructure, is a genuine strength for families valuing immersive education or requiring residential placement.
The main considerations are cost (fees are at the upper end of the independent sector), entry difficulty (continuous admissions and competitive spaces), and cultural fit (the school suits independent, ambitious learners and families valuing breadth). Families seeking specialist pathways, highly structured support, or day-only provision may find alternative schools better aligned.
For families able to access the financial and logistical requirements, Reddam House Berkshire offers a genuinely distinctive educational experience with strong academic outcomes, impressive facilities, and a committed community. The transformation from the heritage Bearwood College to this contemporary school speaks to thoughtful leadership and genuine investment in the school's future.
Yes. The school holds an ISI inspection rating of Excellent across all phases (Outstanding in Early Learning Years Foundation Stage, October 2022). Academic results place it in the top 10% of schools in England for GCSE (60% grades 9-7) and top 25% for A-level (63% grades A*-B) based on FindMySchool rankings. Over 60% of leavers secure Russell Group university places, with sustained engagement with Oxbridge. The school's breadth of co-curricular provision, substantial boarding infrastructure, and positive pastoral outcomes indicate comprehensive educational effectiveness.
Day fees for 2025-26 are £7,893 per term (£23,679 annually) for Middle and Senior School (Years 7-13). Junior School fees range from £4,922-£6,195 per term depending on year group. Full boarding for Years 10-13 is £14,641 per term; weekly boarding is £13,970 per term. All fees are inclusive of VAT, meals, snacks, and personal accident insurance. Registration fee is £140. Scholarships (10-25% reduction) are available for academic, music, sport, and art merit. Means-tested bursaries are available; families should contact admissions for specific information on assistance.
The school operates continuous admissions, accepting applications throughout the year. Entry is based on assessment (from Year 3 onwards) and availability of spaces. The school explicitly selects for "fit academically, socially and pastorally" rather than pure academic ranking. Waiting lists exist for popular age groups; early application (12+ months before desired entry) significantly improves prospects. Siblings of current students have priority, though admission is not automatic. International families can arrange remote assessments.
The school operates on a 125-acre estate centred on a Victorian mansion (built 1865-1874). Sporting facilities include a 25-metre heated indoor swimming pool, 4G Astro turf hockey pitch, 5 netball courts, 4 tennis courts, 8 cricket pitches, 6 rugby pitches, fitness suite, and athletic facilities. Academic facilities include state-of-the-art science laboratories, specialist art studios (photography, screen printing, sculpture, textiles), multiple dance studios, and up-to-date computer labs. The 350-seat professional theatre (built 1991, refurbished 2015) hosts school productions and external performances. Three dedicated boarding houses (Drake House, Blake House, The Loft) provide residential accommodation. The estate includes a private chapel, woodland areas, and a lake supporting outdoor learning programmes.
The school offers over 40 co-curricular clubs spanning sport, academics, arts, and societies. Sports include rugby, hockey, football, cricket, netball, tennis, basketball, golf, scuba diving, mountain biking, and athletics, with competitive teams and skill-development pathways. Drama, dance, and music are substantial programmes with regular productions. Academic enrichment includes maths clubs, science CREST Awards, and coding/robotics. Duke of Edinburgh Awards (Bronze through Gold), Combined Cadet Force, and the Reddam Adventure Department (outdoor expeditions and wilderness skills) provide leadership and resilience development. Societies include debating, journalism, medical society, chess, and gaming. Every student learns an instrument and participates in an ensemble; music is non-negotiable rather than optional.
Yes. Boarding is available for students aged 11-18 (Middle and Senior School). Three dedicated boarding houses, Drake House, Blake House, and The Loft, accommodate full boarders and weekly boarders. Full boarding operates seven days per week during term; weekly boarding provides flexibility for different family circumstances. Ad-hoc boarding arrangements are available. Dedicated boarding staff live on-site, providing 24-hour pastoral and academic support. Boarders have full access to school facilities, including evening and weekend recreational activities. The school emphasises a genuine international boarding community with students from over 50 countries. Regular exeats and half-term holidays provide family contact. Fees for full boarding (Years 10-13) are £14,641 per term; weekly boarding is £13,970 per term.
The school was inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) in October 2022 and was rated Outstanding in the Early Learning Years Foundation Stage and Excellent across all other phases (Years 1-13). The school is part of the Inspired Education Group. Previous ISI inspections (2018, 2016) and a short visit in 2023 confirmed continued compliance and educational quality. External monitoring and material change inspections confirm the school's continued development and commitment to standards.
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