Schools by area › West Berkshire › The Willink School
The Willink School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Community school
School Lane, Burghfield Common, Reading RG7 3XJ · willinkschool.org.uk · 0118 983 2030
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- May 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 51.9
- average Attainment 8 score. West Berkshire 48, England 46
- Demand for places
- 1.1
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,205
- 210 over 995 places · 121%
- Local authority
- West Berkshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 12.1%
- First language not English
- 4.7%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 214 families put the school first and 201 places were offered; 92% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 201 | 214 | 1.1▲ | 92% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 195 | 222 | 1.1▲ | 83% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 200 | 222 | 1.1▲ | 87% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 208 | 240 | 1.2▲ | 85% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 207 | 247 | 1.2▲ | 81% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 51.9, and 57.1% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across West Berkshire it was 48, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B- (35.3 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲51.9 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲57.1% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲73.4% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲91.6% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲5.02 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 45.4 | −14.3 |
| Sixth form college | 13.4 | −0.6 |
| Further education | 27.8 | +9 |
| Apprenticeship | 5.2 | +4.1 |
| Employment | 0.5 | −1.7 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.6 | +1.9 |
| Activity not captured | 3.1 | +2.6 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 110 students | B- (35.3) | Above average +0.15 | |
| 110 students | B- (35.5) | Above average +0.15 | |
| 30 students | Merit (24.9) | Average 0.00 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 116 | C+ (32.8) | -0.05 |
| 2022/23 | 100 | C+ (34.8) | — |
| 2021/22 | 89 | B (40.4) | — |
| 2018/19 | 83 | C (31.6) | -0.25 |
| 2017/18 | 79 | C+ (34.1) | +0.09 |
| 2016/17 | 106 | C- (27) | -0.16 |
| 2015/16 | 104 | C (28.4) | -0.10 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 54.4 | −7.6 |
| Apprenticeship | 4.8 | −1.7 |
| Employment | 30.4 | +7.6 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 8 | +1.5 |
| Activity not captured | 2.4 | +0.2 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected The Willink School on 6 May 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Expected standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour: Expected standard
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Post-16 provision: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 6 May 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Expected standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Expected standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Expected standard |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Post-16 provision | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Remains Good, ungraded inspection, Oct 2023
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Oct 2023Ungraded inspectionRemains Good
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Jun 2018Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Effective Feb 2014Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good May 2012Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Leadership and management Good
What parents said
91% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (213 replies, to 2 September 2024).
- Recommend
- 91%
- Replies
- 213
- 2 Sept 2024
based on the 71% who raised concerns
based on the 41% who had a child bullied
based on 51 parents (24%) with SEND