Waingels
Waingels Road, Woodley, Reading, RG5 4RFOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Waingels is a secondary school in Reading for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 84 schools in Wokingham. It ranks 10th of 19 secondary schools in Reading. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in April 2013.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 24 April 2013, report published 17 May 2013
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 6 June 2023
Pupils enjoy being part of the inclusive community that is Waingels College. Leaders have high standards and are ambitious for all. Leaders' vision to be exceptional, at the heart of the community and where 'better never stops' is kept at the centre of their work. The vast majority of pupils are respectful and proud of their school. Leaders have worked tirelessly to ensure that all pupils are made to feel welcome quickly. Bullying is not accepted. Leaders have established strong systems to support pupils when bullying occurs. Most pupils feel safe. They know to report any concerns and that 'any teacher is a safe haven'. Most pupils have a positive attitude to their learning. They help, support and encourage each other. Sixth-form students appreciate the wide range of subjects available and the support they receive. Pupils throughout the school value the wide range of extra- curricular clubs they can go to. These include debating, geography club, cricket, choir and creative writing. One parent, representative of the sentiments of many, said that 'the school is a kind and caring school', and that their children had been 'proud and fortunate to attend' and will value their 'lasting friendships and happy memories'.
What the school should improve
- Leaders' work to support pupils who find reading difficult is not focused sharply enough on the skills and knowledge pupils need to become confident, fluent readers. This means that pupils do not catch up quickly enough and struggle to access the curriculum in many subjects. Leaders should ensure that a clear, coherent approach to teaching early reading is embedded fully across the school.
- A minority of pupils do not behave well enough and are not responding to the systems to address this. Some pupils and parents do not see these actions as being effective. Leaders should focus their efforts to address these small pockets of poor behaviour and ensure that all have confidence in this work.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
239 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
99 students
Average A level grade C+, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
1,382 pupils on roll, with places for 1,331
Schools near Waingels
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading Blue Coat School | 1 mile | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 17.7 |
| The Bulmershe School | 1 mile | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 50.7 |
| Dolphin School | 2 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Not published |
| The Piggott School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 61.9 |
| Shiplake College | 2 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 31.5 |
School details
- School type
- Academy converter
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- ORCHARD LEARNING ALLIANCE
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mrs Lindsey Humber
- Phone
- 01189690336
- Address
- Waingels Road, Woodley, Reading, RG5 4RF
- Local authority
- Wokingham
- URN
- 142166
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.