Reading, United Kingdom Day only · Girls Age range 3–19 905 pupils Founded 1887The Abbey, Reading
The Abbey in Reading offers a nurturing and academically rigorous environment for girls, combining traditional values with a modern approach to education....
About The Abbey, Reading
The Abbey School in Reading — known locally as "The Abbey" — was founded in 1887 by Eleanor Higgs as a small girls' day school in the Berkshire town of Reading. The school is named after the medieval Reading Abbey, the major twelfth-century Cluniac monastery founded by Henry I in 1121 that gave Reading its prominence in medieval English ecclesiastical life and whose ruins survive in central Reading today. The Abbey School operates on a campus immediately adjacent to the medieval abbey precincts.
The school educates around 905 pupils ages 3-18 and is girls-only throughout. The Head is Sally Whitaker. The school is a member of the GSA and is inspected by the ISI. A-Level results place The Abbey consistently in the top quintile of Thames Valley girls' independent schools by Oxbridge offer numbers, with a particularly strong sciences and Oxford pipeline (Reading's proximity to Oxford produces a strong feeder relationship).
The Abbey's most internationally famous alumna is Kate Winslet CBE — the Oscar-winning actress whose roles include Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility (1995), Rose DeWitt Bukater in Titanic (1997, the film that became the highest-grossing of all time at its release), Hanna Schmitz in The Reader (2008, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress), April Wheeler in Revolutionary Road, Mare Sheehan in HBO's Mare of Easttown (Emmy 2021), and many other prestigious roles. Winslet is one of the youngest actresses to receive seven Academy Award nominations and is regarded as among the great English-language screen actresses of her generation. She attended the school as a teenager in the 1980s.
The school operates a substantial bursary programme intended to provide educational access for Reading and Thames Valley families regardless of family means.
Programmes & strengths
University destinations
Memberships & accreditations
Pupil breakdown
- Girls
- 905 (100%)
- SEN support
- 114 (12.6%)
Notable alumni
Frequently asked questions
What type of school is The Abbey, Reading?
The Abbey, Reading is a girls' independent mainstream school for pupils aged 3 to 19, located near Reading in Berkshire. The school offers education from Nursery through to Sixth Form, with pathways leading to GCSEs and A Levels.
How do I apply to The Abbey, Reading?
The admissions process usually starts well in advance of entry and may involve assessments and interviews. The school admissions timeline guide outlines key stages and deadlines. https://schoolscout.uk/posts/uk-private-school-admissions-timeline
What are the fees at The Abbey, Reading?
Fees at The Abbey, Reading are approximately £2,678–£9,090 per term, depending on the year group and whether pupils board. Families can learn more about UK private school fees and what is typically included. https://schoolscout.uk/posts/how-much-do-uk-private-schools-cost
Is The Abbey, Reading a day or boarding school?
Pupils at The Abbey, Reading can attend as day.
Is The Abbey, Reading a single-sex or co-educational school?
The Abbey, Reading is a girls' independent school.