It is over 50 years since Reading Blue Coat opened its doors to its first female student and 34 years since the Sonning based school had a fully co-education Sixth Form.

As the School emerges from the pandemic and with recently appointed (2020) Headmaster, Pete Thomas at the helm, Reading Blue Coat is delighted to confirm that it will be further extending its co-education provision and welcoming girls into Year 7 from September 2023, with the intention of being fully co-educational by September 2027.

Recent planning consent from Wokingham Brough Council to increase the School’s admission number, has allowed the Governors and Senior Leadership Team to realise the plan for girls to join from age 11. In his recent announcement to staff, pupils, parents and Old Blues, Mr Thomas said, “Whilst this plan will see a gradual increase in our overall pupil numbers, I do not wish for our numbers to increase to such a level that anyone in our community becomes ‘just a number’. I am immensely proud of the sense of community that exists at Blue Coat, the friendliness of our staff and pupils and the sense of community that exists here. Welcoming girls throughout the School will only enhance that community.

In addition to its plans to welcome girls into its Lower School, Reading Blue Coat has been reviewing its co-curricular provision. With long- standing and excellent reputations for its sports and Arts programmes, the School has been looking at how it may further develop its co-curricular education under the guidance of recently appointed Second Master, Mr Ed Trelinski. In September 2021, the School launched its Adventure Education programme which focuses on mountaineering, sailing and paddlesports. Alongside the essential benefits of having fun and gaining qualifications will be the development of character and skills to strengthen resilience, teamwork, courage and determination. Already demonstrated in spadefuls by the students during the pandemic, it is essential that there are as many avenues as possible at school to find passions for life and to grow those attributes that will not only help the pupils to keep strong when things are tough, but to be able to encourage and support those around them too.

Chair of Governors, Mr Peter Bertram commented, “Reading Blue Coat has seen a steady increase in pupil numbers over the last ten years, so this decision to extend our co-education provision comes from a position of strength. Academic results have increased year on year and at the same time our 45-acre campus has benefited from considerable investment providing 21st century facilities for our students and staff. We are greatly looking forward to our move to full co-education and seeing the School continue to develop and improve”.

Further enquiries and for information about how to apply to the School should be addressed to our Director of Marketing & Admissions, Mrs Jane Jarrett: jj@rbcs.org.uk