New secondary school in Reading opens to students

The River Academy in Richfield Avenue opened in September on land previously used as a golf driving range and a laser shooting range.

The area has been transformed into a place for education, located near the Reading Festival site and opposite Rivermead Leisure Centre.

The school is part of the Maiden Erlegh Trust, which runs seven schools, a nursery and an education centre in the area.

Celebrating the news, a spokesperson said: "River Academy was both proud and excited to open its doors to students for the first time on Thursday, September 5. 187 students walked through the entrance that day, marking the end of six years of planning and almost two years of building to turn the former golf driving range into Reading’s newest secondary school.

"The spacious and well-designed building contains many excellent features that will support the students in their progress and allow them to get the most from their secondary school experience.

"A large sports hall, beautiful activity and dance space, drama studio and a fabulous main hall complete with retractable seating complement the large airy classrooms and wide corridors."

Indoor activity space at the River Academy secondary school which opened for the start of the 2024-25 academic year. (Image: Maiden Erlegh Trust)

Andy Hartley was appointed as the 'experienced' headteacher of the school, with the spokesperson saying he is backed by 'a very well qualified and successful group of teachers and support staff' who will help pupils in making the maximum of their progress.

Mr Hartley said: “Our curriculum and teaching style is focused upon students contributing and participating in high level thinking and academic activity for the maximum amount of time in each lesson.

“It has been wonderful to see even during the first days of student induction how well they have adapted to our high expectations.

“Students will also be discussing philosophical and topical questions during their lunches along with the recital of a poem to both support their memory and to buttress our values of excellence and determination, community, respect and empathy.”

READ MORE: Progress made on new secondary school for Reading pupils 

The River Academy has opened with a special teaching block called the Bridge to support seven students with moderate learning difficulties.

While this teaching unit is discrete from the school, it also integrates with the school in terms of timings and some shared lessons.

Mr Hartley explained: “Our Bridge students have excelled in their start to secondary school, and it has been a delight to watch them settle and succeed.

“The nurturing approach of our small class means our students have every opportunity to both progress academically and socially, integrating with our students for lessons that suit their strengths."

River Academy is hosting its Open Evening for current Year 6 pupils who could become future students in 2025/2026 from 5.30pm to 7pm on Wednesday October 2.

No booking is required.

The last new school to be opened in Reading was the University Technical College  (UTC) Crescent Road in 2013.