There are 6 state secondary schools in Reading and 37 state primary schools, along with other private schools.

The main school in Reading is Reading School, which was founded in 1125, and is the tenth oldest school in England. It is a grammar school, and a single-sex boys school. The school is state-funded, meaning that pupils do not pay for education, only food and lodging fees. There are also day pupils, who come to study just for the day rather than lodging at the school.

A recent OFSTED report stated that 'pupils' attitudes to learning are outstanding', 'examination results place the school in the top five percent nationally' and that 'the school goes to exceptional lengths to broaden and enrich the education of all pupils'.

Key stage 3 results in 2005 were the best in the country for value-added and for the students' average points scores.

Reading School came eighth in the school league tables for England for GCSE-level results. Other places were 106th for A-level results and 170th for value-added between 11 and 16 years olds.