Leighton Park School

Leighton Park School is a co-educational Quaker independent school for both day and boarding pupils in Reading in South East England. The school was founded in 1890, following the closure of Grove House School, also a Quaker establishment.

Overview

The school is based in a parkland estate just south of Reading town centre, next to the University of Reading's Whiteknights Park campus. The school is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. It offers both the International Baccalaureate and A Levels at sixth form and sends a high proportion of its pupils to Oxford or Cambridge.

Nigel Williams has been headmaster since January 2013. He has served over 18 years at the school in a variety of roles. The previous headmaster was Alex McGrath, who had previously been the deputy headmaster of Trent College.

The School House and attached laboratories at Leighton Park are Grade II listed buildings.

History

Leighton Park was opened in 1890 by members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), as a public school for boys. It was founded after Grove House School, also a Quaker school, closed in 1877. Grove School had educated notable personalities such as Lord Lister, Alfred Waterhouse and Thomas Hodgkin.