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    • Welcome

    Ofsted report November 2022 "The Kendrick Pledge emphasises friendship, kindness, respect, equality, tolerance and justice, and these values underpin all that the school achieves. Pupils flourish in this exceptionally caring and inclusive learning environment. Secure, trusting relationships between staff and pupils ensure pupils feel very well supported and safe here. In turn, pupils’ excellent behaviour and impeccable manners make Kendrick a very special place to be". 

    It is my great pleasure to welcome you to Kendrick School.

    Kendrick School is an 11-18 selective girls’ school with academy status. It has a local and national reputation as an outstanding school and has an impressive record of achievement as a centre of excellence for girls’ education.

    In its last five OFSTED inspections, Kendrick was judged an “outstanding” school. In our most recent inspection in November 2022, OFSTED stated "Pupils and sixth formers are justly proud of their school community. They delight in their learning and truly excel here. One parent spoke for many when reflecting, ‘The school does a great job of creating well-rounded, kind, human beings who will hopefully go on to make the world a better place. The academic results are important of course, but far from the only focus.’ Inspectors totally agree.” 

    Kendrick is a forward-looking school that grasps the opportunities that present themselves. A love of learning is at the heart of Kendrick with a strong emphasis on high quality teaching. The curriculum is organised to meet the needs of all students and is engaging, rich and ambitious. All staff are hardworking and dedicated; students are bright, enthusiastic and curious, they love being at their school.

    At Kendrick, students enjoy a rich and varied extracurricular education. The House System provides opportunities for healthy competition with numerous annual house events, which are key activities in the school year. Kendrick Student Leaders work energetically and collaboratively with staff to support this vital community element of the school. In addition, we have a School Council, which discusses and drives change for students.

    Safeguarding and students’ mental health and wellbeing are prioritised above all else. As stated by Ofsted in November 2022, ‘The arrangements for Safeguarding are effective at Kendrick’ and ‘there is a culture of vigilance’ where ‘staff care deeply about pupils’ wellbeing’. 

    As part of Kendrick’s Widening Horizons strategic initiative, we actively pursue partnerships with schools and businesses in our local area and beyond. These associations benefit the students of Kendrick, as well as those in neighbouring schools. We share our good practice and offer opportunities to work with primary and secondary schools in the Reading area.

    Kendrick has been expanding over the last three years, a process that started in September 2020 when an additional 32 students joined the school in Year 7. This year we welcomed the last of the expanded cohorts into Year 7, which completes the expansion, making Kendrick a four-form entry school for Years 7-11. In the admission process, priority is given to pupil premium students and students living in the Reading area, which is called Priority Area 1. Our Widening Horizons initiative commits us to achieving greater participation and access for students from local primary schools. In July 2024, we were awarded the Sutton Trust Fair School Admissions Award at Gold level. This is a great accolade for the school which we are very proud of. 

    As the Headteacher of Kendrick, it is my vision to lead, inspire and make a difference to the lives of girls and young women. I believe passionately in girls’ education and know that Kendrick School affords its students the very best education there is.

    Ms Christine Kattirtzi
    Headteacher

    September 2024 

    Weekly letter from ms kattirtzi, headteacher

    FRIDAY 25TH APRIL 2025

    Welcome back to Term 5, I hope everyone has had a restful spring break and feels refreshed for the term ahead.

    A few news items on the website this week related to activities done last term. Please take time to read and enjoy the pursuits and successes of many of our students.

    Today we started the day with a whole school assembly when I introduced the new Kendrick Student Leaders (KSL). This is a most important time in our school year when one team of student leaders takes over from the previous team. The team is made up 18 students, three students in each of the three committees and three students in each of the three Houses. They presented themselves to the school and spoke a little about their plans for the year ahead. They showed confidence and a real desire to support their school and fellow students in the plans they have. They also graciously acknowledged the work of the previous team. One of their first tasks will be to represent the school with me at next week’s Open Day sessions for prospective new Year 7 students and their parents. At this event we will all talk about Kendrick School as a place for students to consider for their secondary education and often parents and their children are most interested in hearing from our students about what they say about the school. The Open Days occur in the school day when groups of parents and children are invited at specific times of the day and are given a tour of the school by our students and then receive information about the school from me, the KSL and some Year 7 students. For information about our Open Day series this year can be found here.

    At the assembly, I also introduced new members of staff who have joined us this term. They are:

    • Mr Gua – Geography Teacher
    • Mrs Goddard - English Teacher
    • Mrs Moore-Bridger – Science and Physics Teacher

    We welcome them and wish them well in their positions at Kendrick this year.

    A new term is an important time of the year as it provides us with an opportunity to refresh ourselves and start again. At the assembly this morning, I spoke to students about a new start. All of us can benefit from a new start and doing things slightly differently, slightly better than before. I referred to an assembly Mr Stride gave last year in which he talked about marginal gains, that is doing something just that a little bit better, which can have an overall big difference. For example: leaving home just a bit earlier so that you are not late for school, adding another couple of minutes to a task/homework, concentrating that bit harder in a lesson, spending a few minutes more on exercise, eating a bit more fruit and veg, reducing screen time just a bit every day, wearing one’s uniform a bit more tidily, being that bit nicer/kinder to each other, being that bit more appreciative/respectful/polite in school to staff and fellow students. Combined, all these little adjustments can help make huge gains and create the best versions of ourselves. This fits with the word of the week for next week which is Renewal (noun), defined as the act of making something new, fresh, or strong again, often involving the restoration or revitalisation of an object, idea, or state. It can also refer to the resumption of an activity or state after a period of interruption, signifying a continuation or fresh start. All of us can gain from some restoration, revitalisation and a new start, and this time of the year is a good time try.

    Wishing everyone a great weekend, please continue to read the rest of the weekly update for important information, including details about the Kendrick Parents’ Society Spring Raffle.

    Ms Christine Kattirtzi
    Headteacher 

    For the Weekly Update in full please click here

    Letter from Mr Charles Ramsden, Chair of the Board of Trustees 

    On behalf of the trustee body, I would like to welcome everyone to the 2024-2025 academic year. I particularly welcome students joining us for the first time who will get the support they need to settle in quickly and make a positive contribution to the school.

    I have recently taken over as Chair of the trustee board (formerly the governing body) and would like to thank my predecessor, Keith Miller, for the support he has given to Kendrick.

    As trustees, we are responsible for working with Ms Kattirtzi, Headteacher and the Senior Leadership Team to agree on the strategic direction of Kendrick. We assist with setting the school's vision, aims and objectives. To do this, we are organised into three committees - Learning & Teaching, Performance and Review, and Resources. Each of these committees meets regularly, and we meet as a full board three times a year. All the trustees are committed to supporting the ethos of the school, and many have direct experience of the school – as a student, the parent of a student or as a staff member.

    We want to ensure that every student at Kendrick has the opportunity to thrive - academically, as a member of the school community, and in their personal development. Kendrick has something for everyone: a huge range of extracurricular activities including music, sports, and drama; opportunities to show leadership, as part of the School Council or the Student Leadership Team; and, of course, the chance to help others.

    I do hope that you will take advantage of the opportunities to engage with the school. We are always keen to get your feedback, and as Chair of the Board of Trustees, I am always happy to hear from any of you. Please feel free to contact Jackie Gray, Clerk to the Trustee Board jgray@kendrick.reading.sch.uk if you would like to get in touch.

    On behalf of the trustees, I wish everyone a successful year ahead.

    With best wishes

    Charles Ramsden
    Chairman of the Board of Trustees

    September 2024