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 27TH JUNE 2025

This is the week that marks beginnings and endings for key groups in the school. On Monday we said goodbye to our Year 13 students and parents at a special and very well attended tea party in the school Hall, a place that has so many memories for every student and parent. Several parents spoke to me to express their sincere thanks and gratitude for all that the school has done for their child over the seven, two years they have been at Kendrick. Some could recall the Open Day back in 2017 and the start date for the students who joined in Year 7 in 2018. A few were even able to recall words I had said to parents and students in speeches they heard at the time. This reinforces my strong belief in the power and influence and therefore the responsibility we have towards the students we have in our care for the time they are with us. Many parents looked so proud and happy that their child, now a young adult, had got through this period of their life and education so well and possessed the hope and promise that any child should have and any parent should hope for at this time. There were some tears of joy and sadness and we all wished the students and their families well in their next steps, which for most is the prospect of university and a course of their choice. Thank you to the parents, students and of course the staff who have contributed to this journey in the lives of the students. We will meet them again in August when the A Level results come through and again in December when we present them with their A Level certificates.

At the other end of the school, yesterday evening we welcomed our prospective Year 7 students and parents to the school. The emotions this time were full of excitement and expectation but also a little trepidation about new and unknown beginnings for both parents and students. For some families, Kendrick is their first introduction to secondary education which I know can be slightly daunting for a parent as they and the child take this next big step on their educational journey. Guided and supported by our staff and students, it was a joy to speak and answer questions from the next cohort of Kendrick parents. I know and hope that many of them are reading this Weekly Update as they are now being included in this communication. As I said to all groups, please get into the habit of reading my messages every week so that you can gain a glimpse into life at Kendrick, albeit from my perspective, which may be a bit different to how the story is told by the students! Yesterday we also welcomed our new Year 12 students who will be joining us in September. We will speak to them again and their parents at the start of the new academic year in September.

Elsewhere in the school, life is busy. Not only are we preparing for the new academic year, many staff have been working on usual school business of teaching, marking and reports, but in addition the further exceptional events that we have at this time of the year are being planned. Work Experience activities for Year 10 this week went well, thank you to the staff and students who have responded to these activities. Pride celebrations today to mark the end of Pride month were fun and enjoyable. Then next week we have the launch of the much-anticipated Creative Arts Week where a combination of subjects and staff lead and organise a Creative Arts series of events. The activities available include a dance workshop, drama performances, purse decorations, poetry anthology launch and in the evenings the summer concert on Tuesday night and the Music Performer Series on Thursday evening – such a rich and varied programme for everyone. I thank the staff for their tremendous hard work in putting on the activities, the students for their anticipated engagement, the parents for their support in attending the evening events and KPS for always providing much valued support and welcoming everyone at these events with refreshments.

On the website this week are the following articles this week. Please read these to know what else goes on beyond school with our students.

To end I would like to go back to the event last night with our new Year 7 parents. Parents received talks from me and Mr Simmonds, Deputy Headteacher, as well as Miss Hyde, Head of Key Stage 3 and the new Tutor for each form: Miss Morando, Frau Mueller, Mrs White and Miss Woods. A lot of information was given to them. In my and Mr Simmonds section we endeavoured to convey the bigger picture of our school and how the education and experience of being at Kendrick impacts students in their lives and for their futures. To sum up what we believe Kendrick is about and what it does, Mr Simmonds quoted a couple of paragraphs from the Ofsted Inspection report, November 2022 which we read and re-read to remind ourselves, as well as tell others about the kind of school we are. It seems appropriate at this time of transitions and reflection across the school we reread the opening paragraphs of our inspection report.

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.

They enthusiastically engage in debate and discussion and immerse themselves in all that the curriculum offers. They become confident independent learners, achieve exceptionally well and are very well prepared to become exemplary citizens. 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.

Wishing everyone a pleasant weekend.

Please read further in the Weekly Update for other news and information.

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