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".

To listen to an audio with staff and students talking about Kendrick's history, life at school and what the school means to us all, please click on the link below.

Kendrick Voices

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 expanded in recent years, a process that started in September 2020 and finished in September 2024 when an additional 32 students joined Kendrick in all year groups making Kendrick a four-form entry school for Years 7-11. This year the majority of the 128 students from Year 11 have moved into our sixth form, and we have welcomed an additional 40 students from other schools, making the whole school roll, 940 students, the largest the school has ever been. In our admission arrangements and policies, 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 and the local area. In July 2024 and again in July 2025, we were awarded the Sutton Trust Fair School Admissions Award at Gold level. This demonstrates our commitment to fair admissions and is a great accolade for the school to receive which we are immensely 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 2025

Weekly UPDATE - FRIDAY 20th march 2026

Please click here for previous weekly updates.

WEEKLY UPDATE – FRIDAY 20^TH MARCH 2026

Letter from Ms Kattirtzi, Headteacher

Another busy week and today we have our Comic Relief Day, raising money for good causes. There is some dressing up and interesting costumes that I have seen around the school. The Community Team of the KSL has organised events to engage the school community in this annual fund-raising event. As the strap line for the charity says Take Yourself Funny for Money! You can donate here.

We have acknowledged the poets in our school again this week with students who recently responded to our poetry writing competitions. Last week I mentioned the Beginnings Poetry Competition, the link to the article on our website can be found here. This week we awarded prizes to poems written for the Holocaust Memorial Day Poetry Competition earlier in the year. I am always impressed by the maturity of writing, depth of feeling and understanding students show to some very complex and serious subject matter. We will share the poems with you in due course.

There are a couple of items on the website that I would like you to read. Firstly, the report on International Women’s Day a couple of weeks ago from a Year 13 student; you can read Isabelle’s reflections on the various speakers and what they said and meant to her. Photos accompany the article which can be found here and Isabelle’s journalistic skills are clear to see.

Another article that you may be surprised to read is about a Year 11 student, Vy and her debut performance in the film Wuthering Heights! The photo shows Vy with the cast of the film and her article explains how she got the part. Speaking to Vy a couple of weeks ago, I could see how genuinely honoured and slightly overwhelmed she was to find herself working with such a group of known actors and directors. She speaks modestly and humbly about her part in the film, however, Vy managed this alongside her GCSEs which is quite an achievement. Well done Vy! The article on our website can be found here.

At this time of the year, we have our annual Trustee Strategy Day when the Board of Trustees come together with the SLT to discuss the development plans for the school for next year and beyond. With an Ofsted Inspection due for us in the autumn, there is a focus on the new framework for Inspection called State Funded School Inspection Toolkit There is a helpful video for parents which summarises the new approach to school inspection and the new report cards which schools and parents will receive following an inspection. This can be viewed here. Ofsted video for Parents

Other areas of school work we will look at include the Racial Literacy training we have done with the whole school, which I am very proud of. This work aligns so well with our values and The Kendrick Pledge, please read more details here. We will also update our Trustees on our Widening Horizons work, the cornerstone of our expansion initiative 6 years ago, and the greater opportunities that we have been able to provide for more local students and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. There will be some discussion on the government’s White Paper Every Child Achieving and Thriving (the paper can be found here), which I mentioned last week. As always there will be much to discuss.

This is also a busy weekend for Kendrick with our Year 9 students involved in the Mock Trial at Reading Crown Court. We wish them well and thank Miss Hyde for the work and preparation she has done with them. A party of musicians is on a Music Tour, led by Mrs Cooper and Mrs Rohweder, we hope they are having a wonderful time. For several of our students and families today is the celebration of Eid al-Fitr which marks the end of the month long fasting during Ramadan. To them I say Eid Mubarak wishes! And to others around the world who are celebrating but not in such safe circumstances we wish them our very special Eid Mubarak wishes.

Finally, I must mention the Kendrick Parents’ Society Spring Raffle which really has been slow to take off this year and is a real disappointment to me. A very small group of committed parents are working very hard to encourage sales so that we can reach our target and raise enough money to buy four Interactive White Boards for school classrooms. I believe we have not quite raised half the funds we wanted, so the raffle has been extended by one more week to try to have a final last push to get to our goal of £8k. Please buy some tickets this weekend and help us get to the target. Here is the link, please donate or buy a ticket.

Wishing everyone a good weekend.

Ms Christine Kattirtzi
Headteacher

School Notices

Spring Concert: Tuesday 24^th March 2026 at 6.30pm

Our Spring Concert is a time to celebrate all that has been achieved by our most senior students as they enter their final formal concert at Kendrick before they go on study leave in May. As such, selected students from Year 13 who have contributed a lot musically to the school during their time at Kendrick are given the opportunity to perform as a soloist either by themselves or in performing with a senior ensemble. This year we have a Japanese piece, an exciting jazz piece, a movement from a clarinet concerto and more!

Alongside our wonderful Year 13 students, we have our exceptional students of Chamber Choir, Mass Choir, Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia, Wind Orchestra and Jazz Band in addition to our outstanding chamber groups, Harp Ensemble, Flute Ensemble and Carnatic Ensemble. We hope there is something for everyone to enjoy and expect the concert to finish at approximately 8.45pm.

Please note that refreshments, including our famous samosas, will be available from KPS before the concert.

Tickets

Concert tickets tend to sell out quickly and will be going on sale from Friday 13^th March 2026 at the cost of £5.00 each. We therefore suggest you order them as soon as possible through myEvolve to avoid disappointment. In the first instance, tickets will be restricted to five per family. We politely ask for you not to leave ticket requests or queries until the day of the concert.   

If you would like tickets for the Spring Concert on Tuesday 24^th March, please complete the order on myEvolve (through EVOLVEshop) or by using the link below.

https://evolve.edufocus.co.uk/shop/shop_item_public.asp?site=rbcvisits&estab=3359&id=6186

Kendrick School Food Bank Easter Collection

I am very pleased to be able to update you on our last food bank collection and to launch an Easter Collection running throughout next week.

Thank you in advance for your continued support and remember that students can leave donations in the sixth form block or the servery area near the hall. Parents can also donate through Parent Pay.

Last term we delivered 8 large boxes of donations and a fabulous cheque for £1300 representing money raised since last summer on Parent Pay and through in school fund raising events. This money supports families in moments of crisis and is always incredibly gratefully received.

I would love to take a large donation up to Whitley Park Food Cupboard in time for the Easter holiday. Sarah is asking for toiletries (shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant), toilet rolls, cleaning products, washing powder for clothes, stir in pasta sauces and tea/coffee/biscuits. I am sure that we may be able to also donate chocolate treats for Easter. This would be amazing!

Mr Nick Simmonds, Deputy Headteacher

Kendrick School Food Bank Easter Collection

I am very pleased to be able to update you on our last food bank collection and to launch an Easter Collection running throughout next week.

Thank you in advance for your continued support and remember that students can leave donations in the sixth form block or the servery area near the hall. Parents can also donate through Parent Pay.

Mr Nick Simmonds, Deputy Headteacher

Safeguarding

Safeguarding at Kendrick School

Student Safeguarding Assemblies. Our students receive a wide range of safeguarding information, including regular assemblies on various safeguarding topics. If you would like to see what topics these assemblies cover, please click here.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Mental Health and Wellbeing at Kendrick School

Nature and Mental Health. Spending time in green space or bringing nature into your everyday life can benefit your mental health. It can benefit your physical wellbeing too. There's lots of ways you can connect with nature. Mind is here to help you get started.

SEND

No.5 School Transitions Project – 7-10^th April 2026. A 4-day series of Creative Expressive Wellbeing workshops to help support young people who feel they may struggle with varying school transitions through creative and performing arts. This project is open to young people starting Year 7, 8, 9 or 10 in September who may be struggling with school or feeling nervous about moving up to a different year group. Registration form can be found here.

School Fund

Please donate to our School Fund here. You can make one-off payments through your ParentPay account or complete a standing order form for more regular payments. If you are a UK taxpayer, please ensure you also complete a Gift Aid Form.

A school fund is maintained by voluntary contributions from the parents/carers of students. Its purpose is to provide an additional source of funding for the provision of facilities and educational resources for the benefit of students. We use our School Fund to support so many activities in and out of school that have now become essential to school life.

Canteen

The menu for Autumn/Winter can be found here. The menu is subject to change dependent on food availability. Please ensure that you regularly check your child's canteen balance on their ParentPay account and settle any 'overdrafts' quickly. Overdrafts should only be issued on an exceptional basis and not as a regular occurrence.

Latest News on our Website

Behind the Wind of Wuthering Heights

School Calendar

Week commencing 23^rd March - Week B

Year 10 PE Assessments (Monday to Wednesday)

Tuesday 24^th March – Spring Concert
Wednesday 25^th March – Year 13 Celebration Day; KPS Meeting, 6pm
Thursday 26^th March – Year 11 Celebration Day; KPS Sixth Form Drop In with Ms Kattirtzi and Mrs Hearn
Friday 27^th March – End of Term 4, 3.15pm

Student Careers and Work Experience

Current Opportunities

Vacancies

Business and Economics Teacher. For September 2026. Closing date for applications 9am Wednesday 15^th April 2026

Evening Site Assistant to join us in April 2026. 4.45pm to 9.30pm Monday to Friday. Closing date for applications: 8am Friday 20^th March 2026.

ParentPay and Evolve Reminders

Latest Reminders for ParentPay and Evolve

Kendrick Parents' Society (KPS)

Weekly News – Friday 20^th March 2026

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 2025-2026 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.

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 Lisa Hillan, Governance Officer to the Trustee Board lhillan@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 2025