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 to 18 selective girls' school with academy status. With approximately 950 students on roll, it has a well-deserved local and national reputation for excellence.
Our vision at Kendrick is to be a centre of excellence where personal development is valued as highly as academic achievement. We are committed to providing a safe, exciting and inclusive environment where students can be themselves, develop self-confidence and discover their strengths. Kendrick is a place where every student feels a sense of belonging and can grow into a successful young adult while continuing to enjoy the opportunities and experiences of childhood.
We are proud to play an active role within the Reading community and beyond. Through initiatives such as the Widening Horizons Project, which engages students from local primary schools, we strive to make selective education more accessible to girls from all backgrounds.
At Kendrick, students and staff work together with confidence, curiosity and ambition. We challenge one another to think creatively, embrace innovation and pursue excellence in all that we do. We aim to be a school where everyone can lead, inspire and make a positive difference to the lives of girls and young women.
In its most recent Ofsted inspection, Kendrick School was judged to be Outstanding. Inspectors noted that: "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.”
School life at Kendrick is busy and purposeful. Students work hard in lessons and take maximum benefit from every hour that they are taught. Staff value the engagement and motivation of students, as well as unwavering support of parents and carers. As a result, Kendrick is a rewarding place both to learn and to work.
Outside of lessons there is a very full programme of extra and super curricular opportunities including many clubs and societies, trips, challenges and competitions. Music, art, drama and sports all thrive in lessons as well as clubs and the House System gives students the chance to participate in events and competitions with students from other forms and year groups. It is a source of great joy to me how much the older students interact with and encourage the younger students at Kendrick. Kendrick Student Leaders exemplify this spirit through the creative and inclusive initiatives they lead.
As part of Kendrick’s community work, I am particularly proud of the Widening Horizons project that engages students from primary schools and the local area. In July 2024 and again in July 2025, we were awarded the Sutton Trust Fair School Admissions Award (Gold). This recognition reflects our commitment to fair and accessible admissions, and we are immensely proud of this achievement.
Whatever your connection with Kendrick School, I hope your experience is a positive one and that you see the same joy of learning, sense of purpose and spirit of community that I experience every day. Kendrick is truly a very special place to learn, work and grow.
Mr Nicholas Simmonds
Headteacher
September 2026
Weekly UPDATE - FRIDAY 25th SEPTEMBER 2026
Please click here for previous weekly updates.
Letter from Mr Simmonds, Headteacher
This week we celebrated the school’s 149th birthday. In a school assembly we reflected on some of the mottos that the school has adopted over the years. We ask everyone associated with the school to lead everyone to grow and contribute; inspire staff students and parents to have a voice and shape the future; and make a difference to people’s lives and the wider community. In 1909 a group of Kendrick mistresses and sixth formers sought out John Kendrick’s motto inscribed on his memorial in St Mary’s church: Dum Spiro Spero, (while I breathe, I hope). This motto stayed with the school for many decades and reminds us all that growth, learning and improvement remain possible as long as we keep trying.
Many thanks to any parents who have contributed to School Fund. Already this week I have had multiple requests to draw on school fund for a wide range of resources and activities; these additional funds really do mean everything to us in school.
Finally, the House captains and vice captains have run House assemblies this week and they have launched preparations for House Drama which this year has a theme based on a piece of art: Banksy’s Girl with a Balloon.
Floreat Kendricka, long may our Lion roar.
Mr Nicholas Simmonds
Headteacher
School Notices
Dropping Items off at Reception
As previously communicated, our Reception Team are unable to contact students during the school day to collect items dropped off for them Please remember that our Reception staff are here to assist and support students, staff, parents and visitors to the best of their ability in a very busy environment. We expect all members of our school community to communicate with staff in a respectful and considerate manner. We do not tolerate confrontational or disrespectful behaviour towards any member of staff. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
School Birthday Own Clothes Day
We hope your child enjoyed marking our School Birthday on Monday, 21st September. In return for the privilege of wearing their own clothes on Monday, we asked you for a donation for each student. If your child chose the non-uniform option and you have not yet made your donation, we would be grateful if you would remember do this soon. A dedicated Own Clothes Day payment item on ParentPay has been set up, through which you can make the suggested £2.50 donation per student to the School Fund.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding at Kendrick School
Kendrick School Webinar Series:
- Episode 1 – Teenagers and Social Media: Risks, Realities and Relationships - KSWS Episode 1 Teenagers and Social Media - Explores the role social media plays in young people's lives, considering both its benefits and potential risks. The episode looks at online relationships, behaviour and some of the challenges families may face when supporting young people in an increasingly digital world.
- Episode 2 – Seeing Me: Body Image and Identity - Seeing Me; Body Image and Identity- Considers the pressures young people can experience surrounding body image and identity. The webinar explores some of the influences that can shape how young people see themselves and considers how families and school can support the development of healthy attitudes and positive self-image.
- Episode 3 – Beyond the Rainbow: Building True LGBTQIA+ Inclusion - Beyond the Rainbow - Explores what meaningful LGBTQIA+ inclusion looks like within a school community. The episode considers language, identity, allyship and the importance of creating an environment in which all students feel respected, understood and able to be themselves.
- Episode 4 – Staying Safe over the Summer - Staying Safe over the Summer - Focuses on helping young people stay safe during the summer months, when they may have greater independence and spend more time away from the routines of school. The episode provides families with information to support conversations around making safe and informed choices.
Each webinar lasts approximately 30 minutes and can be watched at a time that is convenient for you and all four episodes can be accessed through the Kendrick School Webinar Series page: Full webinar series
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Mental Health and Wellbeing at Kendrick School
Goal Setting. Goal-setting can give you some extra motivation and encouragement, if you feel you need it. It may also help with your daily routine, giving you something to work towards to get you through the day.
Reading’s SEND Local Offer. The SEND Local Offer is here to help you find information about local services, support, activities and events for children and young people aged 0 - 25 years who have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).
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 Autumn/Winter menu will be shared in due course. 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. #
Week A
Thursday 1st October 2026 – National Poetry Day
Student Careers and Work Experience
Attendance Officer and Administration Coordinator – Monday to Friday, 8am to 3.30pm, term time only.
Art and Technology Technician – 30 hours a week, term time only
We will shortly be advertising for an Evening Caretaker and a Science Technician.
ParentPay and Evolve Reminders
Latest Reminders for ParentPay and Evolve
KPS Updates
Please see the latest KPS newsletter 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 2026-2027 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 Mr Nicholas Simmonds, 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 – either as a student or the parent of a student.
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 2026