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 15th may 2026
Please click here for previous weekly updates.
WEEKLY UPDATE – FRIDAY 15th MAY 2026
Letter from Ms Kattirtzi, Headteacher
It has been a relatively quiet week with senior students being involved in exams: GCSE, AS Level, A Levels and today Year 10 students have started their internal end of year assessments. As I have said before, this is always a stressful time for students and families as anxiety levels increase, therefore our support of students at school and at home is vital.
It was a joy to attend 7HW’s assembly yesterday on Food From Around The World and hear about the breadth and variety of food there is. At the same time, the students were aware of the privilege it is for many of us to have plentiful supplies of food compared to people in other parts of the world where food is less of a reliable commodity, whether this be due to variations in climate, cost, supply, and/or access. These are all important issues that these students will come across in their future studies, as well as in their careers and so it is most encouraging that they are engaging in such discussions at this stage.
In the same vein, I have just been to a Year 9 History class at the invitation of Mr Haynes, History Teacher. The topic students are currently studying is the Holocaust, a key topic in the Key Stage 3 History Curriculum. This is a most important piece of history that I believe is rightly prioritised and should be taught to all students before they are able to choose their option choices at GCSE. Through the very carefully planned and resourced lesson, Mr Haynes charted the History of antisemitism in Germany, beginning with the Nazi party coming to power in January 1933. The lesson focused on the legislative developments that the Nazis brought in which structurally, legally, socially and culturally persecuted the Jews, based on a racial ideology that saw Jews as lesser human beings. Antisemitism was prevalent before the rise of the Nazis and in other European countries, but the unique circumstances of post-World War 1 in Germany made the situation ripe for the development of extreme politics. Focusing on individual stories and histories, Mr Haynes and the students built a timeline of actions taken against Jews from 1933 until the end of the war in 1945, showing how systematically the initial separation, then isolation and eventual extermination, the Final Solution, developed over this time. As well as being impressed with the structure and organisation of the lesson, I was also particularly impressed by the engagement of the students and the questions they asked for greater clarity and understanding. There are always questions asked by students and teachers when difficult areas of history are studied, mainly why was this allowed to happen for which there is never a straight and obvious answer. However, what I know from my own history teaching in my career is that when people do nothing or do not see the signs of extremism, what we would now call radicalisation, evil can triumph. The history of Nazi Germany is complex, and many factors came into play to foster the Nazi regime and, while this may seem far from where we might be today in our world, feelings of discontent are always there for others to exploit. I hope that through the education our students get in their history lessons at Kendrick, they understand their role and responsibility as young people and adults of the future, and that they must play a part in standing against such hate of one group of people against another. Our Kendrick Pledge is our mission statement that reminds us daily of our responsibilities to create a better and more harmonious environment where we celebrate our differences and do not seek to use these to divide us. As we commemorate the 81st anniversary of the end of the Second World War, including the liberation of the death camps in early 1945, I hope we can all reflect on these thoughts. My thanks to Mr Haynes and 9SF for their part in helping me to remember this history which I was so familiar with for so many years of my teaching career.
Looking ahead, this weekend our Mock Trial team will be competing tomorrow morning in the final at the Reading Magistrates Courts; we wish them well. On Monday all of Year 8 will be embarking on their four-day residential trip designed to build teamwork skills. Also on Monday, Year 7 will be having a fun Enterprise Day. A lot going on in the week ahead before we take a break for half term.
Wishing everyone a good weekend.
Ms Christine Kattirtzi
Headteacher
School Notices
Please see the separate school communication sent this afternoon with an update on the current health situation regarding meningitis.
Curriculum Day
Our annual curriculum day is taking place on Friday 22nd May 2026. The arrangement for each year group is as follows:
Years 7 - 9 Do not attend school. Students are not required to register online, and no work will be set.
Year 10 In school according to their exam schedule.
Year 12 On study leave as previously communicated
Year 11 and Year 13 will continue with their public exams.
Food Bank
We were able to make a large donation of groceries, toiletries and detergents before the Easter holiday which topped up the Whitley Food Cupboard really well. They have sent their heartfelt thanks to the whole Kendrick community which we are pleased to echo and pass on.
We would like to make the next collection this week and next week ready for the May half term holiday. As always dry goods, tinned goods, toiletries and detergents are all most welcome as are donations made through Parent Pay. Your ongoing support for the Whitley Food Cupboard is just fantastic, thank you all so much.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding at Kendrick School
Supporting your child through compulsive device use. Source: NSPCC. What to do if you are worried about the time your child is spending online.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Mental Health and Wellbeing at Kendrick School
Mental Health Awareness Week. The theme for MHAW 2026 is Action: for yourself, for someone else, for all of us. Good mental health is a state of emotional wellbeing that lets us cope with normal life stresses, feel confident and enjoy our relationships with others. When life feels more challenging than usual, it’s often a sign that our mental health needs some extra care and attention. The good news is that protecting our mental health is easier than you might think. Taking practical steps to improve our mental health may feel daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Even small and simple actions can make an impact. Click here for more information.
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 Spring/Summer menu can be found here. 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 commencing 18th May 2026 – Week B
Public exams
Year 10 exams
Bushcraft for Year 8
Monday 18th May Year 7 Wheelie Fun
Wednesday 20th May Year 12 RSC Chemistry Challenge
Thursday 21st May Trustees P&R Committee, 4.30pm
Friday 22nd May Curriculum Day – please see email with arrangements or at the top of this update.
Student Careers and Work Experience
Science Technicians. Full and part-time hours considered. Closing date for applications Monday 1st June 2026.
Head of Chemistry. For September 2026. Closing date for applications 9am Monday 18th May 2026.
Business and Economics Teacher. For September 2026. Closing date for applications 9am Friday 15th May 2026.
ParentPay and Evolve Reminders
Latest Reminders for ParentPay and Evolve
Kendrick Parents' Society (KPS)
Weekly News – Friday 8th May 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