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 17th July 2026
Please click here for previous weekly updates.
Letter from Ms Kattirtzi, Headteacher
We have come to the end of the academic year and with that the end of my Headship at Kendrick. I will write to you all in due course on my thoughts and reflections of my time at Kendrick, but for this update I will just comment on what we have done this week.
We ended the term as we always to with a whole school assembly which we held in the school hall, a space that is rich in history and tradition. Without Year 11 and 13 students, the rest of the school and staff could fit in the hall comfortably. We heard reports from our Kendrick Student Leaders about activities and events that have taken place over the last few months. We listened to some music and poetry, items dedicated to me, and said our thanks and goodbyes to leaving staff and to me. I believe it is important for everyone in our community to feel and hear that their role in our school is important and valued and so our assembly was a combination of celebration and joy, as well as anticipation of what the next term will bring. We acknowledged the many activities that have taken place in school even in this last week of term: Talent Show and Sports Day, plus 3 school trips! Throughout the assembly students sat attentively and diligently appreciating and respecting the reports and messages they heard. Thank you to everyone for creating a school where this kind of gathering is possible and appreciated.
There are a few items on the website, please read.
A lot of words have been said in the last few days and weeks, mainly by me in my messages and thanks to students and staff. My words and speeches have focused on Kendrick School and the privilege and honour it has been for me to teach in this school and over many years to be in the leadership team and ultimately the Headteacher. I could not have wanted a better school, a better student body, parents, staff, trustees to have worked with for so many years of my career. I have said a lot about education, girls’ education and I can never say enough about how important this is to our society. An education enables people to be seen and heard from wherever they come from; for women it gives them opportunities to be in the places where decisions are made and where the voice of women can be heard. This is what has given me greatest joy in my career and in my time at Kendrick.
Finally, this week’s word of the week was accomplishment, a word deliberately chosen to mark the end of the school year. Definition: something you achieve through effort and care, and the quiet satisfaction of having seen it through.
As I come to the end of my Headship at Kendrick, I feel a sense of accomplishment. There have been many accomplishments that I am proud of, which have been achieved working cooperatively and with the support of others. I ask everyone, staff and students to reflect on their accomplishments, not dwell on what they have not done, but to see what they have done and achieved and can be proud of. To accomplish something is, at heart, to carry it through to the full. There is much that the Kendrick community has accomplished this year, much that we have all seen through. Well done to everyone on their endeavours this year.
My sincere thanks to everyone: students, staff, parents, Trustees, Kendrick Parents’ Society for your encouragement and support of Kendrick School.
I wish everyone a wonderful and restful summer
Ms Christine Kattirtzi, Headteacher
School Notices
Changes for the new school year ahead
School Library – the library hours will be reduced from 3rd September 2026 and the new library hours will be 8am-4pm. All students need to have vacated the school site by 3.30pm every day unless they are in the library.
School Uniform – the government has provided some new guidance for school uniform requirements from September 2026 which allows for 3 branded uniform items. The 3 branded items required for Kendrick school uniform will be:
- Kendrick School jumper/sweatshirt
- Kendrick PE polo shirt
- Kendrick PE midlayer
The only changes therefore to the Kendrick school uniform will be to the PE kit which will now be as below:
Essential
- *Polo shirt – Black with Kendrick Logo
- *Sweatshirt – Black midlayer with Kendrick logo. School sweatshirts must not be worn for PE lessons.
- Gym shorts – plain black with no logos
- Cycling shorts – black with no logos
- Sports socks - white sports socks must be worn
- Sports trainers – Not basketball boot type/suede or canvas leisure wear – Non marking sole.
- Swimming costume
- Goggles
- Swim Hat
- Optional Extras
- Cycling shorts – black with no logos
- House T-shirt - used for inter-house events and sports day, purchased from Stevensons
- Tracksuit trousers- plain black with no logos
- Sports leggings – plain black with no logos
- Long sleeved base layer – plain black with no logos
*must be purchased from Stevensons. All other items can be purchased from any supplier but must follow the guidelines stated above.
More information regarding the government guidance can be found at Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill: policy summary notes
Mobile Phone Usage - as you will no doubt have heard in the news, the government is requiring schools to take a much more stringent approach to the use of mobile phones within the school environment and the guidance that schools must follow can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobile-phones-in-schools/mobile-phones-in-schools. This requires all schools to be mobile phone-free environments by default; anything other than this should be by exception only. Whilst Kendrick is already a mobile phone-free environment, should any student be found to be using their mobile phone on school premises the consequences will be more severe and we will be updating our school policy to reflect this.
New Relations and Sex Policy – there is new guidance from the DfE which requires schools to share their policy and practice for consultation and feedback with parents.
Benedict’s Law – the new Benedict’s Law which comes into force in September affects students with allergies and who have been prescribed an epi-pen. Further information will follow on this next week from the Student Welfare Team.
Free School Meals- please read the email sent to you regarding the changes to Free School Meals (FSM). If you child is currently in receipt of FSM you must complete the form sent to you in order for your child to continue receiving FSM in September.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding at Kendrick School
Avenues of Support for the Summer Holidays
Reading Festival Safety Advice
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Mental Health and Wellbeing at Kendrick School
Staying Safe over the Summer
Managing stress when waiting for exam results
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.
Thursday 13th August A Level Results Day
Thursday 20th August GCSE Results Day
Week commencing 31st August 2026 (Week A)
Monday 31st August Bank Holiday Monday
Tuesday 1st September INSET Day for staff
Wednesday 2nd September INSET Day for staff
Thursday 3rd September First Day of Term 1, 2026-27, 8,25am
Friday 4th September Photos Year 7, 10 and 12
Student Careers and Work Experience
No current vacancies
ParentPay and Evolve Reminders
Latest Reminders for ParentPay and Evolve
Kendrick Parents' Society (KPS)
KPS Update - Friday 17th July 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