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 18TH JULY 2025
We have come to the end of another academic year which we marked yesterday afternoon at a whole school assembly. In a slight change to recent years, we held the assembly in the main school hall, a space that so encapsulates Kendrick and its rich history and tradition. Yesterday, without Year 11 and 13 students, the rest of the school and staff could fit in the room quite 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 and said some thanks and goodbyes to leaving staff. 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, Sports Day and the Wellbeing event. Throughout the assembly students sat attentively appreciating and respecting the reports and messages they heard. Thank you to everyone for creating a school where this kind of gathering is still possible and appreciated.
A few staff are leaving Kendrick this year, and they are: Mr Guo – Geography Teacher, Mrs Goddard - English and Humanities Teacher, Mrs Moore Bridger - Physics and Science Teacher, Mrs Haldane – PE Teacher, Mrs Davidson – Biology and Science Teacher. Also, Mrs Sierra who begins her maternity leave. We wished them well in the assembly and thanked them for their service and contribution to Kendrick during the time they have worked with us. New staff will be joining us in September.
On the website this week are some super articles about recent events, please take time to read these.
To finish, I would like to go back to the assembly we had yesterday when in my closing remarks, I asked students to reflect on the year they have had and consider how it has been for them and to think about next year and what will be different or better. These reflections are important and should be encouraged and discussed. I would also urge parents to consider and reflect on the year and how they feel it has been for their child. All parents and students received reports this week and these should be causes of celebration, but there is also room for reflection and consideration about what could be better in the future. We all agree that academic ability and brilliance are not all that matters in life and it is certainly not what Kendrick is all about. The kind of person someone is and wishes to be matters. I want students to be happy and confident individuals, optimistic about their future, equipped and able to take their place in society and know their purpose and worth. This is what we work towards for all our students at Kendrick.
I ended the assembly with mention of a gift that has been given to the school which I would like to share with you today. Last June 2024, a parent of a Year 13 student offered to make an audio piece for the school. The parent is a journalist, and this is the kind of work she does professionally. She said it would be an opportunity to portray the school’s history, as well as what it is like here. Using contributions from students, a member of staff, Mrs Moseley and former student and me, the parent recorded us talking about Kendrick’s history, life at school and what the school means to us all. We spoke separately but what you will, hear in the audio is a blend of all our voices and thoughts about our school. The piece is called Kendrick Voices and there is an abridged version and a longer version. The link is to the abridged version which I recommend you listen to as it will provide a glimpse of life at Kendrick as it is seen and expressed through our voices. Click here to listen.
My sincere thanks to everyone: students, staff, parents, Trustees, Kendrick Parents’ Society and all for your encouragement and support for Kendrick School this year.
Wishing everyone a wonderful summer. Please read on in the Weekly Update for safety information, as well as fun ideas for the summer, including Kendrick’s thrive over the summer challenge!
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