Kendrick School
102%
Capacity
934
Pupils
3.9x
Demand
About Kendrick School
Kendrick School is a girls’ secondary in Reading that is heavily oversubscribed, with 495 applications for 127 Year 7 places in the 2025/26 admissions round. That is an oversubscription ratio of 3.9, and 384 of those applications were first-preference choices, indicating strong local demand. The school operates above its stated capacity of 920, with 934 pupils on roll. Its free school meals rate of 8.7% is below the national average, reflecting a relatively advantaged intake compared with many state schools. The school is non-denominational and has no religious character. It is one of only two schools in Reading rated Outstanding by Ofsted, the other being Reading School, which sits less than a kilometre away. The headteacher is Christine Kattirtzi, who leads a school that has held an Outstanding rating across both its most recent inspections.
Academically, Kendrick is exceptional. Its Progress 8 score of 1.07 places it in the top 1.7% of schools nationally and top in Reading, well above the local authority average of 0.12. The Attainment 8 score of 84.4 is extremely high, and every pupil achieved grade 5 or above in English and maths. The EBacc entry rate is 92.8%, with 90.7% achieving a strong pass in the EBacc combination. At A-level, the average points per entry is 44.68, equivalent to a B+ grade, and 53.1% of entries were graded AAB or higher. The sixth form value-added score is -0.14, which is below average, though this may reflect the very high starting points of students. Ofsted’s 2022 inspection rated every category Outstanding, including sixth form provision, behaviour and attitudes, and personal development.
The school offers a wide range of facilities including a swimming pool, gymnasium, library, sixth form centre, and playing fields. Sports on offer include rowing, gymnastics, cricket, and martial arts, and clubs range from Young Enterprise and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award to chess and eco club. SEND provision covers specific learning difficulties, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 127 places available and nearly four applicants for every spot, this is a highly selective state school in practice, suited to academically able girls who thrive in a high-pressure environment. Families should be prepared for a competitive admissions process and a school that consistently delivers top-tier results, particularly in the EBacc subjects and at GCSE.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 18 years |
| Gender | Girls |
| Religious Character | None |
| Address | London Road, Reading, Reading, RG1 5BN |
| Headteacher | Christine Kattirtzi |
| Local Authority | Reading |
| Number of Pupils | 934 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 8.7% |
| School Capacity | 934 / 920 (102% full) |
| Sixth Form | Yes |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Nov 2022Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Additional Provisions
Source: Ofsted, 12 Jan 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+1.07)
53rd of 3,141
Nationally
7th of 461
In South East
1st of 9
In Reading
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make significantly more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
A-Level Results
2023/24Average Points per Entry
Value Added Score
Best 3 A-Levels (Average)
'21/22
49.6
'22/23
46.8
'23/24
44.7
Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.
Where school leavers go
2022/2375%
of A-level / Level 3 leavers go to higher education (cohort: 138 pupils).
- University (HE)75%
- Employment11%
- Apprenticeship4%
- Not sustained4%
Source: DfE 16-18 destination measures, Level 3 cohort. “Sustained” means the pupil was in education, apprenticeship or employment for 6 months in the year following completion. Russell Group / top-third HE breakdown not shown.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
7Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
18Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed127
495
High Demand
Competitive - many more applications than places available
384 families put this school as their 1st choice (78% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than 75% of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Lower-disadvantage intake compared to the national average (25%).
Above the national median (10%) — a meaningful share speak English as an additional language.
Ethnic background
- Asian71.0%
- White British11.0%
- Mixed6.2%
- White (other)4.8%
- Black0.2%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/25Better than half of schools in England.
Better than half of schools in England.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
Better than half of schools in England.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
11
Total schools
11
Oversubscribed
9
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
Frequently Asked Questions About Kendrick School
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
London Road, Reading
Reading, RG1 5BN
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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