Kendrick Girls' Grammar School: Comprehensive 11+ Admissions Guide

Key Information Summary

• School Type: State-maintained girls' grammar school
• Age Range: 11-18 years
• Location: London Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 5BN
• Year 7 Places: 128 places available
• Pupils: Over 850 students
• Headteacher: Ms. Christine Kattirtzi
• OFSTED Rating: Outstanding (November 2022)
• Catchment Area: Yes, priority areas apply

About Kendrick Girls' Grammar School

Founded in 1877, Kendrick Girls' Grammar School in Reading represents academic excellence within the state sector. This selective girls' school has earned its reputation as one of Britain's premier grammar schools through consistently outstanding examination results and a commitment to developing confident, articulate young women.

Under Ms. Christine Kattirtzi's leadership, the school maintains its tradition of academic rigour whilst nurturing individual talents. The school's outstanding OFSTED rating reflects its exceptional standards across all areas of education. With over 850 pupils, Kendrick offers a vibrant learning environment where girls from diverse backgrounds come together to achieve their academic potential.

The school's ethos centres on empowering young women to become leaders in their chosen fields. Beyond academic achievement, Kendrick emphasises critical thinking, independence, and social responsibility. The school's extensive programme of extracurricular activities ensures pupils develop holistically, from debating societies to scientific research projects.

Located in Reading's heart, the school benefits from excellent transport links and serves families across Berkshire and surrounding counties. The historic buildings combine with modern facilities to provide an inspiring educational environment where tradition meets innovation.

The 11+ Assessment Process

Kendrick Girls' Grammar School uses the GL Assessment 11+ examination to select pupils for Year 7 entry. The assessment comprises two one-hour papers taken on the same day, testing academic ability across four key areas.

Assessment Components

Paper 1 and Paper 2 each contain:

• English: Reading comprehension, vocabulary, grammar, and language reasoning based on Key Stage 2 curriculum
• Mathematics: Problem-solving, numerical reasoning, and mathematical concepts appropriate for Year 6 level
• Verbal Reasoning: Logic puzzles, word relationships, and language-based problem solving
• Non-Verbal Reasoning: Pattern recognition, spatial awareness, and visual logic questions

Scoring and Rankings

Results are age-standardised and candidates ranked in order of performance. The school creates a waiting list from which places are allocated according to specific criteria. Priority is given to looked-after children, followed by those living within designated priority areas around Reading.

Important Dates

• Registration Opens: 1st May
• Registration Closes: 1st July
• 11+ Examination Date: Mid-September
• Results Released: Mid-October
• Secondary Application Deadline: 31st October

How to Apply

The application process for Kendrick Girls' Grammar School involves two separate but essential stages that parents must complete.

Stage 1: 11+ Registration

Parents must register their daughter for the 11+ examination through the school's designated testing authority. Registration typically opens on 1st May and closes on 1st July for September entry the following year. The examination takes place in mid-September at designated test centres.

Stage 2: Secondary School Application

Separately, parents must complete their local authority's secondary school application form, naming Kendrick as one of their preferred schools. This application deadline is 31st October, and parents should consult their local council's website for the specific common application form.

Results and Offers

11+ results are released in mid-October, providing parents with their daughter's performance before the secondary application deadline. However, passing the 11+ does not automatically secure admission due to the school's significant oversubscription. Places are allocated based on the ranking system and priority criteria.

Parents should carefully consider backup options, as competition for Kendrick's 128 places is exceptionally fierce among high-achieving candidates across the region.

Preparing for the Kendrick Girls' Grammar School 11+ with Taylor Tuition

Families preparing for the Kendrick Girls' Grammar School 11+ usually come to us a year or so before the assessment, though shorter runs work where the foundations are already sound. Having prepared pupils for entry to leading independent and grammar schools, with placements including Westminster, St Paul's, Wycombe Abbey and Eton, our tutors build each programme around the format the school actually uses, whether a written paper, an online pre-test, an interview or a combination of them.

More than half of our tutors hold Qualified Teacher Status and around three in five hold a master's degree or doctorate, and the pool includes former heads of department, exam-board examiners and teachers from independent and boarding schools, so the preparation is led by people who know how selective schools assess. Every tutor who works with children holds an enhanced DBS check.

Families work with us online from anywhere in the UK or abroad, and in person in central London. Fees start from £50 per 50-minute session and depend on tutor level and subject, with no registration fee and a free initial consultation to talk through your child's current level and the timeline to the 11+. Families receive progress reports after sessions and have a dedicated point of contact, and we reply to enquiries within one working day with tutor recommendations.

Read more about our 11+ entrance exam tutors, or send an enquiry and we will come back with tutor recommendations.