Kendrick vs Reading School
How the two compare on Ofsted, GCSE results, places and entrance test — and specialist 11+ tuition for both.
Kendrick School and Reading School are each selected through their own entrance test. In 2024/25, Kendrick recorded a GCSE Attainment 8 of 84 (100% grade 5+ in English and maths), against Reading School's 83 (100%). Kendrick admits about 128 pupils to Year 7 each year and Reading School about 150. Kendrick's latest Ofsted outcome is Outstanding (2022); Reading School's is Outstanding (2023).
The two Reading grammars — Kendrick (girls) and Reading School (boys) — are each their own admissions authority with their own entrance test, so they are compared as "the Reading grammars".
| Kendrick | Reading School | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Reading, Berkshire | Reading, Berkshire |
| Type | Girls | Boys |
| Ofsted (latest) | Outstanding (2022) | Outstanding (2023) |
| GCSE Attainment 8 (2024/25) | 84 | 83 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths | 100% | 100% |
| A-level (2025) | 79% A*–B | — |
| Year 7 places | 128 | 150 |
| Entrance test | GL Assessment, Kendrick entrance test | FSCE Ltd, Reading School entrance test |
| Qualifying score | Set annually (no fixed pass mark) | Set annually (no fixed pass mark) |
Kendrick or Reading School: how to choose
Kendrick and Reading School use different entrance tests, so aiming at both means preparing for, and sitting, each one. If your child is set on a particular school, focus preparation on its test; if you want to keep options open, we can prepare for both in parallel.
On the hard numbers, the two are closely matched: Kendrick posted a GCSE Attainment 8 of 84 and Reading School 83 in 2024/25. Kendrick edges it on that measure, but the gap is small and both sit far above the national average. For most families the deciding factor is access — the score needed in practice and the catchment rules — rather than a fraction of an Attainment 8 point.
Kendrick vs Reading School: Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources
School data is taken from authoritative sources, last verified 26 May 2026: Ofsted (Kendrick, Reading School); the Department for Education’s Compare school and college performance service (GCSE 2024/25); and each school’s own admissions arrangements. A-level figures are each school’s published 2025 results where available. Progress 8 is not shown because the DfE cannot calculate it for 2024/25 (no Key Stage 2 baseline after Covid-19).
