Kendrick Sixth Form

[GaribaldiGirl]

Anyone got a daughter who joined Kendrick as a sixth former? My daughter loved it at the open evening and wants to apply. Keen to hear what it's like from an insider....

[AbbieRuin]

My dd went to Kendrick, but all the way through. I think about 40 new girls joined her year, so about a third of the whole year. Each new girl was given a buddy of an old girl who shared a subject or two (or more) with them. There's a lot of thought and effort put in to integrating them as quickly as possible, and they do seem to settle in well. There's always a new girl on the 9-person head girl team (well, dd left in 2015, and that was true up to then at least!).

What sort of school is she coming from? Mixed, selective, etc?

[GaribaldiGirl]

Thanks! That's good to hear. She's at an independent girls school at the moment. She is pretty academic and likes the fact the girls at Kendrick take their work seriously (strange child!!!). I think work-wise it would be similar but a very different experience in the sense that there is a lot more cosseting in a private school. One other question - it seems very science focused and my daughter wants to do arts subjects - did your daughter and her friends do any non maths/science subjects?

[SianiMoomin]

I went to Kendrick (a long time ago!) and taught there for a few years. If your DD likes it, why not apply? They are just as good at the arts subjects. I don't think it would be massively different from her private school. It is very academic. What are her predicted grades like? What subjects does she want to do at A Level?

The Sixth form team are fab.

[AbbieRuin]

Yes, my daughter did maths and two arts subjects (plus a third for AS) - the English dept is brilliant imo, and the arts are just as strong and almost as popular I would say. Not a lot of cosseting, you're right, but I don't think A levels should be like that really.

Definitely worth applying and seeing what happens - plenty of time to make a decision

Btw, if you haven't already found it, there's a y11 support thread going on this forum, if you ever fancy having a moan about this GCSE year (or even celebrating something!)

[L1lyOfTheValley]

A friend's daughter joined from a local comprehensive, she found the work ethic and pace quite different and a bit challenging compared to her previous school apparently. Another girl (also new to Kendrick) from a private school also felt the same.

However, she has loved the social side of it and has settled in really well.

[GaribaldiGirl]

Think we'll definitely apply. I think her predicted grades should be mostly As and A*s. She wants to do English, History and Sociology I think. Her real passion is English and she says she wants to apply for Cambridge. Her current school get more girls into Oxbridge than Kendrick, but I don't think that's a reason to stay - brilliant English Depts at lots of Universities!
I am not sure how much chance she has, I know it is very oversubscribed and I believe priority goes to Reading Schools, so will need to manage her expectations...!

Love the idea of not having the school fees I must say.