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....

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?

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?

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.

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!)

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.

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.