Widening Horizons 2024-25
On Tuesday 26th November 2024, we were excited to launch our Widening Horizons programme for the 2024-25 academic year. Over 130 parents and primary school children from Years 3-5 in receipt of Pupil Premium (free school meals), Service Premium (children with a parent(s) in the British Armed Forces) and who live in our designated area and children in care or previously in care attended the Widening Horizons Information Event at Kendrick School.
Parents listened to talks from senior members of staff and heard how, as a result of the Widening Horizons and outreach work, Kendrick School has been awarded the prestigious Sutton Trust Fair Schools Admissions Award at the highest GOLD level. The primary school students participated in exciting art, library and English workshops, led by our staff and supported by our older Kendrick students, and it was lovely to see their excitement and enthusiasm as they left the workshops. Two parents with students who have taken part in the Widening Horizons programme and gone on to join our school community, spoke to the parents about their, and their child’s, positive experience of Kendrick School and this programme, and gave some helpful tips and advice on making the most of this opportunity.
Our remote Inspire Club for Widening Horizons students will start on Tuesday 14th January 2025 and continue every Tuesday between 4pm to 5pm, throughout the year during term time. Students will also be invited to events in school once a term. We are also planning to launch some exciting new Widening Horizons initiatives for 2025, including a Book Club and a new-look Inspire magazine.
Year 5 students who would like to take our admission test in September 2025, for entry into Year 7 in September 2026, will receive at least 6 familiarisation sessions before the tests, free online material and books, and the opportunity to attend a half-day session at Kendrick in the summer holidays. For the test itself, a score of 5 points lower than the qualifying score will be applied to applicants eligible for the Widening Horizons programme. This means that the eligible students who achieve this lower qualifying score and put Kendrick School as first choice on their Local Authority secondary school application form will be offered a place at Kendrick School (subject to satisfactory address checks). Please see our website for more information on eligibility.
If your child qualifies for the Widening Horizons programme, and you would like her to take part in this initiative, or you would like to check whether she would be eligible, please email admissions@kendrick.reading.sch.uk.
We would like to sincerely thank all the parents and primary school students that attended our launch event, the two Widening Horizons parents who spoke so well and with such enthusiasm, and all our wonderful staff and students that supported the event.