Introduction to the Kendrick and Reading School Entrance Tests
In order to be eligible to apply for a place at either Kendrick School or Reading School (otherwise known as 'Reading Boys'), your child will need to take the relevant School Entrance Test (11 Plus exam). Children born between 1st September 2015 and 31st August 2016 will take their test in September 2026 to be eligible to apply for a place for September 2027.
The 2026 Reading School exam (for 2027 entry) is scheduled for 15th/16th July 2026 (21st September for Out of Catchment day applicants). The 2026 Kendrick School exam (for 2027 entry) will be held in September 2026. The exact date has not yet been confirmed; the most recent exam took place on Friday 19th September 2025.
Kendrick School
Kendrick School announced on 7th November 2022 that its 11+ exam provider was changing from CEM to GL Assessment from the September 2023 exam (up until 2022, the exam was provided by Cambridge CEM). There is no longer a score sharing agreement in place with Slough and therefore, if your child is applying for both Kendrick and Slough, they will need to sit both the Kendrick and Slough Consortium exams.
Reading School
Reading School, under the exceptional leadership of Revd Dr Chris Evans, widely admired for his emphasis on character, integrity, and service, is at the forefront of innovation in the 11+ entrance exam space, continually reshaping its approach to admissions. We recognise that this landscape is constantly evolving, and we remain committed to adapting our teaching so that our students are fully prepared for every change.
Reading School (known informally as 'Reading Boys') switched from CEM to its own admissions test in 2021, which consisted of three elements: English, Maths and Creative Writing. In February 2025, Reading School announced changes to its admissions test, effective from the September 2025 exam. The new FSCE Entrance Test now covers subjects within the KS2 National Curriculum alongside a section on ‘creativity’. The school maintains that by focusing only on areas taught up to the end of Year 5, the revised test should remove the need for tutoring. However, our experience since the exam’s scope expanded shows that demand for tuition remains strong.
While Reading School states that the test may draw on a wide range of KS2 subjects, including art & design, computing, design & technology, English, geography, history, languages, mathematics, music, physical education, and science, confidential feedback from students who sat the exam in September 2025 confirms our earlier view: the test continues to place heavy emphasis on the core KS2 subjects.
Given that English and Mathematics receive more instructional time than other subjects across Key Stages 2, 3 and 4, it is reasonable to expect them to feature more prominently in the exam. These subjects also carry greater weight in Attainment 8, the annual measure of secondary school academic performance. As a highly academic institution (ranking 10th place nationally based on calculations of top grades at GCSE and A‑level as a percentage of total entries), Reading School is unlikely to admit students with weak skills in these areas.
Finally, creativity is defined as “the ability to think of new and imaginative ideas, or to solve problems in original and unique ways.” As with the former Creative Writing element, the new creativity paper is only assessed if performance in all other parts of the test meets the required standard.
We now run a dedicated Reading‑only term-time course in Winnersh to prepare students for the Reading School entrance exam. In these sessions, students study English and Mathematics, and they also cover a range of other KS2 curriculum topics taught interactively on the classroom whiteboard. This approach ensures students engage with the material in a dynamic way, building confidence across the subjects most relevant to the exam.
Alongside this, we offer a separate, optional Creative Thinking course held every Tuesday on Zoom. This course is designed to develop imaginative problem‑solving and original thinking skills, supporting the creativity element of the exam and giving students the confidence to approach challenges in new ways.
From 2026 onwards, Reading School has brought forward its entrance exam to July, allowing children to enjoy their summer holidays without the pressure of late‑summer testing. While this change is positive for family time, it also means students no longer have the opportunity to work intensively over the summer break. To ensure they remain fully prepared, we have introduced February and May half‑term courses, giving students structured opportunities to consolidate their learning well ahead of the exam.
Amira did really well obtained 119.57 Kendrick exam and obtained 128 for the Slough grammar exam, for the Buckinghamshire exam obtained 128 too. So proud of her. Thank you your contribution towards Amira helped her a lot. Amira will hopefully be attending Kendrick school 2018.
The Kendrick (GL Assessment) exam consists of two papers, taken on the same day, each approximately 45 minutes in duration and testing three areas – verbal, mathematical and non-verbal reasoning skills.
The first paper tests verbal skills, including comprehension, English technical language and verbal reasoning.
The second paper tests non-verbal reasoning, spatial reasoning and maths.
All questions on both papers are multiple choice and pupils indicate their answers on a separate answer sheet.
You need to register your child for the Kendrick School Admission Test by completing the online registration form on the school website.
The purpose of registration is for your child to take the entrance test, not apply for a place at Kendrick School. Based on the results, you will still need to provide your child’s school preferences to your local authority on the Common Application Form (CAF).
Online registration for the 2026 exam (for 2027 entry) is expected to open on Friday 1st May 2026 on the website of Kendrick School and close at midight on Wednesday 1st July 2026. Applicants will be sent the test day arrangements and session time by email later in July 2026. The exact date has not yet been confirmed.
On Tuesday 7th February 2023, the Slough Consortium of Grammar Schools announced that from the 2023 exam, there would be no sharing of 11+ scores with other schools. Therefore, if your child is applying for both Kendrick and Slough, they child will need to sit both the Kendrick and Slough Consortium exams.
Kendrick School strongly advises parents who live outside of their designated area NOT to register their child to sit their test – no candidate, whatever the score they attain, who lives outside of their designated area has been offered a place at Kendrick School since the introduction of the designated area in 2013.
It is extremely challenging to secure entry to Kendrick School, with over 8 girls applying for every place and less than 34.22% of those achieving a qualifying score (105 or above) likely to gain admission.*
The qualifying score of Kendrick School pupils who sat the entrance exam in 2021 for entry in 2022 is 105 (compared with 104 in the 2020 exam); excluding those on pupil premium, service premium, or a child in care or previously in care and residing in Kendrick School’s designated area.
Even if your daughter achieves and exceeds the qualifying score, she is not guaranteed a space. The exam is highly competitive, with places offered to the highest scoring candidates. If the number of students that meet or exceed the qualifying score is higher than the admission number for 2022 (128), the school’s oversubscription criteria is applied. In other words, places are allocated in order priority based on the criteria set by the school. Please see the school’s admission policy for further information.
In the 2021 exam, 374 students achieved Kendrick’s qualifying score of 105 or above (compared with 440 in 2020 achieving 104 or more), with only 128 places available. The highest scoring candidate in the 2021 exam is due to be shared in March 2022. The highest scoring candidate in the 2020 exam achieved a standardised score of 128.58 (compared with 126.92 in 2019).
Kendrick School does not publish the lowest qualifying score of a child that was admitted until a year after the exam. The lowest qualifying score of a child that was admitted in September 2020 was 106.68 (compared to 114.17 in 2019). This does not include candidates who qualifed in categories 1 or 2 of the oversubscription criteria, such as those in care or in receipt of pupil premium. The student admitted with a score of 106.68 resides in Kendrick School’s Priority Area 1.
For pupils in care or previously in care, or pupils with a permanent address in Kendrick’s Priority Areas 1 and 2 and in receipt of Pupil Premium or Service Premium, the qualifying score for entry in September 2022 is 100. Students that meet or exceed this score are offered a place at Kendrick School providing they name the school as their first choice on their Common Application Form. For 2022 entry, 12 students in these categories achieved the qualifying score of 100.
* For September 2022 entry, 1056 girls applied to Kendrick School, including 745 who sat the test at the school and 311 who sat the test at another venue and requested that their results were shared with Kendrick. That is more than 8 girls applying for each of the 128 spaces available. 374 of the 1056 girls that applied achieved the qualifying score of 105. Therefore, as some pupils in care or previously in care, or pupils with a permanent address in Kendrick’s Priority Areas 1 and 2 and in receipt of Pupil Premium or Service Premium, may be admitted with a qualifying score of 100, we can assume that less than 34.22% (i.e. less than 128) of the 374 girls that achieved the qualifying score of 105 will have secured a 2022 place at Kendrick School.
If you wish your daughther to be considered for entry to Kendrick School, you are required to name the school on the Common Application Form (CAF).
Common Application Forms will open online at the beginning of September 2026 and you will have until the end of31st October 2026 to submit it to your Local Authority.
School places for September 2027 will be confirmed on Monday 1st March 2027
In whichever year you are applying, you can name up to 6 schools on your CAF.
If you live outside Reading, you must apply through your own Local Authority – even if your child currently attends a Reading primary school.
If you wish your daughther to be considered for entry to Kendrick School, you are required to name the school on the Common Application Form (CAF).
Common Application Forms will open online at the beginning of September 2026 and you will have until the end of31st October 2026 to submit it to your Local Authority.
School places for September 2027 will be confirmed on Monday 1st March 2027
In whichever year you are applying, you can name up to 6 schools on your CAF.
If you live outside Reading, you must apply through your own Local Authority – even if your child currently attends a Reading primary school.
Between 2021 and 2024, the Reading School (FSCE) 11 Plus entrance exam comprised three elements: English, Mathematics, and Creative Writing.
In February 2025, Reading School announced changes to its admissions test, effective from the September 2025 exam. The new FSCE Entrance Test now covers subjects within the KS2 National Curriculum alongside a section on ‘creativity’. The school maintains that by focusing only on areas taught up to the end of Year 5, the revised test should remove the need for tutoring. However, our experience since the exam’s scope expanded shows that demand for tuition remains strong.
While Reading School states that the test may draw on a wide range of KS2 subjects, including art & design, computing, design & technology, English, geography, history, languages, mathematics, music, physical education, and science, confidential feedback from students who sat the exam in September 2025 confirms our earlier view: the test continues to place heavy emphasis on the core KS2 subjects.
In our dedicated Reading-only courses, students study English and Mathematics, as well as a range of other KS2 curriculum topics taught interactively on the classroom whiteboard. This approach ensures students engage with the material in a dynamic way, building confidence across the subjects most relevant to the exam.
Alongside this, we offer a separate Creative Thinking course held every Tuesday on Zoom. This course is designed to develop imaginative problem‑solving and original thinking skills, supporting the creativity element of the exam and giving students the confidence to approach challenges in new ways.
You need to register your child for the Reading School Admission Test by completing the online registration form on the school admissions website.
The purpose of registration is for your child to take the entrance test, not apply for a place at Reading School. Based on the results, you will still need to provide your child’s school preferences to your local authority on the Common Application Form (CAF).
Online registration for the 2026 exam (for 2027 entry) will open on Sunday 1st February 2026 and close on Sunday 17th May 2026.
Securing a place at Reading School is highly competitive. Historically, over six boys apply for every available space, and fewer than 33.9% of those achieving a qualifying score (95 or above at that time) are likely to gain admission.*
From the 2023 exam onwards, Reading School no longer provides ‘qualifying scores.’ In the past, this allowed parents to compare their child’s score with the lowest qualifying scores from previous years, helping them gauge the likelihood of securing a place in March of the following year. However, this never guaranteed a space, as the lowest qualifying score changed annually and was not published until a year after the exam.
To be eligible for admission to the school, candidates must now achieve an ‘eligible score,’ which includes minimum standards in each element of the test. However, this is not a ‘pass mark’ and does not guarantee entry, as the school states, “it is extremely likely that more boys will qualify for places than the School can accommodate.”
When you receive your child’s results, you will be informed if they have achieved the eligible score but you will not receive their actual score. As the school no longer shares this information, you will not know how likely they are to secure a place; a child that is ‘eligible’ could be ranked at the top or bottom of the list. If your child achieves an ‘eligible score,’ you can then decide if you wish to list Reading School as one of your preferences on your Common Application Form by the deadline of 31st October.
You will need to wait until the following March to know if your child has secured a place.
The Reading School admissions policy can be found here.
* For September 2022 entry, 911 boys applied to Reading School. That was more than 6 boys applying for each of the 150 spaces available. 442 of the 911 boys that applied achieved the qualifying score of 95. Therefore, as some pupils may be admitted from categories 1 and 2 with a qualifying score of 90, we can assume that less than 33.9% (i.e. less than 150) of the 442 boys that achieved the qualifying score of 95 will have secured a 2022 place at Reading School.
The 2023 Reading School 11 Plus exam results (for 2024 entry) were released on Monday 16th October 2023.
The 2024 Reading School 11 Plus exam results (for 2025 entry) were released on Tuesday 15th October 2024.
The 2025 Reading School 11 Plus exam results (for 2026 entry) were released on Thursday 16th October 2025.
The release date for the 2026 Reading School results (for 2027 entry) has not yet been confirmed but is expected to by mid-October 2026. Rest assured, the results will be published in good time for you to complete your child’s Common Application Form (CAF) before the 31 October deadline.
If you wish your son to be considered for entry to Reading School, you are required to name the school on the Common Application Form (CAF).
Common Application Forms will open online at the beginning of September 2026 and you will have until the end of31st October 2026 to submit it to your Local Authority.
School places for September 2027 will be confirmed on Monday 1st March 2027.
In whichever year you are applying, you can name up to 6 schools on your CAF.
If you live outside Reading, you must apply through your own Local Authority – even if your child currently attends a Reading primary school.
What is Required to Pass the Kendrick 11 Plus (GL Assessment exam)?
Verbal skills, i.e. English and Verbal Reasoning (approx. 50% of the mark)
Comprehension
Verbal reasoning (the production of words, relationships between words, letters and numbers)
Vocabulary
Spelling
Grammar
Punctuation
Mathematical skills (25% of the mark)
Basic skills (addition, multiplication, division and subtraction)
Mental maths development
Problem solving techniques
Extracting information from graphs and tables
Averages
Foundation algebra concepts
Fractions, decimals and percentages
Ratio and proportion
Area and volume
2d and 3d shapes
Non-verbal skills (25% of the mark)
Spatial awareness
Logical deduction skills
Mathematical concepts such as symmetry, rotation and reflection
Identifying relationships, similarities and differences between figures
Identifying sequences between shapes
About Our Kendrick and Reading School 11+ Tuition Courses
At Marie Redmond Tuition, we believe that every child deserves expert tuition—taught by fully qualified, highly experienced primary teachers who specialise in the 11+ curriculum. The foundation of success isn’t just about a well-designed space—it’s about the depth of knowledge, the expertise, and the commitment of the educators guiding each child.
Whilst some tuition providers focus on aesthetics, we focus on results, excellence, and real teaching expertise. We never compromise, because we know parents wouldn’t want their child’s future in the hands of an unqualified teacher—sometimes a teenager still in school, hired simply for having five GCSEs and working for low pay. The 11+ is a pivotal milestone—one that requires carefully planned teaching, exceptional resources, and guidance from professionals who truly understand primary education.
Marie Redmond Tuition has always been obsessive about delivering the highest standard of tuition. We have seen many tuition providers come and go, including those with well-presented high street or shopping centre locations. But our longevity and success come from our relentless focus on quality, our exclusive Superbrain® resources, and our personalised support that gives every child the best chance to excel.
Small Classes
Our Kendrick and Reading School 11+ tuition classes are deliberately kept small — less than half the size of most independent school lessons, with a maximum of 10 students. A group of 10 provides the ideal balance: small enough for close monitoring and individual attention, yet large enough for healthy discussion, collaboration and a positive group dynamic.
We avoid groups of 11 or more because, although larger numbers may boost capacity, they inevitably reduce a teacher’s ability to monitor each child closely and provide the individual support we consider essential. We won’t compromise on teaching quality just to fit more children into a room. Discover the proven benefits of small class sizes.
When your child enrols on our Kendrick or Reading School 11 Plus tuition course, we will:
Ask them to complete an assessment to understand their current level of ability
Recommend key areas for improvement based on the assessment results
Provide you with a personalised Tuition Plan – detailing your child’s specific targets
Course Structure
Our Kendrick and Reading School Term-time lessons in Winnersh last for 2 and a half hours and the course is divided into three terms, with around 11 lessons per term. If your child is unable to start at the beginning of a course, they are welcome to join later, subject to availability.
Teaching Methods
Our Kendrick and Reading School 11 Plus Tuition Courses in Winnersh are expertly designed by Marie Redmond MEd and delivered by an outstanding team of fully qualified local primary teachers. By combining proven strategies with engaging teaching methods tailored to meet the latest 11 Plus requirements, we ensure every child feels confident, prepared, and fully supported throughout their journey.
Unlike approaches that focus solely on teaching students how to answer questions, we ensure a balanced and comprehensive approach. Our courses not only cover the full syllabus, ensuring students fully understand all areas of the Kendrick and Reading School 11+ curriculums, but also thoroughly teach pupils the techniques required to tackle exam questions effectively. In addition, we go further-training them in essential exam techniques that empower them to excel under real exam conditions. By mastering both the content of the syllabus and the strategies for success, students build the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed not just to succeed in the exam but to manage the pressures and challenges it presents.
Guided by evidence-based insights, we recognise that children learn best when actively engaged, intrinsically motivated, and supported by positive emotions and social interaction. This philosophy is shaped by Marie’s Masters Degree in Education, specialising in child psychology and literacy development, and it influences every aspect of our work.
By blending traditional teaching methods with premium resources and incorporating educational games and activities, we create lessons that are both effective and enjoyable. Mental preparation is a cornerstone of our philosophy, helping to build confidence and resilience, fostering academic success, and creating a deeply fulfilling learning experience.
Our Kendrick and Reading School 11+ Term-time students have access to video explanations of the key techniques taught in each lesson. These videos are designed to:
Reinforce learning – Helping students revisit essential concepts covered in class.
Provide step-by-step guidance – Breaking down techniques in a clear, structured way.
Support independent review – Allowing students to study at their own pace, whenever they need.
Whether your child wants to refresh their understanding, master tricky techniques, or solidify their knowledge, these videos offer an invaluable resource to build confidence and success in their Kendrick and Reading School 11+ preparation.
Assessments and Progress Reports
In addition to weekly spelling tests, our Kendrick and Reading School 11+ term-time students undergo formal assessments twice per term—at half-term and at the end of the term—covering all topic areas. These assessments provide a valuable measure of progress over time, ensuring that we can track genuine improvements in attainment without being overly influenced by short-term fluctuations. Testing more frequently risks skewing results due to the occasional ‘off week,’ whereas our structured approach strikes the perfect balance between regular monitoring and meaningful insight.
Based on the initial assessment and your child's specific answers, we create a personalised tuition plan that sets individual targets for each subject area that is relevant to the specific exam they sitting (for example, for the Kendrick School 11+, this includes English, maths, verbal and non-verbal reasoning). Every lesson is designed to develop these areas. We continuously monitor progress, allowing us to refine tuition plans to ensure they suit your child's needs and challenges.
Parents are always welcome to contact us at any stage during their child's Kendrick or Reading School 11+ tuition course for feedback on their development. They can speak with their child's teacher after lessons or contact Marie directly by phone or email for further insight. As a smaller, truly independent provider, parents don’t discuss their child’s progress with a franchisee or a non‑teacher — they receive guidance from qualified teachers who understand their child’s needs. Our size allows us to offer truly tailored support and maintain a close, supportive relationship with families.
Homework Designed for Mastery and Confidence
At Marie Redmond Tuition, we believe in providing homework that is both meaningful and manageable. Our thoughtfully designed tasks reinforce the skills taught during each 11 Plus tuition lesson, ensuring pupils are fully prepared for success. Homework is set to be completed for the next lesson, where it is reviewed, giving students the opportunity to deepen their understanding and address any challenges.
With many years of experience and a history of successful outcomes, we’ve refined our approach to homework, striking a balance that encourages consistent progress without overwhelming students or families. Our longer lessons, compared to shorter ones offered by many other tutors, allow students to grasp key concepts in class-reducing reliance on excessive amounts of homework whilst ensuring it remains a valuable part of their learning.
Too little homework can leave students underprepared, whilst too much can lead to homework resistance, stress, and disengagement. The vast majority of parents say that we provide just the right amount of homework-carefully calibrated to meet students’ needs and prepare them thoroughly for the 11 Plus exams. Each task is purposeful, ensuring pupils work hard and make consistent progress whilst minimising unnecessary stress. Our balanced approach ensures that homework remains a valuable, manageable, and productive part of each pupil’s learning journey.
Additionally, we encourage parents to support their children by exploring a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books. This helps build the critical comprehension and vocabulary skills essential for 11 Plus success.
Marie Redmond Tuition 'Bag of Knowledge®'
During your child's first term-time course lesson, they will receive a Bag of Knowledge®, carefully curated to support their learning journey. This exclusive collection includes Marie Redmond's Superbrain® resources and a selection of books from leading publishers, ensuring they have everything they need to excel. As the course progresses, students are given additional books at the appropriate stages to support their learning throughout the year.
Each student receives their materials in a premium Marie Redmond Tuition® rucksack, designed to reflect the exceptional quality of our tuition and resources. Inside, they'll find an electronic thesaurus, a tin of Marie Redmond's Superbrain® vocabulary flashcards and a dry erase whiteboard.
Students also receive notebooks dedicated to spellings, vocabulary and maths, as well as a plain notebook for additional notes. Completing the set is a pencil case stocked with essential stationery including HB pencils, an eraser, sharpener and a dry erase pen.
Included in the Bag of Knowledge® is a high‑quality plastic‑free insulated water bottle, complete with a fun vocabulary feature on the back, because we believe learning should be both effective and enjoyable. Research on UK primary school pupils shows that even mild dehydration can affect concentration and cognitive performance, so we always encourage them to attend with a full water bottle.
Best of all, the cost of the Bag of Knowledge® and all resources for the course is fully covered within the Buckinghamshire monthly course fees.
Marie Redmond's Superbrain®
Students attending our Year 5 11+ Easter and 11+ summer holiday courses receive a Superbrain® English and verbal reasoning holiday course book for each week they attend, further reinforcing their skills. Plus, all term-time students receive Marie Redmond's Superbrain® 11 Plus Flash Cards upon joining—an interactive resource designed to supercharge their vocabulary and accelerate exam preparation.
Explore our full Superbrain® collection and discover how these exclusive resources support students on their journey to 11+ success.
The Marie Redmond Tuition® Book Club
Sharing our enjoyment of books is a fantastic way to encourage reading and therefore develop vocabulary and comprehension at home. The Marie Redmond Tuition® Book Club is an excellent platform for discussions about books, opportunities for creativity and promoting reading for pleasure. Discover our book of the month.
Creative Thinking Course
The virtual Creative Thinking Course is particularly useful for boys preparing for the latest format of the Reading School 11+ exam but is open to all our term-time students.
Students attend one creative thinking lesson per week on Zoom, which lasts for 45 minutes. Students are taught to use innovation and problem solving. They will become adept at approaching situations in different ways, using diverse strategies.
Every lesson includes a fun thinking skills warm-up activity followed by the main focus of the lesson. Strategies like group discussions, questioning, mind mapping, and thinking 'outside the box' are employed to encourage creative learning approaches. Students learn various writing techniques and how to draft, review, and edit their work.
Homework is assigned weekly to consolidate the skills taught during the lesson. Homework is submitted via email, and the creative thinking teacher annotates the text and writes a short report. General points about the texts are reviewed at the start of the next lesson.
Course Details:
One lesson per week on Zoom, lasting 45 minutes
Fee, including books: £25 per lesson
For further information, including fees, term dates and FAQ's, please visit our Creative Thinking Course page.
11+ Mock Exams With Marie Redmond 11+ Intelligent Video Learning®
Students who sat our 11 Plus mock exams in 2025 said they were very similar to the actual test, which made them feel prepared and confident when sitting the exam.
Kendrick and Reading School 11 Plus Tuition Fees
We offer a straightforward monthly payment plan for our Kendrick and Reading School 11+ tuition courses, which you can see on our Berkshire 11+ course fees page. Many parents take advantage of the government's Tax-Free Childcare scheme to save 20% on their fees.
Our Kendrick and Reading School 11 Plus Tuition Courses prepare pupils for all aspects of the exams