John Kendrick left the then substantial charitable bequest of £12,500 to the towns of Reading and Newbury to provide employment and education for the poor.

In 1927, the school moved to its current site, situated on the corner of Sidmouth Street and London Road.

Kendrick School has an outstanding Ofsted rating,[7] and has a progress 8 score "well above national average".

[8] Pupils are selected on the basis of academic ability via an admissions test at age 11 (although entry is possible in other years too).

[12] As a state-funded school, there are no fees; as a result, it is severely over-subscribed, with over ten applicants per place.