The origins of the school are firmly traceable to the Charter issued by Queen Elizabeth in 1561. The present site, opposite the Chapel of St Mary Magdalene (consecrated as a chantry chapel in 1309 and home of the original school) has a range of buildings representing architectural styles from the 1870s to the present day. A major new building has a theatre, music school, drama department and sixth form centre. The school enjoys excellent state-of-the-art facilities and 22 acres of playing fields by the Thames, opposite Hampton Court Palace. It is fully co-educational, having first admitted girls in 1978. Academic standards are high and examination results are very good. A pastoral system based on year groups and a strong tutorial programme, encourage pupils to develop their individual talents. Music and drama are strong. There are several orchestras and many ensembles, plus a choral society. Several dramatic performances are presented each year. Sports and games are very well catered for, and the school is famous for its hockey (played in both winter terms) and rowing, and has a long list of blues and international players among former pupils. Numerous clubs and societies provide for most extra-curricular needs. The flourishing CCF contingent comprises Army and Air Force sections.
Pupils: Age range 10-18, 804 day pupils (458 boys, 346 girls). Entrance: Main entry ages 10, 11, 13 and 16. Common entrance and own exam used; for sixth-form entry, good GCSEs (normally with grade A in sixth-form subjects). State school entry 60% main intake, plus 30+% new intake to sixth form. Feeder prep schools include Homefield, Holy Cross, The Mall, Newland House, Shrewsbury House, Willington; primary schools include Coombe Hill, Fern Hill, Latchmere, St Paul's, St Stephen's, Sheen Mount, Thames Ditton Junior.
30 pa academic scholarships: 20 awarded at age 11, 4 awarded at 13 (value 10% of fees); and 6 awarded at 16 (20% of fees). Also 4 music, 4 art and 8 sports awards (value 10% of fees). Means-tested bursaries, which may be used to supplement other awards, up to 100% of fees.
Head: Sarah Fletcher, in post from 2009. Educated at King Alfred's, Wantage, and universities of Oxford (history) and Exeter (PGCE). Previously Deputy Head at Rugby, Head of History at Lawrence Sheriff School, Rugby, at Haberdashers’ Aske’s (Girls) and at St George's School, Switzerland. Also governor of Lawrence Sheriff School, member of Cambridge Pre-U Steering Committee. Publications: various articles, including one on Lawrence Sheriff for New Dictionary of National Biography. Teaching staff: Approx. 73 full time, 13 part time. Annual turnover 15%. Average age 40.
GCSE: 102 pupils in year 11, almost all gaining at least grade C in 8+ subjects. A-levels: 108 in year 13: 11% pass in 4+ subjects; 87% in 3 subjects. Average final point score 393.
97+% sixth-form leavers go on to a degree course (30% after a gap year), 7% to Oxbridge. 6% take courses in medicine, 23% in science and engineering, 19% in social sciences, 39% in humanities and the arts, 8% in vocational subjects eg physiotherapy, accounting.
GCSE, IGCSE, AS and A-levels. 24 AS/A-level subjects. Sixth form: Most sixth formers take 4 subjects at AS-level, 3 at A-level; general studies taught but not examined. Key skills: Numeracy and communication for those who need them. Vocational: Work experience available. Special provision: Special needs co-ordinator helps those with mild dyslexia. Languages: French, German and Spanish offered to GCSE and A-level; Russian and Italian to A-level. Regular exchanges (France, Germany and Spain). Talks from MEPs. Use of European satellite television and multi-media modern languages suite. ICT: Taught both as a discrete subject and across the curriculum, eg intranet with information selected by all departments. All take ECDL. 150 computers for pupil use (9 hours a day), all networked and with email and internet access.
Music: Over 30% of pupils learn a musical instrument; instrumental exams can be taken. Some 8-10 musical groups including orchestras, concert band, wind ensemble, various chamber groups, jazz, choirs. Drama: Drama offered as part of curriculum and to GCSE and A-level theatre studies. Many pupils are involved in school and house/other productions (Sweeney Todd, Canterbury Tales and Shakespeare Festival recently). Art and design: On average, 40 take GCSE, 10 A-level. Design, textiles, photography, ceramics offered. Pupils regularly gain entry into art colleges.
Sport: Aerobics, athletics, badminton, basketball, canoeing, cricket, cross-country, fencing, football, golf, gymnastics, hockey, netball, rowing, sailing, shooting, squash, swimming, real tennis, table tennis, tennis. Hockey and rowing: in recent years, both boys' and girls' teams national champions at U14 and U18 (indoor and outdoor); numerous rowing representatives at all levels (including men's GB U23, women's U21), and successes at eg National Schools' Regatta etc. Activities: Pupils take bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award. CCF optional. Community service for sixth form. Up to 30 clubs, eg numerous sports, art, Gibbon Society (debating), chess, drama, Young Enterprise, photography, and academic societies.
Uniform: School uniform worn; suits in sixth form. Houses and prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, school captain, vice captains appointed by the Headmaster. Religion: Christian, non-denominational. Attendance at religious worship not compulsory. Social: Language exchanges; hockey tour to Holland (annually) and southern hemisphere; rowing training in Belgium; geography and biology field trips; biennial music and classics tours abroad; annual ski trip; biennial World Challenge expeditions (eg Peru, Ecuador). Pupils allowed to bring own bike to school; sixth formers may bring cars. Meals self-service. School shop.
Pupils failing to produce homework once might expect to be given a (short) deadline to complete the work, or issued with a Misconduct (possibly leading to a Friday or Saturday detention); those caught smoking cannabis on the premises might expect to be withdrawn from the school.
is run by Keith Balkham, c/o the school (kbalkham@kgs.org.uk, 020 8546 5875).
Michael Frayn (author and playwright); Neil Fox (DJ, Capital Radio); Simon May (composer); Neil Mullarkey (comedian); Edward Gibbon (historian); R C Sherriff (playwright); James Cracknell (Olympic gold medallist rowing).
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