The KES
TIMES
BOUNDLESS FUTURES | SPECIAL EDITION
SUMMER 2025
United by Purpose, Driven by Values
How our school community came together to shape a shared identity, a fresh set of values, and a bold new direction.
What it means to be KES.
and heard from governors, alumni, parents, Pre-Prep pupils and Sixth Formers alike. We also drew on the insights of Project Horizon ambassadors. Together, their voices painted a vivid picture of who we are - and who we’re becoming.
At the start of this academic year, we began something quietly transformative. Not a rebrand. Not a new initiative. Something deeper - a shared ambition to reflect on, and define, what it truly means to be part of King Edward VI School. When Stroud proudly became KES Prep, we stepped confidently into a new chapter as one 2–18 school. Across different sites and age groups, our families may arrive with different needs and experiences, and we celebrate that. But what unites us is powerful: a common identity, a shared sense of purpose, and a collective belief in what education can be. That’s what we set out to explore through a piece of work we called, Project Horizon. And, as you’d expect from a school like ours, it didn’t begin with answers, it began with questions. Over three months, we listened. More than 1,000 surveys were completed. We hosted 11 focus groups, ran over 35 hours of interviews with staff and leaders,
Do the Right Thing
Importantly, we didn’t begin this because something was broken. In fact, what came through most strongly was pride. Pride in the curiosity of our learners. In the depth of our relationships. In our shared ambition to educate with warmth, rigour and integrity. What we lacked was simply a shared language to match. So what did we create?
This newspaper marks the moment we share that journey more widely - with you, our families, alumni and wider community. As you flick through, you’ll hear from pupils, staff and Old Edwardians. You’ll read about the thinking behind the values. And you’ll see real stories from across our 2–18 school that show Boundless Futures already in action. We hope you recognise your role in all of this, because this is your story, too. Neal Parker, Head of King Edward VI School
We now have a unified purpose, a clear learning philosophy, and one set of values — all brought together under the umbrella of “Boundless Futures”. It’s a concept that captures the very heart of King Edward’s: that success is yours to define, and we are here to help every pupil lead a fulfilling, purposeful and multifaceted life - now, and in the future. Since sharing the outcomes of ‘Project Horizon’ with staff in January, we have been discussing how we will embed these concepts into daily school life. Not just at leadership level, but in the classroom, the playground, the staff room, and everywhere our community connects. It’s already shaping how we speak, how we plan and how we lead.
Our Values
Our Purpose To equip everyone in our school community to lead fulfilling, purposeful and multifaceted lives - now and in their boundless futures
Success is yours to define. That’s the power of Boundless Futures.
Lift Others
Keep Growing
This value is about making good choices. About doing the right thing, even if it’s also the hard thing. About integrity. And ultimately, about being a force for good in our changing world.
This value is about kindness - and seeking opportunities to be kind. About being selfless and putting other people first. About contributing. About how raising others up also raises ourselves.
This value is about being open to new things. About being ambitious for ourselves and what we can achieve, in big and small ways. About being adaptable and willing to evolve.
Everyone at KES lives this value through our dedication to:
Everyone at KES lives this value through our dedication to:
Everyone at KES lives this value through our dedication to:
What do we mean by that?
Independent thinking - we encourage bold critical thinking so that every KES person can challenge, debate and understand what the ‘right thing’ means in our school community as well as for them personally
Community spirit - this means belief in all of KES as one inclusive community, from the youngest pupil to the oldest, but also supporting our wider communities
A growth mindset - driving change is one of the best ways to grow, as a community and as individuals; we foster a lifelong drive to learn, to evolve and to embrace opportunities
Success looks different for everyone. For some, it’s top grades or sporting excellence. For others, it’s a quiet confidence, a love of theatre, or the ability to pick yourself up after things go wrong. We value all of it.
Collaboration - working as a true team is the key to communication, positive outcomes and lifting others for everyone’s shared benefit
Resilience - failing is part of trying; we encourage each other to go for it, and provide the safety net for when people fall - because handling the downs as well the ups makes us stronger
A fulfilling life means being ambitious for yourself - academically, personally - and defining what that means on your own terms. A purposeful life is grounded in self-knowledge and connection: knowing who you are and how you want to contribute to the world. And a multifaceted life? That’s about lifelong passions and skills that carry you through the highs and lows - a life rich in experience, not just achievement.
Healthy self-esteem - self-worth is the foundation that lets us act with conviction and authenticity; to know what our own ‘right thing’ is and to work towards achieving it, in school and throughout life This value stands against: overconfidence and “know it all ism”
arrogance,
This value stands against: selfishness, bullying, siloes, being unhelpful, being passive
This value stands against: being static or having a fixed mindset, not pushing ourselves, being held back by fear of failure