Senior school prospectus

KING’S LIFE

Senior Prospectus

“We are so impressed with everything about King’s.”

Parent (2022)

WELCOME

Welcome to King’s

Ours is a friendly, energetic and purposeful community, where pupils’ enthusiasms and creativity shine in every corner of the school. Visitors comment on the phenomenal opportunities for our pupils both inside and outside the classroom. Our parents highlight the care of our dedicated staff, who go above and beyond in supporting and inspiring each young person to grow as an individual. Our pupils recognise that kindness, inclusivity, and our commitment to our wider communities, are at the centre of school life.

Founded by royal charter in 1829, as part of the junior department of King’s College London, the power and joy of learning have been at the heart of the life of King’s from its foundation. While pupils’ exceptional success in public examinations makes us one of the world’s leading schools, a true King’s education is so much more. Above all, we look to the world beyond school, and to the lives we prepare our young people to lead.

As Head, I care deeply about preparing our young people for their futures – to lead joyful and fulfilled lives, and to make a positive contribution, whichever pathway they choose. At heart, a King’s education starts from our pupils’ adventure of learning and discovery, about the studies that captivate them, about themselves, and about the world around them – now, and when they venture beyond school.

Meeting our pupils and staff is the best way to understand what sets a King’s education apart. We warmly invite you to visit us and look forward to welcoming you here in person.

Dr Anne Cotton Head

Lower school years 7-8

The lower school welcomes boys wishing to join us at the age of 11 from primary schools and prep schools. Boys also progress automatically from the junior school to the lower school at the start of year 7.

Academic

We know how important the first two years of secondary school are in establishing a love of learning, good habits and creativity of thought. Lessons in the lower school are fun and purposeful, creating the best possible foundation for learning.

Pupils are taught by specialist teachers in: English; Mathematics; Science (year 7); Biology, Chemistry & Physics (year 8); French; Latin; Geography; History; Art; Design & Engineering; Drama; Music; Computer Science; Theology and Philosophy; Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE); Games and Physical Education.

Pastoral

The lower school is a friendly, nurturing environment. Pupils are supported by a form tutor who they meet each morning and twice a week for structured form periods, and they can also meet their form tutor individually as necessary. The head of lower school, together with the heads of year 7 and year 8 is also on hand to provide boys and parents with guidance on all aspects of school life.

On joining year 7, boys are allocated a house where they enjoy assemblies, and they have opportunities to participate in a wide variety of regular house events and competitions to help them quickly get to know each other and settle into the school community.

“The school allows you to try new things and supports you all the way.”

Lower school pupil 2022

SCHOOL

Middle school years 9-11

Academic

The middle school curriculum is designed to offer a broad academic grounding to maximise pupils’ subject options in the sixth form. Pupils are encouraged to develop their opinions and ability to think independently, and to cultivate a more profound understanding of their intellectual interests. Alongside all the traditional subjects, we offer GCSEs in Drama, Music, Design, Mandarin Chinese, Russian, German, Latin, Ancient Greek, and Computer Science.

Pastoral

All pupils are placed in a form and a tutor group from year 9, both of which are linked to one of the school’s six houses. The tutor group is at the heart of the pastoral system at King’s, and each one is composed of around 12 students from all years 9 to 13, which helps pupils to build relationships across the school. Tutor groups meet twice a week, and a pupil’s tutor is always available whenever they are needed.

“Both the students and the teachers are welcoming, friendly, and there is a true sense of camaraderie between everyone.”

SCHOOL

Sixth form years 12-13

Sixth form pupils occupy many positions of responsibility within the school and help it to remain a place where kindness and scholarship thrive alongside commitment to every part of co-curricular life.

The sixth form is accommodated in its own purpose-built centre. Facilities include a fairtrade café, ICT resources, the spacious Fitzpatrick reading room and an area for relaxation.

Academic

Sixth form pupils have the option to pursue either A levels or the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). A level pupils at King’s will typically take four A levels.

The IBDP is recognised by all UK universities and is highly regarded. Pupils study six subjects in total: three at higher level and three at standard level, as well as the ‘Core’ which comprises theory of knowledge, the extended essay and creativity, activity and service.

Pastoral

Our sixth form is fully co-educational. Girls joining the school are placed together in girls-only forms and they also join a mixed vertical tutor group. Sixth form pupils take part in the King’s Personal Development Programme (PDP) which looks at all areas of their social, emotional, and co-curricular development outside the classroom.

“King’s puts time and care into making sure we are each a best version of our ourselves.”

Sixth form pupil (2022)

SIXTH

FORM

At King’s the tutor is the main port of call for pupils and parents. Each tutor group belongs to a house, and the house system is the heart of the school’s pastoral care - it hinges around relationships between pupils, teachers, and parents. Pupils remain in the same house with the same tutor from year 9 to year 13, and they are looked after by our specialist lower school team of tutors during years 7 and 8. As well as the outstanding day to day support available to King’s pupils, administered primarily through the tutoring system, the school has specialist staff dedicated to the spiritual, academic, mental health and medical wellbeing of all pupils.

Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education

King’s offers a programme of PSHE, with areas also being addressed in assemblies and lectures by visiting speakers. The school holds workshops for parents, and practical solutions are advanced through group discussion and professional advice.

Pastoral support PASTORAL

Learning Enrichment

The LE department aims to enable all pupils to achieve their academic potential, regardless of their learning profile or need. Support is available across a range of areas.

Chaplain

The chaplain provides pastoral care to staff and pupils regardless of faith. Their role is to support each person in their search for spiritual meaning and offer support in time of need.

Counselling & Medical

Two part time counsellors with ten years’ experience are on site to provide confidential advice to pupils and where appropriate to parents. The school also has a medical team on duty Monday-Friday.

SUPPORT

“Pupils develop a deep understanding of the importance of kindness and respect for all.”

ISI Inspection (2025)

Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity at King’s

King’s fosters an ethos of social awareness and respect for difference, creating a welcoming and inclusive culture where every member of our community is valued and respected as their authentic self, regardless of difference.

We celebrate diversity and seek to learn from experiences and perspectives which are not our own. We appreciate that every member of our community has different circumstances and we work hard to allocate the resources and opportunities needed to help everyone to thrive and feel a strong sense of belonging.

We have developed a comprehensive equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) programme that spans all areas of school life, including our wider school community. As part of this work, departments consider how their curricula can act as a window into new perspectives, as well as a mirror in which students recognise themselves. Alongside this, we hold regular talks, workshops and assemblies on EDI topics to ensure that inclusivity remains a central part of daily life at school and is at the heart of all that we do.

INCLUSION

“Sport

is extremely strong, with notable successes scored not only in staples but in many more niche areas.”

Good Schools Guide (2021)

Sport at King’s

Sport plays a major role at King’s and the sports department offers outstanding quality, with many teachers and coaches recognised at national and elite level within their respective fields. The facilities include a six-court sports hall; a six-lane 25m indoor swimming pool; a gym; strength and conditioning suite; and a studio for exercise, dance and aerobics. There are sports fields at the school site which complement the main playing fields and two all-weather pitches at our Kingsway site.

The school prides itself on its pupil participation levels and offers a broad and balanced curriculum which aims to enthuse every pupil in the school regardless of their individual talents and skills. The free choice programme during Games afternoons allows pupils to take part in an activity of their choice, and in many cases to represent the school in competitive fixtures for a number of different sports.

We enjoy notable success in our major sports. Rugby teams regularly reach the latter stages of national competitions, hockey, football, netball and tennis have all enjoyed great success in block fixtures and other competitions, whilst rowing is thriving in participation and national competitions. The free choice programme enables minor sports, such as basketball, swimming, golf, sailing, fencing and squash, to flourish. Many of our pupils also play representative sport outside school for county, regional and national teams.

King’s has a national reputation for its drama with leading productions regularly receiving excellent reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe. The annual season of production affords pupils the opportunity to excel as actors, writers, directors, designers, technicians, producers and production musicians.

The department offers students the opportunity to work with dedicated drama teaching staff and directors, a specialised in-house technical theatre team, and a range of exciting external practitioners and theatre companies who visit for workshops, masterclasses and performances.

The Collyer Hall Theatre is equipped with state-of-the-art lighting, sound and stage technology. Productions also regularly take place in our drama studios – ideal locations for more atmospheric, intimate work.

Celebrating the Arts: Drama KING’S

“Pupils’ creativity and imagination are evident in their music and drama, in which they reach high standards.”

ISI Inspection (2025)

DRAMA

Celebrating the Arts: Music

The standard of music at King’s is exceptional with a team of over 40 music teachers, enabling pupils to learn a wide range of instruments in school. A full-size symphony orchestra, chamber orchestra, sinfonia, five choirs, wind orchestra, big band, jazz and chamber music ensembles offer extensive opportunities for pupils to be involved.

The music department is located in a large state-of-the-art facility, complete with rehearsal and teaching rooms, a fully-equipped recording studio and a 200-seater concert hall which houses a two-manual chamber organ, a harpsichord and a model D Steinway grand piano.

Performances take place both at school and further afield in venues such as Cadogan Hall and the Royal College of Music, whilst the choir sings regularly in Hampton Court Palace and St Paul’s Cathedral. There are also international tours for both the choir and chamber orchestra.

“Music is outstanding, but inclusive.”

Good Schools Guide (2021)

MUSIC

CO-CURRICULAR

LIFE

King’s is renowned for its co-curricular programme and the importance we attach to this dimension of a pupil’s education is recognised by the dedication of an entire afternoon’s timetable on Friday to activities. Alongside this programme, a huge variety of sporting, drama, musical and other activities is offered throughout the school week. Many academic departments run societies along with stimulating trips to London and beyond. Our long lunch breaks on Tuesdays and Thursdays are dedicated to house events, clubs and societies. Weekends see not only a wide array of sporting fixtures, but also music and drama rehearsals and numerous expeditions and visits.

Clubs and societies

Our aim is to extend pupils’ interests, to present them with new challenges, and to stretch them in ways that will provide contrast to their academic lives. The range of activities is wide: the cultural and creative, the adventurous and physically challenging, the giving of service to others. It is hoped that pupils will find something that appeals to them and that during the time they are at King’s they will experience a rich variety of activities.

Many of the clubs and societies at King’s are pupil-led. The responsibility of leading a club gives pupils skills in leadership, time management and organisation, whilst encouraging them to pursue their interests beyond the classroom.

CO-CURRICULAR

“The jewels in the crown are the Fridays, which all pupils named as one of the highlights of the week.”

CO-CURRICULAR

CO-CURRICULAR LIFE

Activities and Visits

A varied range of day and residential trips are organised each year to support the curriculum and co-curriculum. These include fieldwork, language exchanges, the Duke of Edinburgh Award and CCF expeditions, sports tours, Art gallery and theatre visits, and trips linked with international partnerships.

Combined Cadet Force

The CCF at King’s has three sections: Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, and is entirely voluntary. There are opportunities for the naval cadets to be involved in boatwork, the RAF cadets to fly, and the army cadets to take part in fieldcraft exercises.

Each Easter, pupils visit the Lake District for adventure training that includes sailing, walking, canoeing, and climbing. Other activities include a range day in the summer, night walk in the spring, and several camping weekends.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a nationally recognised scheme to encourage young people to participate in a programme of practical, cultural and adventurous activities. It has three levels: bronze, silver and gold, and for each of these a pupil must complete sections in volunteering, expedition, skill and physical recreation.

CO-CURRICULAR

CO-CURRICULAR

The Wider Community

King’s extensive partnerships and outreach programme reflects a strong belief in the benefit of educational partnerships and a permanent commitment to sharing our resources with the local community. A special feature of King’s, it fosters an ethos of social awareness and respect for difference and is central to our preparation of pupils for the world beyond school.

The community projects are the most popular co-curricular activity at King’s, with almost 400 of our pupils and teachers volunteering to work in their community every Friday afternoon. Projects include teaching subjects across the curriculum; mentoring pupils; training adults in ICT; hosting tea for the elderly and maintaining local churchyards. Every summer, King’s also welcomes large numbers of pupils onto its campus for an exciting programme of arts workshops and games and host an eight-day Summer School programme involving 21 King’s teachers where pupils from local state schools attend classes in English, Maths and Science.

Overseas schools

We want our students to develop a global outlook during their time at King’s and our partnerships with five schools in Asia and Europe play a crucial role in enabling international collaboration with peers across the globe.

The annual programme of activities and events across our network of schools is designed to foster intercultural understanding, enable joint research and develop critical thinking in a global setting. Last year alone, over 1,400 students spanning all six schools engaged in opportunities such as joint leadership training, debating competitions, TEDx-style events, peer-to-peer student mentoring, and much more. Students can also benefit beyond their time at King’s with opportunities for leavers and graduates to complete gap years at a sister school overseas.

In addition to these unique opportunities for our students, King’s Wimbledon staff benefit from regular professional exchanges with colleagues across the globe, with staff from all six schools working together on implementing the latest educational research in classrooms.

“Pupils are actively involved in the school’s partnerships with over 40 local schools and community groups. The programme enables pupils to understand the opportunities and challenges of their local area and helps develop social awareness, leadership and organisational skills.”

ISI Inspection (2025)

COMMUNITY

The world beyond King’s

We are proactive in making sure pupils are thinking about their connection to the world beyond the school gates in all they do. The sixth form curriculum is designed to prepare pupils for their chosen route after King’s - whether or not that lies in higher education - and we keenly assert that academic success is only part of their final two years at school. Our personal development programme (PDP), mentoring schemes, and pupil-led groups are a few examples of how we help them develop into well-rounded young adults who are ready to contribute positively to society.

Once their time at the school is complete, we maintain strong ongoing relationships through The King’s Association and a range of other societies and events.

In addition to tailored higher education advice, all pupils are invited to attend introductory UCAS events; an Oxbridge applications event; a dedicated UCAS forum; careers evenings and work experience.

The strong provision of careers and higher education guidance at King’s aims to tailor advice for each pupil to give them the best possible chance of succeeding in their ambitions. Almost all sixth form pupils expect to continue their education at university, and information about universities and particular courses is widely available from the higher education team of advisers and subject departments. Guidance on alternative pathways, such as gap years, paid employment, internships, and apprenticeships is also offered.

“The school has ignited passions which we didn’t know our son had!”

(2022)

BEYOND KING’S

King’s College School

Southside

Wimbledon Common London SW19 4TT

Tel. 020 8255 5352

admissions@kcs.org.uk www.kcs.org.uk