Unlock your potential at KPS – a vibrant day and boarding school in the heart of London offering an exceptional education to students aged 11 to 18.
KENSINGTON PARK SCHOOL PROSPECTUS
CONTENTS
Headmaster’s Welcome London is Our Classroom A Personalised Education An Academically Purposeful School School Life
5 7 9 11
15 19 21
Sport Music Drama Art Sixth Form
23 25 27 29 31 33
After KPS Boarding Admissions & Scholarships
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HEADMASTER’S WELCOME
In choosing an independent secondary school, I know from first-hand experience that parents are looking for the educational provision that will best suit their child as a unique individual.
When you visit Kensington Park School you will see that we are a unique independent, co-educational day and boarding school offering a highly personalised education to pupils from age 11 to 18 right in the heart of London: KPS Senior School for pupils aged 11-16 is next to Kensington Gardens and KPS Sixth Form is next to the Natural History Museum. We identify and develop the individual talents and all- round potential of every pupil and work to ensure that they flourish and make rapid progress in our overtly holistic environment. This strong sense of purpose and inclusive ethos across both the Senior School and Sixth Form means every student in our care is known, and valued as a vital part of the KPS community. Every individual pupil receives focused academic and pastoral support from teachers, tutors, mentors, heads of year and house, in small class and tutor group settings. The pastoral care and wellbeing of our pupils underpin their academic progress; close communication with parents is central to our holistic approac h.
Academic life at KPS covers all the traditional core and option subjects studied in larger settings through Years 7-9 (Key Stage 3), Years 10-11 (GCSE level) and Years 12-13 (A level). Our subject-specialist teachers are selected for their expertise and ability to inspire pupils’ curiosity and love of learning. Teaching and learning is in small-class groups where each pupil contributes by asking and answering questions and being fully involved in discussion. The tangible sense of focused engagement whether in the classroom, the laboratory, the art room or theatre, leads to a very full and deep experience and understanding of each subject so that KPS pupils develop a distinctive personal confidence about their thinking, their ideas and their powers of expression. Our wide-ranging co-curricular enrichment programme of creative arts, sport and cultural capital is central to a KPS holistic education and takes full advantage of the unrivalled learning opportunities afforded by our central London location. It is a privilege to be leading this ambitious, inclusive and welcoming school community, and I look forward to meeting you at an open event or for a personal tour where you can see the School, its pupils and staff in person.
Headmaster Mr Antony Faccinello MA (Oxon) PGCE
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Separate teaching sites enable us to effectively cater to students’ individual academic and pastoral needs, which develop and mature as they move up through the school. The proximity of the Lower School, Sixth Form, and boarding house, meanwhile, ensures that KPS is a thriving, cosmopolitan community of boarding and day students which benefit daily from the exceptiona opportunities for academic and cultural enrichment that London provides. With bus and tube connections on our doorstep, KPS is extremely well connected to transport links, and London’s many landmarks are within easy reach. Our students can frequently be found enjoying the green spaces of Kensington Gardens during lunch; playing sport in Hyde Park; exploring London’s world-class galleries and museums; and taking in the latest productions in London’s theatres.
LONDON IS OUR CLASSROOM Our unique location forms the backdrop to our academic and co-curricular provision, and we make extensive use of the opportunities it affords us. The Lower School, where Years 7 to 11 study, is situated on Bark Place, a few minutes’ walk away from Kensington Gardens, while our Sixth Form is located just south of Hyde Park on Queen’s Gate, overlooking the Natural History Museum. Our boarding house, which offers outstanding accommodation to students aged 13+, is set in a quiet, leafy area of Earl’s Court within easy reach of both school buildings.
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Small class sizes, coupled with an attentive and discerning system of pastoral care, ensure that all students at KPS are individually known, valued, and affirmed.
A forward-thinking and outward-looking school, our central purpose is, above all, to realise and release potential. We pride ourselves on delivering a personalised educational experience where a range of different learning opportunities allow each student to excel. From future innovators, inventors, leaders, and thinkers, to aspiring actors, artists, and musicians, and athletes competing on the national and international stage, there is no typical KPS student. Excellence at KPS is defined by the individual, not by the cohort and each student is excited, challenged, and inspired to become the best possible version of themselves. A broad and balanced curriculum, combined with flexible option blocks at GCSE an A level, ensures that our students have the freedom to pursue their individual academic interests as they move up through the school.
Outside the classroom, students can explore their passions through our wide-ranging co-curricular programme, which includes music, sport, art, and drama, as well as niche societies based on students’ shared interests. Our academic and co-curricular provision is underpinned by our tutor system, which is at the heart of life at KPS. Tutors help students to navigate the academic and enrichment opportunities available to them at each stage of their journey with us, providing individualised guidance and support. Students are provided with the essential framework within which to discover their strengths and make the most of their talents in a supportive and stable community that treats its members with respect and kindness at all times.
A PERSONALISED EDUCATION
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As they work towards GCSE and A level qualifications, our stud nts are encouraged to pursue their intellectual curiosity, to think critically, and to develop a lifelong love of learning. AN ACADEMICALLY PURPOSEFUL SCHOOL
KPS offers an intellectually stimulating environment where students can learn and grow, but also have fun. While our staff are rigorous in their approach to teaching and learning, they are thoroughly modern in their outlook and practice. High-quality teaching is delivered in small class sizes, allowing staff to create a dynamic and innovative learning environment and foster students’ individual interests and talents within the formal curriculum.
move up through the school. In addition to the core subjects of English, Mathematics, and Science, students study Geography, History, Religious Education, French, Mandarin, Latin, Art, Drama, Music, and Computing. Students continue with the core subjects but now study the three classical sciences separately. Students begin their GCSE studies in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics in Year 9 to allow plenty of time for practical investigation. Students must also select one Humanities subject, one Modern Foreign Language, and one Creative Arts subject, but are free to choose their remaining options. Year 9
In Years 10 and 11, students follow the two-year GCSE programme and typically study ten subjects which must include English Literature, English Language, Mathematics, one Modern Language and three Science subjects selected from Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Computer Science. Students choose a further three subjects which may include a fourth Science; a second Modern Language; a Creative Arts subject; another from the Humanities; or Business Studies, which is only available from Year 10. With no set option blocks, students have the flexibility to pursue their individual academic interests and t lents. Year 10 & 11
Year 7 & 8
In Years 7 and 8, students study a wide range of subjects, which enables them to make informed choices on exam options as they
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Students can choose from the following A level subjects: Art, Craft & Design Biology Business Studies Chemistry Classical Civilisation
Government & Politics History Latin Mathematics Music Philosophy Physical Education Physics Psychology Sociology Spanish
SIXTH FORM Year 12 & 13
Computer Science Drama & Theatre Economics English Literature French Further Mathematics Geography
On completing their GCSEs, students continue their academic journey in the Sixth Form where they further narrow down their subject choices on the A level programme. While many students will study four A level subjects in Year 12, some may choose to focus on three in Year 13. Students are guided to select the best combination of A level subjects depending on their strengths and interests, as well as their university and career aspirations. With no set subject combinations, A level students benefit from a personalise timetable built around their subject choices, and can choose from a wide range of disciplines, including many new subjects not offered at GCSE.
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SCHOOL LIFE Our personal tutor system is at the heart of life at KPS, providing students with the support they need to develop their abilities, skills, and interests to their full potential.
Tutors
Tutors are instrumental in forging the essential partnership between students, their families, and the school, and maintain close communication with parents through fortnightly progress emails home. Horizontal tutor groups in Years 7 and 8 help students forge lasting friendships within their peer group, while vertical, mixed tutor groups in Years 9 to 11 and Years 12 to 13 allow students to watch and learn from older peers as they approach their GCSE and A level examinations. Tutor Groups All students join one of our four houses, Effra, Fleet, Tyburn, and Walbrook. Popular interhouse competitions in areas such as sport, music and art take place each term, teaching students the value of teamwork and how to be gracious in both victory and defeat. Students compete to earn house points, with an annual prize trip for the house with the winning points. House System
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SPORT AT KPS
We believe in instilling a love for sport and physical activity that will remain with our students well beyond their school years. Sport at KPS is delivered through a combination of Physical Education and Games lessons, and our co-curricular programme. Physical Education is compulsory for all students in Years 7 to 11 and takes place across one double period per week. All Lower School students also have a dedicated Games afternoon once per week. Games introduces students to a range of competitive team sports which change on a termly basis, including football, rugby, netball, hockey, cricket, and athletics. Students regularly participate in competitive events and fixtures within the Independent School Association, Westminster London Leagues, and against local competitor schools.
In the Sixth Form, students can take part in sport as part of their Wednesday afternoon Enrichment programme. They also have access to a gym membership, valid at over 120 locations across the UK. A unique aspect of our sport programme is our location, and we make use of a number of outstanding facilities in and around our home in West Kensington. These include Will to Win in Hyde Park for tennis and netball; the Porchester Centre, with its 30m swimming pool; Queens Skate for ice skating; and the Westway Centre for climbing and Eton Fives. Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park provide the perfect environment for running, cycling, and other outdoor activities.
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MUSIC AT KPS
Students can join Chamber Ensemble, Choir, Band, and Music Composition Club to hone their musical skills, while regular concerts and events give students valuable performance experience. Our termly House Music Competition, KS3 and KS4 showcases, lunchtime music series, and the annual KPS Arts Week enable students to develop their confidence by performing in front of their peers and wider school community in a variety of settings. For those who are interested in music production, our studio is equipped with state- of-the-art mixing boards, audio interfaces, dynamic studio microphones, and software for the creation of digital music. We encourage our students to appreciate a diverse range of works and genres, celebrating not only classical, but also contemporary Music and performance are an important feature of life at KPS and we encourage musicians of all levels and abilities to excel.
music. Students can take private lessons in a wide range of instruments and voice with our peripatetic music teachers. In addition to weekly one-to-one lessons and supporting students working towards ABRSM and Trinity music examinations, our teachers run masterclasses and invite guest speakers from the music industry to give KPS students an insight into the world of professional music.
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DRAMA AT KPS
for guest speakers and professional theatre companies to visit the school to enrich students’ learning. Sixth Form students can additionally take part in public speaking and debating, helping them to develop their confidence and communication skill in preparation for university and careers interviews. Our proximity to the West End enables our students to expand their theatrical horizons with regular theatre trips throughout the year. From Shakespeare’s Globe to the National Theatre and smaller independent performance venues, a world of live theatre is just a few short tube stops away.
Our purpose-built theatre is a focal point for life at KPS. Students have the opportunity to perfect their acting skills on stage, or work behind the scenes in set design and production. Be it a musical or play, scripted or devised, our annual whole school production is an exciting staple in the KPS calendar, bringing together students from across the creative arts. Students can audition for an acting role, join the orchestra, or work behind the scenes in set design and production. Our fully-equipped theatre includes a high-quality lighting and sound system for aspiring theatre technicians. Our students can take private Speech and Drama lessons with an external professional, working towards LAMDA qualifications, an the Drama department regularly arrange
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Regular art competitions and exhibitions throughout the year give pupils valuable experience interacting and engaging with an audience about their work. Every year, we support students with entries to the RA Young Artists’ Summer Show, as well as the ISA National Art Competition, and our students’ creations are widely displayed throughout our school buildings. The annual KPS Arts Week, held in collaboration with the Music and Drama departments during the summer term, allows our school community to come together and celebrate our students’ creative accomplishments. Many of London’s world-class galleries and museums are just a short walk or tube ride away, and we make extensive use of the opportunities this affords us. Regular trips to London’s exhibitions and gallery spaces enrich students’ learning and provide inspiration for their studies.
ART AT KPS
The Art department offers excellent facilities for students pursuing art at GCSE and A level, as well as for those who wish to enjoy art recreationally. In our purpose-built studios, students can develop their skills in a wide range of disciplines, including painting, drawing, illustration, fashion, and photography. Our spacious, well-lit studios are the perfect setting for KPS students to explore their creativity.
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SIXTH FORM
Every year, KPS Sixth Form welcomes around 30 new students into Year 12 alongside those moving up from Year 11. With roughly a third of A level students joining us from overseas schools, the Sixth Form is a vibrant community of boarding and day students, preparing our young people for the diverse, global nature of university life. Experienced A level subject specialists deliver interactive and engaging lessons in small class sizes (maximum 10 per group), ensuring our students receive a high degree of individual attention and support, and can engage in academic discussion and debate beyond the formal curriculum. students enjoy a unique pre-university experience which prepares them for life beyond school. In our dedicated Sixth Form building on Queen’s Gate,
Regular EPPs (Examination Paper Practice) help students to bridge the gap between GCSE and A level, while an extended curriculum, which includes the EPQ (Extended Project Qualification), essay competitions, and indep ndent research projects, help students to develop the independent learning, critical thinking, and research skills they need to become successful lifelong learners. Our broad-ranging Sixth Form co-curricular and enrichment programmes provide further opportunities for students’ intellectual, physical, cultural, and social development. Students acquire skills for life through activities such as debating and public speaking, young enterprise, finance club, social ent rprise, and our volunteering programme, but can also choose to take part in music and sport.
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Every year, KPS students are successful in securing offers for competitive undergraduate courses at leading universities in the UK and worldwide.
Our university and careers programme starts in Year 12, and tutors play a key role in helping students explore their higher education options. Tutors work with students on a one-to-one basis to select appropriate undergraduate courses and universities, providing individualised guidance on enrichment activities, work experience, the university application process, and future career paths in line with students’ goals. In addition, the higher education team deliver specialist workshops on UCAS and writing the personal statement, giving support to those wishing to apply to US and other international universities. Additional preparation classes assist those applying for Oxford, Cambridge, and Medicine, including sessions dedicated to interview skills and practice.
In recent years, KPS students have accepted places at universities including Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Imperial, LSE, UCL, King’s College, Queen Mary, SOAS, Bristol, Warwick, Newcastle, Exeter, Edinburgh, and several in the US. Our students also regularly take up places at art institutions, such as University of the Arts London. Our leavers go on to study a broad range of courses, including Biomedical Science, Law, Medicine, Mathematics, Economics, Psychology, Engineering, Business and Management, Geography, History, Physics, European Social and Political Studies, Neuroscience, Languages, Fashion Marketing, and Fashion Business.
LIFE AFTER KPS
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Our dedicated team of boarding staff act in loco parentis to ensure students feel happy, secure, and supported as they live away from home. The team works closely with students’ subject teachers and personal tutors to monitor their progress and wellbeing, and all boarders have access to our on-site School Nurse. Boarders benefit from the structure an routine of boarding life, which includes prep each evening from Sunday to Thursday when students can focus on academic study. Daily registrations, house meetings, and curfews ensure that boarders have the right balance between managing their studies, enjoying London, and staying safe. Students can choose from single, double, or triple rooms, all of which are tastefully furnished and include en-suite bathroom facilities. The dining room and common area provide space for students to eat, relax, and study together. A termly programme of evening and weekend activities provides further opportunities for students to socialise and build lasting friendships.
Boarding is available to all students joining the school at 13+. Situated in Earl’s Court within easy reach of both school buildings, our boarding house gives students space to become more independent as they approach their GCSE and A level years, within a safe and carefully managed environment. Our centrally-located boarding house offers a safe and welcoming environment where students can experience living and studying in the heart of London. BOARDING
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ADMISSIONS & SCHOLARSHIPS
16+
Scholarships
For those entering the school at 16+, selection is based on predicted GCSE grades. Sixth Form applicants are expected to achieve a minimum of six subjects at Grades 9 to 5 (including Mathematics and English) at GCSE. International equivalents are also accepted. Students are expected to have at least Grade 6 at GCSE (or equivalent) in the subjects they wish to study at A level. All Sixth Form applicants will also attend an interview with the Head of Sixth Form. Applications for entry to the Sixth Form are considered on a rolling basis, however, an early application is advised.
Scholarships are available at all entry points for students demonstrating exceptional academic ability or outstanding achievement in music, art, drama, or sport. Scholarships take the form of a tuition fee reduction which is valid for the duration of a student’s period of study with us. Students wishing to apply for a scholarship should indicate this at the point of application. The deadline for scholarship applications for students applying for 11+, 13+, and 16+entry is in the November of the year preceding entry.
Kensington Park School is looking for well-rounded individuals who will benefit from the broad-ranging academic and co-curricular opportunities the school has to offer.
Deciding on the right school for your child is very important, and we encourage all students and their families to visit us prior to making an application. We run regular Open Events throughout the year, and also welcome individual visits by appointment. Selection to the school is based not only on academic ability, but on the contribution each child will make to our school community, and our selection process is designed to identify potential. The main points of entry are in Year 7 (11+), Year 9 (13+), and Year 12 (16+), however, the school may have occasional places in other year groups. We also welcome applications from overseas students, and sponsorship is available for students applying for full boarding from
Year 9 (13+). Further information regarding international admissions can be found on our website. 11+ and 13+ Students applying for entry to the school at 11+ and 13+ sit entrance assessments in English, Mathematics, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Our entrance assessments are written in-house by our academic team to allow candidates to start on an equal footing, and no specific preparation is required. Al applicants will also have an interview with the Headmaster or Head of Lower School. The deadline for registrations for 11+ and 13+ is in the November of the year preceding entry.
For further questions regarding our admissions process, or to book a visit, please visit our website or contact our Admissions team on admissions@kps.co.uk or call +44 (0)20 7616 4402.
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BAYSWATER
LOWER SCHOOL
QUEENSWAY
HYDE PARK
KENSINGTON GARDENS
HAMMERSMITH
WESTMINSTER
KENSINGTON
KNIGHTSBRIDGE
BELGRAVIA
SIXTH FORM
GLOUCESTER ROAD
SOUTH KENSINGTON
EARL’S COURT
40-44 Bark Place, Bayswater, London, W2 4AT +44 (0) 20 7616 4400 GET IN TOUCH Lower School
59 Queen’s Gate, South Kensington, London, SW7 5JP +44 (0) 20 7225 0577 Sixth Form
www.kps.co.uk admissions@kps.co.uk @kensingtonparkschoollondon @kpslondon
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