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 A Personalised Education Academically Purposeful A School with Cultural Capital School Life Art Drama Music Sport Sixth Form Life After KPS Boarding Admissions & Scholarships
5 7 9
13 15 19 21
23 25 27 29 31 33
3
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 teaching sites means every student in our care is known and valued as a vital part of the KPS community. Academic life at KPS is based on our innovative knowledge-and-skills-rich curriculum that covers all the traditional core and option subjects studied in larger settings through KS3, GCSE, and A level.
Our subject-specialist teachers are selected for their expertise and ability to inspire pupils’ curiosity and love of learning. Teaching and learning occur in small-class groups, creating a tangible sense of focused engagement. Whether in the classroom, laboratory, art room, or theatre, this leads to a very full and deep experience and understanding of each subject, allowing pupils to develop a distinctive personal confidence in their thinking, ideas, and powers of expression. The wide-ranging co-curricular enrichment programme of creative arts, sport, and cultural capital is also 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
5
Exceptionally small class sizes, with a maximum of 12 per group, ensure that every student is known and valued as a vital part of the KPS community.
We are a forward-thinking and outward- looking school with a central purpose to identify and develop the individual talents and all-round potential of every pupil. From future innovators, inventors, leaders, and thinkers, to aspiring actors, artists, and musicians, and athletes competing on the national and international stage, excellence at KPS is defined by the individual, not by the cohort. A broad and balanced curriculum, combined with flexible option blocks at GCSE and 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 art, drama, music, and sport as well as specialised 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. 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 approach. This provides students with the essential framework 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
7
ACADEMICALLY PURPOSEFUL
Years 7 & 8 (KS3)
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 talents. Years 10 & 11 (GCSE)
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. In Years 7 and 8, students study a wide range of subjects, which enables them to make informed choices on exam options as they 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 (KS3)
Years 12 & 13 ( A Level ) 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 subjects depending on their strengths and interests, as well as their university and career aspirations. With no set subject combinations, students benefit from a personalised timetable built around their subject choices, and can choose from a wide range of disciplines, including many new subjects not offered at GCSE.
9
11
The Senior 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. In this way, London becomes our classroom, with bus and tube connections on our doorstep, and the city’s many landmarks 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; or taking in the latest theatre productions in London’s West End.
BAYSWATER
SENIOR SCHOOL
QUEENSWAY
HYDE PARK
KENSINGTON GARDENS
KENSINGTON PALACE
SERPENTINE GALLERY
KNIGHTSBRIDGE
A SCHOOL WITH CULTURAL CAPITAL Our London location forms the backdrop to our academic and co-curricular provision, and we make extensive use of the opportunities it affords us.
IMPERIAL COLLEGE
SIXTH FORM
KENSINGTON
V&A
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
BELGRAVIA
GLOUCESTER ROAD SOUTH KENSINGTON
13
EARL’S COURT
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
House System
All students join one of our four houses, Effra, Fleet, Tyburn, and Walbrook which pay tribute to the historic lost rivers of London. Popular interhouse competitions in areas such as art, music, and sport 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 most points.
15
17
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.
19
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 skills 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 short tube ride 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, and the Drama department regularly arrange
21
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. Music and performance are an important feature of life at KPS and we encourage musicians of all levels and abilities to excel.
We encourage our students to appreciate a diverse range of works and genres, celebrating not only classical, but also contemporary 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.
23
SPORT AT KPS
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 afternoon per week. All Senior 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. We believe in instilling a love for sport and physical activity that will remain with our students well beyond their school years.
Students regularly participate in competitive events and fixtures within the Independent Schools 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.
25
SIXTH FORM
Students can choose from the following A level subjects: Art, Craft & Design Biology Business Studies Chemistry Chinese Classical Civilisation
Geography Government & Politics History Latin Mathematics Music Philosophy Physical Education Physics Psychology Religious Studies Sociology Spanish
In our dedicated Sixth Form building on Queen’s Gate, students enjoy a unique pre-university experience which prepares them for life beyond school.
Computer Science Drama & Theatre Economics English Literature French Further Mathematics
Our 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. 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 independent 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. oc v
27
Every year, KPS students are successful in securing offers for competitive undergraduate courses at leading universities in the UK and worldwide including Oxford, Cambridge, and Imperial.
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, Imperial, St. Andrews, LSE, UCL, King’s College, Queen Mary, University of Bath, SOAS, Bristol, Warwick, Newcastle, Exeter, Edinburgh, and top- ranked US universities including Stanford University and The University of Chicago. Our students also regularly take up places at prestigious 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
29
Our dedicated team of boarding staff act in loco parentis to ensure students feel happy, secure, and supported as they live away from home. Boarders benefit from the structure and 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
31
ADMISSIONS & SCHOLARSHIPS
16+ (Sixth Form)
Scholarships
For those entering the school at 16+, selection is based on predicted GCSE grades. Applicants are expected to achieve a minimum of six subjects at Grades 9 to 5 (including Mathematics and English) at GCSE, and at least Grade 6 at GCSE (or equivalent) in the subjects they wish to study at A level. All applicants must also attend an interview with the Headmaster or 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 Days 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+ (Senior School)
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 conducted in- house with no specific preparation required. All applicants must also participate in an interview with the Headmaster or Head of Senior 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.
33
VISIT US TODAY
40-44 Bark Place, Bayswater, London, W2 4AT +44 (0) 20 7616 4400 GET IN TOUCH Senior 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
Page 1 Page 2-3 Page 4-5 Page 6-7 Page 8-9 Page 10-11 Page 12-13 Page 14-15 Page 16-17 Page 18-19 Page 20-21 Page 22-23 Page 24-25 Page 26-27 Page 28-29 Page 30-31 Page 32-33 Page 34-35 Page 36Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker