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Kingston Grammar School,金士顿文理学校 ，70 London Road, Kingston Upon Thames, Surrey KT2 6PY
Tel: 020 8546 5875 Fax: 020 8547 1499
• CO-ED, 10–18, Day
• Pupils 620, Upper sixth 75
• Termly fees £3376
• HMC
• Enquiries/application to the Registrar

What it’s like
The origins of the school are firmly traceable to the Charter issued by Queen Elizabeth in 1561 although it is likely that the school existed well before this. The present site lies on the London Road (opposite the Chapel of St Mary Magdalene, consecrated as a charity chapel in 1309) and has a range of buildings representing architectural styles from the 1870s to the present day. A site adjacent to the main school is currently being developed, to include a theatre, music school, drama department and sixth form centre. It has excellent up-to-date facilities and 22 acres of playing fields by the Thames, opposite Hampton Court Palace. It is now fully co-educational, having first admitted girls in 1978. Academic standards are high and examination results are very good. The pastoral organisation is based on lower school, middle school (GCSE years) and sixth form; pupils are given encouragement to develop their individual talents. Music and drama are strong. There are several orchestras and 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. Numerous clubs and societies provide for most extra-curricular needs. Computing, printing, photography and technology have special facilities. The CCF contingent is large and flourishing and comprises Army and Air Force sections.

School profile

Pupils & entrance
Pupils: Age range 10–18, 620 day pupils (360 boys, 260 girls).
Entrance: Main entry ages 10, 11, 13 and 16. Common entrance and own exam used; for sixth-form entry, good GCSEs with at least grade B in sixth-form subjects. State school entry 60% main intake, plus 75% 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.

Scholarships & bursaries 27 pa scholarships and foundation awards (including 2 music, 2 art and sports awards), value 25%–50% fees: some awarded at 11, others at 13 and 16. 12 means-tested bursaries (which may be used to augment other awards).

Head & staff
Headmaster: C D Baxter, in post from 1991. Educated at Lord Williams’ School, Thame, and Oxford University (English language & literature). Previously Academic Director and Head of English and Drama at Wycliffe, Housemaster and Librarian at Gresham’s.
Teaching staff: 55 full time, 7 part time. Annual turnover 5%. Average age 39.

Exam results
GCSE: In 2003, 91 pupils in upper fifth: 99% gained at least grade C in 8+ subjects. Average GCSE score 69 (66 over 5 years).
A-levels: 82 in upper sixth: 15% passed in 4+ subjects; 85% in 3 subjects. Average final point score achieved by upper sixth formers 370.

University & college entrance 92% of 2003 sixth-form leavers went on to a degree course (28% after a gap year), 7% to Oxbridge. 12% took courses in medicine, dentistry & veterinary science, 33% in science & engineering, 34% in humanities & arts, 14% in social sciences, 7% in vocational subjects eg physiotherapy, accounting.

Curriculum GCSE, AS and A-levels. 23 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: IT taught as a discrete unit for all; numeracy and communication being introduced for those who need them.
Vocational: Work experience available.
Special provision: Extra help available for those requiring support with writing skills.
Languages: French, German and Spanish offered to GCSE and 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 (1 lesson/week) and across the curriculum, eg intranet with information selected by all departments. 65 computers for pupil use (9 hours a day), all networked and with e-mail and internet access.

The arts
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. Some pupils are involved in school and house/other productions; West Side Story recently, involving very many pupils and staff.
Art & design: On average, 30 take GCSE, 10 A-level. Design, textiles, photography also offered. Pupils regularly gain entry into art colleges; Royal Academy exhibition of sixth-form work.

Sport & activities
Sport: Hockey, cricket, tennis compulsory for 2 years, plus football, netball. Optional (third and fourth year): rowing, badminton, squash, table tennis, netball, athletics, cross-country, basketball. Fifth and sixth form: badminton, swimming, real tennis, squash, golf, table tennis, athletics, cross-country, basketball, shooting, aerobics. In recent years boys U18 national indoor and outdoor hockey champions and U14s; girls’ U18 hockey champions (2003, 2004); rowing, numerous representatives at all levels (including boys GB U23, girls U21), Schools Head and national schools' regatta medallists.
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.

School life
Uniform: School uniform worn throughout.
Houses & prefects: Competitive houses. Prefects, school captain, vice captains appointed by the Headmaster.
Religion: Attendance at religious worship not compulsory.
Social: Language exchanges; hockey tour annually to Holland, rowing training in Belgium; geography and biology field trips; annual music and classics tours abroad; annual ski trip. Pupils allowed to bring own bike to school; sixth form may bring car. Meals self-service. School shop. No tobacco or alcohol allowed.

Discipline 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 Saturday detention); those caught smoking cannabis on the premises might expect to be withdrawn from the school.

Former pupils Michael Frayn (author and playwright); Neil Fox (DJ, Capital Radio); Simon May (composer); Neil Mullarkey (comedian); Edward Gibbon (Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire); R C Sherriff (playwright); James Cracknell (Olympic gold medallist rowing).