Kingsmead Private School

• Location: Hednesford, England,
• Founded in: 1938,
• Number of students: about 1300,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of studying: mixed.

Kingsmead School is an institution, offering educational programs for students from 11 to 18 years old.

The history of the educational institution began in 1938 in the format of several schools for separate education of boys and girls. Having survived the Second World War, several reorganizations and name changes, today Kingsmead School is considered one of the best schools in England, it has earned the recognition of national, international rating agencies, the trust of the families of thousands of students who are studying on campus now or have already completed their academic path.

Kingsmead School has many special features, ensuring  students achieve excellent results in their studies, the development of personal and social qualities, and individual talent. At Kingsmead School, the academic approach is based on four values that are at the heart of the learning process: sustainability, innovation, mindfulness and employability. The school staff understands that each child is unique, so they strive to unleash their potential through a stable and supportive atmosphere, interactive approaches to teaching subjects, practical activities, and a wide range of extracurricular opportunities. The teaching staff at Kingsmead School are qualified professionals with the highest commitment to education, certified according to modern standards and with many years of experience. They teach subjects in which they have personal achievements, provide additional seminars, laboratory workshops and individual classes to deepen knowledge, develop skills, and expand horizons.

The comprehensive development of students is confirmed by their high results in intermediate, final exams. Most of the graduates enter selected universities in the UK, USA and other countries thanks to personal consultations, mentoring, and career seminars.

The educational process of Kingsmead School students is based on three foundations:

• Curriculum

Each subject area provides specialized knowledge and skills to achieve academic success. Students follow a carefully structured learning pattern using long-term and medium-term curricula that support interdisciplinary connections, the development of RIME values, career connections. The main content, key skills of each block are communicated to students using personal checklists.

• Personal development

Personal development is taught by tutors but is also included in the core curriculum. Students gain important skills through participation in a variety of activities, from scheduled academic classes to campus, off-site events.

• Kingsmead's Vision

Lots of opportunities to develop the character and cultural horizons of each of the students, including The Kingsmead Edge, student leadership, developmental activities, the XP reward system, and annual events such as Innovation Days, Employment Days, and Future Days.

The XP reward system is a unique program to earn individual points for any activity that benefits both the life of the school and the personal development of the student. XP points are calculated during the year and are awarded when a student demonstrates one or more of Kingsmead School's values: resilience, innovation, mindfulness, employability.

Students can earn XP in classrooms and extracurricular activities. Points are awarded by both teachers and invited specialists, parents, and other students. The amount of XP students earn can give them access to weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly rewards, semester activities, reward trips. Some of the rewards are: Amazon vouchers, use of Go Karts and the Rewards vending machine, certificates, and more.

Teaching activities are conducted in three stages of school education:

• Key Stage 3 – Grades 7 to 9,
• Key Stage 4 – Grades 10-11,
• Sixth Form – Grades 12-13.

The absenteeism rate here is lower than both the local and national average by about a quarter.

The school works only in a full-time mode and does not provide residences.

Since September 2021, Kingsmead School has had its own catering service, with a team of professional chefs creating a balanced and varied menu every three weeks, prepared with fresh, local ingredients. Meals are provided in one of Kingsmead School's dining rooms: House of Pi or Glasshouse. Students visit the House of Pi mainly for breakfast, snacks and relaxation, and for lunch, they stop by the Glasshouse.

Kingsmead School offers more than 80 extracurricular development tracks, allowing students to try new hobbies or focus on skills in existing ones. From fundamental ones like sports and arts to more specialized ones like metal detection, Egyptology, film, and astronomy, there's something for everyone! For example:

• Musical groups that take part in most concerts, festive events of the campus,
• Animal care,
• Entrepreneurship clubs: students study the market, develop products, plan a sales system,
• Metal Detector Club, which offers students the opportunity to learn how to use treasure hunting equipment on the learning grounds,
• Theater groups performing at many holidays and even during ordinary school days,
• Car maintenance club, where students will be able to understand the structure of the car, learn how to change spare parts, prepare for obtaining a driver's license,
• A criminology community that studies criminology in specialized workshops,
• Art clubs in which students can develop drawing, modeling, and needlework skills. Art students also participate in the activities of criminology students, preparing "crime scenes" for them to study,
• Language clubs, which provide an opportunity to learn French, Italian, German and other languages in small groups under the guidance of native teachers,
• A debate community advocating for the honor of the school in external competitions,
• Skills clubs, which include learning about various activities: from writing books to working as a librarian,
• The community of history, which offers to consider not only past events, but also to assume the outcome of current ones,
• Chess Club,
• Subject clubs: computer science, mathematics, English and others. They offer classes to deepen knowledge, analysis of complex topics, joint work on homework,
• Virtual reality club, computer games.

Sports sections are part of the curriculum and are also taught as electives for those who would like to participate in competitions, achieve personal goals in the type of physical activity they like. The campus has an excellent infrastructure for activities such as:

• Soccer
• Netball
• Lapta,
• Cricket
• Basketball
• Handball
• Badminton
• Tennis
• Fitness
• Self-defence
• Yoga
• Zumba,
• Cycling
• Running.

Upon admission, all students are assigned to one of the four Facultial Houses. The Houses program helps students learn teamwork, accept the rules of healthy competition, gain leadership skills, and mutual assistance. During the year, the teams of the Houses earn points in order to take a leading position at the graduation party and receive an award. Points are earned through participation in the life of Kingsmead School: from extracurricular clubs, charitable activities to animal care, assistance to employees.

• According to the recent results of the Ofsted assessment, the school has the titles of "Good" and "Outstanding" in the areas of teaching, personal development,
• Unique system of points and awards for academic results,
• One of the best educational institutions in Staffordshire according to GCSE and A-Level results,
• Cooperation with University College Oxford, Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge and University of Oxford, through which students can prepare for admission to one of them,
• Comprehensive development: from additional subject classes, specialized courses to career support, an extensive list of extracurricular areas,
• Individual approach to everyone.

The campus of Kingsmead School is located in the town of Hednesford, Staffordshire, England. In recent years, the school has done a lot of work to modernize the premises, with two million pounds invested in infrastructure, with the help of which new classrooms and laboratories were opened, and existing premises were refurbished.

• Lecture halls with interactive whiteboards, audio and video equipment,
• Computer labs with PC, software for various purposes, including design,
• Scientific laboratories equipped with the necessary materials for conducting research,
• Specialized studios for music, theatrical arts,
• Cooking class with a set of household appliances for cooking practice,
• A sports complex with multifunctional halls for group and individual training, yoga, martial arts and other physical activities,
• Assembly halls for events,
• Two dining rooms, cafeterias,
• Classes of student collectives,
• Administrative offices providing support on any issue.

One of the features of the Kingsmead School campus is the outdoor learning areas: the Forest School and the Farm. Outdoor activities provide many benefits: from developing empathy, understanding the world around you, to obtaining applied life skills, maintaining physical activity.

Animal enclosures are located almost in the center of the educational area. The main care of the animals rests on the shoulders of competent staff who carry out regular animal care activities, giving students the opportunity to participate in cage cleaning, feeding, washing and combing. Sheep, pigs, geese, guinea pigs and rabbits, goats, chickens, various reptiles and insects live on campus in specialized areas.

The academic calendar consists of three semesters:

• Autumn: September-December,
• Spring: January-April,
• Summer: April-July.

Between semesters, holidays are provided for rest: Christmas, Easter, summer, free time is also organized on weekends, days of international and national holidays. Classes are held on weekdays from 8:30 to 14:30-15:30 — the academic load of students is 32.5 hours per week. After lessons, students can take part in extracurricular activities.

Approximate list of additional costs includes:

• Registration fee,
• Nutrition
• Some extracurricular activities,
• Individual academic, extracurricular opportunities: additional subject classes, personal lessons of playing a musical instrument or others,
• Customized training materials,
• School uniform,
• Personal expenses.

Applicants are offered introductory tours of the campus, communication with the admissions committee and teachers in order to be sure that the school is suitable. For admission, the family of the future student will have to go through several stages:

• Filling out a detailed application, providing the required documents,
• Payment of the application fee,
• Attending interviews, entrance tests in English, mathematics,
• Receiving an official invitation to enroll,
• Arrival at campus and start of studying.

Kingsmead School is a comprehensive school and does not select students based on ability, and admission is based on minimum age-appropriate academic requirements.

In January 2021, pupils achieved excellent results in exams that were held nationally – more than 50% of students received the highest possible grade: Distinction with a 100% passing score.

According to the latest results for the summer of 2023, 100% of Kingsmead School graduates have secured places at top universities to study a wide range of subjects. Directions and courses ranged from Cambridge to study Art History to Chemistry and Mathematics at the University of Bristol, Modern Foreign Languages at Bath, History at Warwick, Criminology at the University of Liverpool and Sport at Loughborough. Several high school students have secured places in highly competitive professional courses, including speech and language therapy at Birmingham City University, primary education at Manchester Metropolitan University.

• A full package of personal documents, including an identity card, health insurance, student visa or residence permit,
• Academic certificates for the last academic year, report cards,
• Letters of recommendation, individual achievements, if any.

Classes at Kingsmead School are taught entirely in English, the level of which will be tested at one of the entrance exams along with knowledge of the main subjects.

Kingsmead School runs the Pupil Premium Program, a special grant for students with precarious family backgrounds. The grant covers the cost of additional subject classes to support the student's academic success, offers free meals in the canteen.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision