Kingston Grammar School

• Location: London, United Kingdom
• Age of students: from 11 to 18 years old,
• Type of study: blended,
• Language of instruction: English.

Kingston Grammar School (KGS) is a private day school in Kingston upon Thames, South West London, for boys and girls from 11 to 18 years old. The school was founded by Royal Charter in 1561, although the school's Lovekyn Chapel dates back to the 13th century.

The goal of the KGS school is to instill curiosity, self-confidence, and independent critical thinking in students.

KGS has a strong tradition in theatre, art, music and sports. KGS alumni have competed in the Olympic Games 28 times (five have won gold medals), more than 80% of students participate in more than 1,000 sports competitions every year. Arts opportunities and activities include the annual theatre festival at the Sixth Form, trips to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, house competitions in art, drama and dance, and regular music concerts.

The school is known for its friendly atmosphere, healthy academic aspirations, and pastoral care. The school's motto – "Work well and be happy" – defines all aspects of a child's education at KGS.

The co-educational program at KGS is rich and varied, perfectly complementing the busy academic life of students. Students are given opportunities to work as a team with students of all ages, take responsibility, face new challenges and learn new skills. The school curriculum is designed to truly broaden students' interests and experiences. There really is something for all interests and abilities! KGS actively encourages all students to participate and enroll in one or two clubs at a minimum.

Kingston Grammar School has the following departments:

• Department of Classical Literature,
• Department of Economics and Business Studies,
• STEAM,
• Department of Mathematics,
• Department of Physics,
• Department of Psychology,
• Design & Technology Department,
• Department of Careers and Universities,
• Department of English Language,
• Theater Department,
• Department of History,
• Learning Support Department,
• Music Department,
• Geographical Department,
• Department of Physical Education,
• PSHE,
• Department of Biology,
• Department of Modern Languages,
• Division of Policy,
• Department of Religion and Philosophy,
• Department of Chemistry.

Kingston Grammar School was founded by royal charter in 1561, but its roots go back to the 13th century.

In 2023, KGS was shortlisted for three Independent School Awards in Admissions, Marketing and Communications (AMCIS): the Digital Impact Award, the Branding Impact Award, and the Admissions Award.

At the KGS, pupils are divided into five houses, named after medieval and Elizabethan figures associated with the school and London City, with the exception of Stanley Shoveller, an old Kingston man who played international hockey in the early 20th century:

• Lovekyn (symbol is an eagle, color is purple),
• Queen's (symbol — crown, color — blue),
• Walworth (symbol is a tiger, color is green),
• Taverner (the symbol is a bear, the color is brown),
• Stanley (symbol — deer, color — gray).

Kingston Grammar School is a day school and does not offer accommodation services.

Sport

Kingston Grammar School has a rich sports program, the main sports being football, netball, tennis, hockey, rowing and cricket. Ice hockey and rowing teams have achieved success at the national level, including three national hockey titles in 2019.

The R.C. Sherriff rowing boathouse is located on the banks of the River Thames in Thames-Ditton, Surrey. Students can row from Third Year (9 years old) onwards, compete in local and national regattas, including the National Schools Regatta and the Royal Henley Regatta.

The school has educated professional and international athletes, most often involved in hockey and rowing, but more recently also in football and cricket.

Music

Music is an inclusive subject in the lower grades, with an emphasis on developing practical skills in a fun and friendly atmosphere, underpinned by a deep understanding of music theory. From the third grade, music becomes an additional subject, which is reflected in a more structured approach to listening, performing, composing, theory, and the use of music technology.

Musical ensembles:

• Junior Symphony Orchestra,
• Popular Music Club,
• Junior Chamber Choir,
• Flute group,
• Drummers' Club,
• Junior Choir,
• Music Technology Club,
• Senior Guitar Band,
• Junior guitar band,
• Brass ensemble,
• Symphony Orchestra,
• Trombonist Choir,
• Jazz Orchestra,
• Brass band.

Drama

The outstanding Faculty of Drama and Theatre at KGS combines consistently high exam scores with an enviable, inclusive co-curricular program. Located at the Michael Frayn Theatre, the club offers opportunities for full-scale productions, studio performances, clubs, theater trips, LAMDAs, revues, and competitions. Students specialize in acting, technical theatre and design and, along with developing their skills, become critical theatre producers and critics.

KGS is located within walking distance of downtown Kingston.

Taking full advantage of its proximity to the River Thames, KGS has its own boathouse: it is part of the impressive Ditton Field sports complex with 22 acres of playgrounds, which is a short bus ride from campus and is truly the home of KGS sport. The views of Hampton Court Palace inspire students every day.

Classrooms include:

• Frayn's Library. It houses more than 15,000 books, including textbooks, a huge range of advanced reading materials and fiction for all age groups and interests. The library has iPads, laptops and Chromebooks to use, and there are power outlets everywhere on the study desks. Free Wi-Fi is available, and students can bring their own gadgets.
• Hawkes Café is a designated place for Sixth Form students to socialize.
• Michael Frayn Theatre. It is equipped with state-of-the-art lighting, sound system and special effects, the wooden floor with springs makes it an ideal place for student theater, dance and musical performances.
• Modern and bright classrooms that are equipped with interactive whiteboards, iPads, laptops and Chromebooks are available for classes.
• A school hall with excellent acoustics. It accommodates up to 350 people and is regularly used for conferences, lectures and presentations, exhibitions and concerts.
• Art Spaces: Includes four bright and well-equipped studios, printing and relief equipment, an ICT kit plus a dedicated iPad kit, a darkroom and a ceramics workshop.
• STEAM Labs. They are the base for both Junior Makers and Digital Makers clubs, where students get the opportunity to create their own projects in physics computing and robotics.
• Часовню Lovekyn Chapel. The acoustics here are excellent, so KGS uses them for musical evenings.
• State-of-the-art sports facilities. Including: six netball courts, six cricket nets, long jump pit, four football fields, four cricket courts, eight tennis courts, two astro turf hockey fields, astro turf ground, pavilions, boat shed.
• Design & Technology Workshops, Art Studios, Art Galleries.

The school year at Kingston Grammar School runs from September to June. The year is divided into 3 trimesters, between which vacations are organized:

• Autumn trimester (September – December),
• Christmas Vacation (2 weeks),
• Spring trimester (January – March),
• Easter holidays (2 weeks),
• Summer term (April – June),
• Summer holidays (2 months, July and August).

Additional costs:

• Registration fee,
• Entry fee,
• State exams – GCSE, IGCSE and A2,
• KGS Parent-Staff Association (PSA),
• Insurance of personal belongings,
• AXA PPP Healthcare,
• Uniforms and sports uniforms,
• Nutrition.

The age of 11+ is the main entry point at KGS. Before deciding to apply for education, you should book a tour or attend the KGS Open Day, get acquainted with the school staff.

The admission process itself includes the following steps:

1. Registration (7th grade). A candidate questionnaire is filled out and a non-refundable registration fee is paid. Kingston Grammar School will request a recommendation from the candidate's current school after the admissions committee receives the application.
2. Entrance examination. The child will be invited to take an entrance exam at KGS.
3. Interview. Children who do well in the entrance exams will be invited to an individual interview: it can either be general in nature to learn more about the child's interests and abilities, or it will be conducted with a focus on English or mathematics.
4. Proposal. Kingston Grammar School will make offers to students who have done well in the entrance exams and interview, who have positive references from their current school.
5. Confirm the received offer and pay the entry fee.

Kingston Grammar School is particularly competitive and has the following conditions for admission:

• Admission for candidates 11+ years old: exam papers are taken in English and Mathematics. In case of successful completion of these papers, candidates will be invited to a one-on-one interview with a KGS employee, which will be either of a general nature or with an emphasis on knowledge of English or mathematics (depending on the weaker subject).
• Admission for candidates 13+ years old. All candidates 13+ years old will take exam papers in mathematics and English. Candidates who pass the exams at a high level will be invited to substantive and general interviews. Places will be offered by the end of the fall semester.
• Admission for candidates 16+ years old. Applicants must have a solid foundation in all GCSE or IGCSE subjects and excel in those they wish to study at A-Level or Pre-U level. At a minimum, students must achieve a minimum of 7 points (equivalent to an A grade) in four separate subjects, in addition, all students must achieve a minimum of 6 points (equivalent to a high grade B) in Mathematics and English at GCSE or IGCSE. For those subjects (or closely related subjects) that students wish to study at A-Level or Pre-U, a minimum of 7 points is required, with the exception of Mathematics, where students will need a minimum of 8 GCSEs, and Advanced Mathematics, where students will need a minimum of 9 GCSEs.

Kingston Grammar School accepts applications from children entering at the age of 11 whose families are unable to pay for their own education. The scholarship can cover up to 100% of the tuition fee. These awards are given on the condition of attendance at the KGS, an annual re-check of the parents' funds, good academic performance and exemplary behaviour of the student.

In addition, scholarships at KGS are awarded based on talent in a particular discipline but may not provide any financial reward. Children can apply for scholarships in the arts, music, or sports. Academic scholarships are by invitation only after passing the exam.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision