Kingston Grammar School   Kingston Grammar School London Road

The Foundation of Kingston Grammar School dates back to 1561, making us one of the oldest educational establishments in the country. The continuity of education in and around the Lovekyn Chapel, which was built in 1309, and which is our oldest and most distinctive building, lengthens the thread, albeit thin in places, back to the Fourteenth Century and the reign of Edward II, in an exciting and colourful pageant of alumni and benefactors. Numbered amongst them is the Lord Mayor of London who slew Watt Tyler, the leader of the 1381 Peasants' Revolt; the grocer entrusted with producing the wedding feast for Edward I; a Tudor scholar who played a significant role in translating the Latin Bible into English in the sixteenth century; and Queen Elizabeth I herself, whose Charter gave the school its official status and identity. Kingston Grammar School today is one of the most successful co-educational schools in the country with excellent examination results and a long tradition of developing individual talent and of encouraging high aspirations. Our pupils are bright and enthusiastic and bring with them a joy in life and a spirit of curiosity which makes education here a real pleasure. Inspirational teaching and a deep commitment to pastoral care create an atmosphere in which individual talents and creativity flourish and in which pupils grow in confidence and understanding. International GCSEs, the Pre-U and Extended Projects inter-weave with more traditional examinations to produce an exciting and vibrant academic diet, designed to challenge ideas and expectations and to engage pupils in a love of learning. Although we would concur with much of the current educational debate, which has highlighted the limitations of GCSEs and A Levels, we make sure that our pupils are drawn into investigation and enquiry beyond the confines of the various specifications, so that they develop their skills and thinking in ways which give them the fullest advantage at university, and the resilience and flexibility to make the most of the opportunities that come their way. Our co-curricular programme plays a central part in this. The opportunity to engage in an extraordinary range of trips, expeditions and activities allows pupils to develop their self awareness, skills and competence in all sorts of ways and contributes significantly to the rounded individuals they become. For many, the world outside the formal academic curriculum will provide the key to their future lives. A just published book, Physical Education and Sport in Independent Schools by Malcolm Tozer, concludes with a survey of the number of sporting internationals who have come from Independent Schools since 2000. Kingston Grammar School features very strongly. We are ranked 5th equal, with Millfield at the top, followed by Plymouth College, Gresham's School and Dulwich College. This is quite an achievement for a school of our size. You will also find a strong tradition of theatre, art and music here, with Kingstonians making their mark on the stage, in performance and in all aspects of the design world. For everyone, whatever their skill or ambition, the opportunities we provide both inside and outside the curriculum are enriching and empowering and staff give generously of their time to support all these ventures. In recent years our bursaries scheme has grown, so that we can offer support for more families who might not otherwise be able to afford an education here. We have also established a new Alumni Society to enrich our community through contacts with past generations and to provide an opportunity for Kingstonians to stay in touch. Our new Foundation is tasked with raising money for bursaries and for making possible the various capital projects we have recently undertaken and plan to execute over the next few years, so that the School can provide the very best facilities for our pupils. Refurbishment of our older classrooms and sports pavilions, an updated IT infrastructure and remodelling of our hard play areas represent some of our recent investment, and more is to come. Partnership with a school in Ghana is just one of our newer educational ventures, and will begin to open up all sorts of opportunities in fostering international understanding, collaborative enquiry, leadership and exploration. The future is an exciting one and I hope that these web pages will give you a real flavour of what Kingston Grammar School stands for and achieves. There is no substitute, however, for coming to visit us, and I look forward to meeting you at the School, so you can see for yourself what makes Kingston Grammar School so special.