The high level of attainment successfully reflects the School’s aims to provide pupils with an holistic educational experience strongly combining academic and personal development to equip pupils with all-round life skills for the future.
Independent Schools Inspectorate Report March 2022
Our students can be who they really are, and develop into creative, confident and thoughtful individuals.
Walking into The King Alfred School, you instantly sense that it is a unique environment. Situated on the edge of Hampstead Heath, you will notice the village green setting, our farm, our beautiful trees. Our school dog may bark a hello, and you might see students relaxing and learning in our historic tree house. Above all, you will see children and young people who are genuinely happy to be at school.
Our vision of what schools should be like goes back to our founders in 1898. They wanted to provide an education which focused on what was best for the whole child, on the development of character and individuality. And these principles remain just as true today as they did over 125 years ago.
As a school, we are less hierarchical and more democratic. First names are used between students and staff, there is no uniform, and as few rules as can be managed within a community. Our students can be who they really are, and develop into creative, confident and thoughtful individuals. Over the course of our history, our graduates have achieved many exceptional things, and have been given the foundations to go on and lead happy, successful and fulfilling lives.
At the heart of our education is a childcentred approach. We appreciate that every child is unique, and we get to know
every individual. By making the curriculum and learning experiences active, creative and challenging, we nurture a love of learning in our students, and a passion to continue education throughout their lives. Examination success is important, and we support our students to take them in their stride, and value their learning beyond the exam grade.
We equip all students to be socially responsible citizens ready for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century. We support them to gain a sophisticated understanding of societies, both near and far from home, and to recognise the value of diversity and alternative views. They have a strong voice within their school, and the skills and attributes required for today's fast changing world.
Personal development and pastoral care have also always been at the heart of who we are. We appreciate today’s
pressures on young people, and have the experience and resources to support each individual’s well-being. Young people are capable of incredible accomplishments and our approach encourages them to build their confidence and self-belief. The mark of a KAS student is that they are resilient, compassionate, and filled with an appetite for the possibilities of life.
With many generations of success behind us, we are passionately committed to what we do. We look forward to welcoming you to the King Alfred community.
Robert Lobatto Head
Those who return to The King Alfred School after 10, 20, or 30 years of absence recognise an atmosphere and a spirit that does not change. This spirit is perfectly summed up in our motto: ex corde vita...out of the heart springs life. It is not what you put into the child, but what you draw out that constitutes education.
BH Montgomery KAS HEAD, 1945-1962
The King Alfred School was founded in 1898 by a group of parents who sought to create an excellent education focusing on the whole child, and who wanted the School to make a positive impact on the world.
Today, King Alfred remains true to these two aims, and is a school that stands out from the prevailing educational landscape. Based on a deep understanding of child development and educational research, we have developed our own concept of excellent education, which enables all our students to thrive at school and beyond.
How we deliver an excellent education:
• Enjoyment of school is a fundamental for us. Children and teenagers do not need to feel unnecessary pressure, stress or fear. Rather, school should be a place which emphasises creative and active learning and the value of play. It should be a place where teachers go beyond the syllabus to engender a passion for their subjects. And it should be a place where every individual enjoys their learning, and takes that enjoyment with them into their adult lives.
• Academic success is something we expect all our students to strive for, so they can be proud of their achievements, and so they open the door to the next stage of their education. In this context, we celebrate diversity and acknowledge academic success for one child may look different to another. We allow children to develop at their own pace, and focus on the progress each child makes from their individual starting point. Our excellent GCSE and A level results are testament to the success of this approach.
• Well-being has always been at the heart of who we are. We support students to become relaxed, confident, tolerant and articulate young people who are able to take responsibility for themselves. We give them the tools to build their self-esteem, now and in the future. Key to this is our staff, who provide a compassionate and supportive environment and develop strong relationships with students based on mutual respect and trust.
• A school is only successful if it prepares its students well for their future. Today's world requires our young people to have a passion for learning which continues beyond school. It requires that they have the right skills to innovate, create, and take risks. And, it requires them to work effectively in teams, appreciate diversity, and manage a whole range of complex personal and professional relationships. The pace of change and shifting global currents, mean that alongside knowledge and skills, every individual needs a strong sense of who they are and the confidence and self-belief to find their place in the world. This is what we mean by preparation for the future.
• We believe our students should feel empowered to make a difference in the world. We want them to go out into their communities and address environmental, social and political challenges. We support students from an early age to articulate their views and learn how to have an impact. This may be in their class, year group or the School as a whole, it may be on a social action project in this country or abroad or it may be by campaigning on a local, regional or national level. Fundamental to the KAS experience is finding your own path, having the courage to follow it, and being equipped with the knowledge and skills to have an impact.
• As a school, we also seek to make a difference in the world. We believe passionately in our vision of education, and we want to inspire and influence other education professionals. In this country, we see rising levels of anxiety and depression disorders in young people alongside rising levels of exclusions, exam manipulation and teachers leaving the profession. The current model of schooling, as shaped by successive Secretaries of State and Ofsted, has played a significant role in making this happen.
We champion an alternative model and frequently welcome visitors from across the globe. We seek to work collaboratively to develop our practices, and champion our vision which achieves high academic standards, alongside an innovative mindset and a genuine sense of well-being.
Alfredian education has always been guided by the values laid down by our founders. If you’d like to read more about our approach, you can do so on our website: kingalfred.org.uk
Always treat a child like an equal.
John Russell KAS HEAD, 1901-1930
Our founders asked themselves what would most benefit children and developed the principles that are still at the heart of education at The King Alfred School today:
• Mutual respect
• Individuality and self-reliance
• Social responsibility
• Freedom, play and the enjoyment of education
• A broad definition of success
The King Alfred School is situated on two beautiful sites next to Hampstead Heath. Both sites have plenty of green space and many mature trees from the original woodland. Our Reception and Year 1 classrooms, Design Technology and Phoenix Theatre are on the Ivy Wood site, whilst our other facilities and all classrooms for Year 2 through to the Sixth Form are located at our main Manor Wood site.
School facilities include; two school halls; Design Technology workshops accessible to students from Reception through to Sixth Form; well-equipped science labs; a professional theatre; music and drama suite, music practice rooms, video editing suite and music technology room; dark room; blacksmithing forge; light-filled art studios; gym; fitness studio; two astroturf pitches; Lower and Upper School libraries and ICT labs; a Sixth Form centre; dedicated innovative space for Years 6-8 and classrooms for all subjects in Upper School.
The School has over 700 students, from age 4 to 18. Most children will join at Reception and continue into Sixth Form. KAS is divided into Lower School (Reception to Year 6) and Upper School (Year 7 to Sixth Form), and includes an educational programme that unites Years 6-8. Age groups are encouraged to mix and support each other, with buddies in different year groups in Lower School and Upper School students helping out in Lower School.
A high teacher to student ratio enables our committed and professional staff to provide a rich variety of activities. Teachers strive to provide a broader and more generous education, while still leading to successful preparation for GCSE and A levels.
All students are involved in a wide range of enrichment activities and there is a variety of afterschool clubs available for all ages.
The King Alfred School Society (the Society) is the company and registered charity that owns and operates The King Alfred School. Council, the School’s governing body, elected from the Society membership, oversees the running of the Society and the School.
Council has the ultimate legal responsibility for the Society and the School, and operates in three capacities simultaneously. Its members are company directors, charity trustees and also school governors, with all of the
responsibilities that these three roles entail.
Council operates through a series of committees, each of which covers a specific area of responsibility.
Anyone who is a member of the Society can stand for Council. Elections are held every year in February at the Society’s AGM. Council members come from a wide variety of backgrounds and have many different skills.
Children begin their school journey by learning at their own pace without undue pressure. These years provide a strong foundation in the core skills of numeracy and literacy. Alongside this, there is a topic-based curriculum which interweaves subjects including Art, Drama, History, Geography and Science. In other parts of the week, the children are taught by specialist teachers in PE, French, Music and Design Technology to develop these skills.
Building on strong foundations, the children now embrace an enquiry-based approach with a focus on skills, attributes and metacognition. They are empowered in their learning, and assessment is used to promote ownership of their work via studentled conferences, portfolios and learning journals. There continues to be a strong emphasis on developing literacy and numeracy, as well as specialist subject knowledge.
Our provision prioritises these critical years in early adolescence which are often overlooked in British schools. We have created an innovative learning experience with powerful opportunities for personal growth. We combine exciting ‘Interdisciplinary Enquiries’ with rich single subject learning and a vibrant co-curricular programme. All this is underpinned by the Crew structure which supports pastoral and academic development.
Year 9 is the transition between 6-8 and GCSEs. Courses showcase and utilise the skills and knowledge the students have acquired in previous years.
Students will take a mixture of compulsory and optional GCSE subjects from the following list: Art & Design, Classical Civilisation, Computer Science, Design Technology, English Language & Literature, Geography, History, Latin, Maths, French, Spanish, Music, Photography, Physical Education and Science. In addition, there are three non-GCSE options: UAL Level 2 Drama and our own internally devised Global Challenges and KAS Literature courses.
Each week there is a Form Hour, Games and a Choice afternoon, in which students can choose from a range of topics and activities.
Students choose from the 27 subjects we offer: Art & Design, Critical & Contextual Studies in Art, Biology, Chemistry, Classical Civilisation, Computing, Design Technology, Economics, English Literature, French, Geography, Government & Politics, History, Latin, Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Film Studies, Music, Music Technology, Philosophy, Physical Education, Physics, Photography, Psychology, Sociology, Spanish and Theatre Studies.
We also offer a UAL Level 3 Extended Diploma in Performing & Production Arts, and the EPQ (Extended Project Qualification).
The curriculum includes Games, a non-examinable enrichment course, and a weekly Form Hour, with careers/further education support throughout.
KAS aims to achieve a successful fit between the School and its students. The admissions procedure should allow the School to gain a realistic picture of the prospective student, and for the student and parents to gain one of the School. To read our full Admissions Policy please visit our website.
Children can apply for entry at most ages, with the exception of Year 11 & Year 13. The main point of entry is at age 4 (Reception Class), with additional places available at age 11 (Year 7) and age 16 (Year 12).
Occasional places can become available in other years (apart from Year 11 & Year 13).
For Reception entry, applications will be considered in order based on the age of the child when the application was made, so early applications are advised.
In the Autumn Term of the year prior to entry, the first 40 applicants will be invited in for a visit and general assessment, whilst their parents meet with the Head of Lower School. Places are offered after these visits.
The first stage is to complete an application form for the relevant point of entry and pay the non-refundable registration fee of £100. When the application is received, the child’s name will be put on the waiting list but this does not guarantee a place.
All applications can be made online from our website: kingalfred.org.uk
Each year, a small number of places (typically between ten and 12) may be available for external Year 7 applicants. Students are invited to apply to come for an assessment day. Closing date for Year 7 entry is by the end of September of the preceding year, when the child is entering Year 6. We contact previous schools for references.
All applicants will be invited in for assessments looking at skills and attributes in line with our school criteria.
After these assessments, those applicants who have progressed to stage 2 will be required to submit examples of work. For a smaller number, this will be followed by a half day in school comprising of group interviews and activities.
All successful applicants will then be invited for an interview with their parents.
Each year, we take a number of external students into the Sixth Form (Year 12) from a range of schools.
The minimum requirement for entry to Year 12 is five GCSEs at grade 6; the School requires higher grades in some subjects to be taken at A level or those related to them.
Students are encouraged to attend one of two Sixth Form Open Events in the Autumn Term prior to entry. Candidates are asked to apply by completing an application form online. We contact previous schools for references and predicted grades.
The first stage sees applicants invited in for pastoral and academic interviews.
Successful applicants from the first stage are then invited to subject leader interviews.
When an application form is received, the child’s name is added to the waiting list. Waiting lists are carried over into subsequent years.
If an occasional vacancy arises, the next child on the waiting list will be contacted and invited into the School for a visit. The visits will vary in length from half a day to two days, depending on the age of the child. During the visit, the child will be with the class where there is a space and during this time they will also complete assessments. In Upper School, students will also have a pastoral interview.
Parents will be invited in to meet with the Head of Lower or Upper School, as appropriate.
Please address any enquiries to Admissions by telephone 020 8457 5285/5170 or by email: admissions@kingalfred.org.uk
King Alfred School offers financial support, in the form of means tested bursaries for a limited number of children entering into the School at Year 7 and Year 12.
Please contact the Bursary Manager on 020 8457 5209 for further information.
Pupils are extremely socially aware and show an excellent understanding of the importance of helping others. They are genuinely supportive of each other and are extremely proud of their school and of the open inclusive atmosphere.
Independent Schools Inspectorate Report March 2022
www.kingalfred.org.uk