King Henry VIII School is one of the most distinguished co-educational day schools in the Midlands. Our intention is to provide our pupils with a superb education. We are proud of our rich heritage and tradition of academic excellence, which stretch back to 1545, but we are also forward-thinking and quick to adapt in a fast-changing world. We aim to discover each pupil’s potential and to ensure that we help our boys and girls to develop fully in an exciting, challenging and supportive environment. In this prospectus we chart the journey from Swallows (3-8 year olds) through Hales (8-11 year olds) to the Senior School (11-16 year olds) and finally the Sixth Form (16-18 year olds). The four sections of the school are situated within a short walk of each other. Each pupil is well known to staff thanks to small class sizes, excellent teaching and a wealth of cocurricular opportunities. Our pupils’ progress, development and happiness are carefully monitored and supported throughout their time at the school. We recognise that choosing the right school is a difficult decision. This prospectus will show you the enthusiasm that our pupils have for their school and each other. We would be delighted to welcome you so that you can experience first hand the depth and breadth of our very special school community.
Contents Swallows, 3–8 years Hales, 8–11 years Senior School, 11–16 years Sixth Form, 16–18 years
2 6 12 16
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Contents Swallows, 3–8 years Hales, 8–11 years Senior School, 11–16 years Sixth Form, 16–18 years
A leading co-educational day school, since 1545.
2 6 12 16
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Swallows The Swallows Campus is where children begin their education at King Henry VIII Preparatory School. Swallows is a self-contained, 3½ acre campus situated just a few minutes’ walk away from Hales and the Senior School.
Our intention is to provide children with a wonderful place where they can begin their education and one where they will be happy. Swallows has a warm, family atmosphere where there are even pets to be cared for by the children.
The facilities are based around an 18th century house with attractive gardens and excellent facilities. These include: a purpose-built Early Years Centre for Nursery and Reception age children; a sports hall; assembly hall; swimming pool; specialist facilities for Art and Music; Astro-turf and grass pitches.
Within the Nursery, pupils are educated in small groups by a mixture of teachers and nursery nurses in a team led by the Head of Early Years. Children are provided with many opportunities to discover the world about them, to learn to play and collaborate with others, and to begin their learning journey. The Nursery has two main teaching studios; its own kitchen (where little children can learn the pleasure of preparing and cooking food); a covered outdoor area with soft play surface; an adventure playground; and a wild area, complete with play houses.
For generations Swallows has been a happy place where children have made a wonderful start to their education.
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Swallows From Reception to Year 3 children are taught in small classes, usually of 16. For the majority of the curriculum they are taught by their class teachers but they are also taught by subject specialists in Swimming, PE, Art and Music. In Mathematics, children are placed in sets according to their ability from Year One.
There is a full programme of extra-curricular activities for children from Reception age upwards. Care for children before school, after school and throughout the holidays is available. School trips are regarded as an important part of the curriculum and these begin in Nursery. In Year 3 pupils go on their first residential trip.
The curriculum at Swallows has an academic heart and expectations are high, reflecting the traditions of King Henry VIII School. However, alongside this are a wealth of opportunities in sports, music and drama and of course there is plenty of time to play in the grounds of Swallows and just to be children!
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Small classes and a high level of pastoral care enable the teachers to know our children well. Parent
Hales At King Henry VIII Prep School we pride ourselves on having high academic standards balanced with many opportunities for children to develop their talents in the Arts and Sport.
Children spend three years at the Hales Campus prior to taking up places at the Senior School. At Hales children are taught in classes of usually no more than 20. It retains the same friendliness and care for the individual found at Swallows but within a larger and more sophisticated environment, appropriate to academically able, independent children in Years 4, 5 & 6.
In Year 4 children are taught English, Mathematics, Science, History, Geography and RE/PSHE by their class teachers, or a member of the year group team in the case of Mathematics which is ‘set’. All other subjects are taught by specialists: French, Computing, Art & Design, Music, Swimming, P.E. and Games.
Hales is a modern, purpose-built junior school with a range of superb specialist facilities including: a Library; Science Laboratory; Music Suite with seven attached tuition rooms; ICT Studio; and a Sports Hall. Specialist sports facilities are shared with the Senior School and these include a 25 metre swimming pool, Games fields and Netball courts.
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There is a warm and supportive relationship between pupils and staff. Parent
Hales In Years 5 & 6 children are educated in a secondary style environment, having different teachers for the majority of subjects and moving between lessons to specialist facilities. This provides an environment carefully designed for children with an enthusiasm for learning who are ready for a more sophisticated approach than that of a conventional primary school. It also helps to build the independence and confidence which will help them to succeed in due course at a selective senior school. Academic standards are important at King Henry VIII Preparatory School but these are balanced with superb opportunities for children to develop their talents and interests in a range of other areas. The School has a very fine tradition for the Arts, with Music and Drama playing a major part in the lives of all pupils. Sport is an important element of the curriculum and there are many opportunities for children to participate in team and individual sports. Beyond the classroom there is a broad range of clubs and activities, as well as local and residential trips to enrich the curriculum and provide avenues of interest for children eager to explore and try new things. Entrance to King Henry VIII Preparatory School is by examination for children aged seven and above. Entrance up to the age of six is by individual assessment conducted by staff when children visit the School.
Our school motto is ‘Confide Recte Agens’ – have the confidence to do what is right.
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Senior School We work hard to ensure a smooth transition to the Senior School, whether pupils come to us from our preparatory school or from local primary schools. When pupils join us in Year 7, they are placed in small form groups with a dedicated team of tutors and Head of Year. Our team-building expedition to Derbyshire ensures that everyone makes new friends and settles in quickly. This outstanding pastoral care is central to every element of Senior School life. We challenge our pupils, helping them to develop confidence and resilience. We encourage them to be ambitious, curious and determined, yet we also work hard to ensure that they acquire attributes such as patience, tolerance and empathy. Strong, mutually respectful relationships exist between staff and pupils and are a defining characteristic of our community.
Our location and facilities are amongst the best in the Midlands. From the beautiful main school building on Warwick Road to the modern science block and specialist Sixth Form Centre, our teaching takes place in well-equipped classrooms. The school sites combine to total 25 acres and allow superb provision for sport, including the magnificent Swimming Pool, modern Sports Hall, sports ground and new double AstroTurf hockey pitches. Our central location directly adjacent to Coventry train station and major bus routes allows pupils easy access to the school from the local and wider region.
The teachers have always been very caring and have gone above and beyond the call of duty to look after my children. Parent
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Senior School A strong academic focus lies at the heart of the Senior School. Our teachers are highly qualified and dedicated to supporting each pupil’s individual needs. Equally important is the passion of our teachers for communicating a love of their subjects and wider interests. Learning therefore takes place in a calm, purposeful atmosphere where individuals can be inspired, challenged and develop at an appropriate pace. We warmly encourage parents to visit our Open House sessions in order to experience this superb learning environment for themselves.
We offer one of the finest Outdoor Education programmes of any school in the country. From the first weeks of Year 7 until the final weeks of Year 13, our pupils can explore the world around them in safety, face new challenges, build confidence and make new friends. From exploring the Warwickshire and Shropshire countryside to eventually becoming selfreliant on expeditions to locations such as South Africa and Borneo, our pupils develop integrity, self-worth and are well-used to working as part of a team.
Matching this academic excellence are the breadth and depth of cocurricular activities that we offer to our pupils. This is a rewarding opportunity to explore strengths and develop aptitudes, as well as a means of inspiring each pupil to enrich their learning. In a typical term over 75 different activities take place in school each week. In addition, the House System creates a healthy rivalry within school and allows those who are not sports enthusiasts to take part and develop as individuals.
We believe that education thrives when the school, parents and pupils work together in a mutually supportive partnership. We work hard to ensure that good communication is at the heart of this partnership.
The outdoor education is exemplary. She loves D of E and if it wasn’t for the support of the school, she wouldn’t be able to do it. Parent
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Sixth Form The Sixth Form is an exciting opportunity to prepare for life beyond school. It is a time of greater independence, challenge and responsibility, for which the rewards are enduring. We aim to provide our Sixth Form students with a first class preparation for the challenges that lie ahead. Our tradition of academic excellence continues into the Sixth Form where students are encouraged to develop a more specialised set of skills. We believe that the depth of knowledge offered by the A Level curriculum, combined with the breadth of additional enrichment subjects, will provide the best possible preparation for Higher Education. In addition to the familiar courses from the GCSE years, we also offer A Levels in subjects such as Business, Economics, Law, Physical Education, Psychology, and Theatre Studies. Taught by experienced, highly qualified specialists, these new subjects can offer a fresh and stimulating academic challenge. Unlike many schools, we place very few restrictions on the
choice of subjects, so individual needs are almost always met. Classes are small. Our ambitious Sixth Formers have usually gained at least an A grade at GCSE in their chosen A Level subjects. To broaden our students’ knowledge and to help them to prepare for undergraduate study we also offer a curriculum enrichment programme in both the Lower and Upper Sixth. This includes the opportunity to take an AS Level in Critical Thinking and an Extended Project Qualification, which equates to an AS Level. This valuable qualification allows the detailed study of any chosen topic through the independent research skills which are so highly valued by universities. Further curriculum enrichment is provided for all students through a wide range of Extended Studies and timetabled Games lessons.
The outstanding quality of pupils’ personal development reflects one of the school’s main aims. Independent Schools Inspectorate report
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Sixth Form Our purpose-built Sixth Form Centre lies directly across Warwick Road from the main school and symbolises the growing independence of our Sixth Formers. Within the Centre are a spacious study room, cafĂŠ, social area, specialist classrooms and the offices of the Head and Assistant Head of Sixth Form. The Sixth Form is the start of the journey into Higher Education. Whilst our students are encouraged to follow their passions and talents wherever they may lead, for the vast majority this will mean moving on to study an under-graduate degree in a leading British university. This is no easy journey, so our Head of Sixth Form leads a team of experienced, highly qualified staff, including a full-time Careers Adviser, Oxbridge Tutor, Alumni Officer and the Sixth Form Tutors. In addition teachers lead clubs, such as the Medical Society and the Law and Politics Society, which provide the specialist support that prospective undergraduates will require.
Life in the Sixth Form, however, is not all about hard work. Our students are given the chance to participate in a vibrant and varied cocurricular programme. There is of course an extensive range of sport, music, drama and outdoor education – enough to exhaust even the most energetic of students. It is also a distinctive part of our ethos at the school that we offer our Sixth Formers more diverse opportunities. The House system allows students to lead groups of younger students in the fiercely competitive House events, our biennial Rag Week involves the whole Sixth Form in fund-raising for the wider community and the Social Committee ensures that the Sixth Form has a warm, welcoming and inclusive approach to life outside the classroom. With greater freedom and privilege comes greater responsibility. Our Sixth Formers leave the school as bright, confident, responsible individuals, ready for the exciting challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
Pupils throughout the school have extremely well-developed personal qualities, and display poise and confidence in their relationships with adults and with each other. Independent Schools Inspectorate report
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King Henry VIII School Warwick Road Coventry CV3 6AQ T. 024 7627 1111 E. info@khviii.net W. www.khviii.com
King Henry VIII Preparatory School Kenilworth Road Coventry CV3 6PT T. 024 7627 1307 (Swallows) 024 7627 1160 (Hales) E. headmasterpa@khps.co.uk W. www.khps.co.uk
Outstanding continuous coeducation from 3 to 18 years of age