Prospectus Oct 2018

prospectus King Edward VI School Wilton Road Southampton SO15 5UQ Tel: +44 (0)23 8070 4561 Fax: +44 (0)23 8070 5937 Email: enquiries@kes.hants.sch.uk www.kes.hants.sch.uk

King Edward’s is an 11-18 co-educational day school with a long and distinguished history. It has been at the heart of Southampton for over 460 years. However, while proud of our heritage, the School is forward looking, vibrant and dynamic.

We aim to prepare you for your future in a rapidly changing world. We combine the pursuit of academic excellence with a range of opportunity and challenge to develop self-confident and independent young people who have a strong sense of community and will become responsible and reflective future leaders. High quality teaching, a strong sense of belonging and the space to grow and achieve your full potential is what we offer at King Edward’s.

We hope that you will visit us to see for yourselves.

Julian Thould, Head Master

www.kes.hants.sch.uk

welcome

learning

King Edward’s has an outstanding record of academic achievement and is amongst the top co-educational independent day schools in the country. Our aim is to encourage you to develop a life-long love of learning supported by a disciplined yet enjoyable approach to your studies.

The teachers are highly qualified, talented and dedicated. They will give you the skills and confidence to fulfil your potential with the focus on the pursuit of excellence and individual achievement.

Small teaching groups are supported by the very latest technology and modern facilities. Our extensive use of 1:1 digital learning allows for a demanding and stimulating environment where everyone can thrive.

We will endeavour to ensure that wherever your strengths lie, these are developed to the best of your ability.

www.kes.hants.sch.uk

A key priority at King Edward’s is to ensure you experience a school where you feel safe and secure.

We provide you with a supportive and nurturing environment with a strong pastoral system at its heart.

Your tutor will play a pivotal role in ensuring you are happy and settled at school with additional support from your Head of Year, the school nurses, counsellor and chaplain. As a member of the school community we expect you to be cared for, and to be caring towards others.

Many of the friends you make will be friends for life.

Although a non-denominational school which welcomes pupils from all faiths, we have a strong association with our founder church, St Mary’s in Southampton. Regular assemblies and services will help you to share experiences, broaden your horizons and establish a strong set of values.

www.kes.hants.sch.uk

well-being

sport Sport is an important aspect of your time spent at King Edward’s. You will be given the opportunity to represent the School or your House in a variety of events that take place throughout the year, encouraged by expert coaching and supported by first-class facilities.

With sport our main aim is enjoyment, but we will also foster an atmosphere of excellence across the major team games, as well as individual sports. Our thirty-three acres of sports grounds, fully-equipped gym and multiple all-weather pitches promote a healthy lifestyle and positive attitude, giving you the chance to learn through shared endeavour.

Overseas tours, regular fixtures, tournaments and school events will offer a challenging environment for both the best athletes (who represent the School, the county and the country) as well as for those for whom sport is just good fun.

www.kes.hants.sch.uk

creativity At King Edward’s we provide you with an atmosphere where your creativity will flourish.

You will be offered a wealth of opportunities in which you can explore and develop your interests whether they are in fine arts, music, drama or dance.

www.kes.hants.sch.uk

The Music Department boasts recital rooms, a recording studio and music technology suite and caters for all musical tastes and abilities with its wide range of ensembles. An array of public performances throughout the year gives students the opportunity to showcase their talent. The exceptional artwork on display throughout the School gives a glimpse of what can be achieved through sculpture, painting and photography within the Art Department. A dance studio and a separate theatre provide professional settings for a variety of performances and productions. The abundance of talent, so readily visible at King Edward’s, is further supported by workshops and professional master classes.

Harmeena (Well-being)

Emma (The Future)

Third Year

Upper Sixth

‘From my personal tutor to all my teachers, there is always someone on hand to discuss any issues.’

‘King Edward’s has provided me with an excellent foundation and I feel ready now to tackle new challenges with confidence.’

Jana (Opportunity) Fifth Year

Sophie (Creativity) First Year

‘As a music scholar, I have had numerous occasions to prove myself a capable performer.’

‘I have been given so many

Luke (Learning)

chances to try something

Second Year

‘Lessons are both intellectually stimulating and fun.’

new. I couldn’t have asked for

Ben (Sport)

James (Community) Lower Sixth

more support in building my

‘I have gained so much

confidence and character.’

from all the charitable and community projects in

Fourth Year

which I have participated in

‘There are endless sporting opportunities and first-class facilities.’

the Sixth Form.’

opportunity Life is never dull at King Edward’s and with over 100 co-curricular clubs and societies on offer we are confident that you will find something to excite you. From astronomy and philosophy to cookery and archaeology, King Edward’s offers a wealth of opportunities for you to try new activities and to pursue those that interest you.

The School also runs a well-established Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme in which hundreds of students participate each year. Making full use of our Rural Studies Centre on Dartmoor and our proximity to the New Forest, frequent Duke of Edinburgh expeditions will test the physical and mental strength of all those involved.

Numerous field trips, curriculum visits and other activities will ensure that you are never short of something to do and that you have ample opportunity to try something different.

www.kes.hants.sch.uk

An adventurous spirit is a key characteristic of so many of the pupils at King Edward’s. We want you to expand your horizons, particularly through the extraordinarily wide range of national and international expeditions that we offer to students each year.

www.kes.hants.sch.uk

Whether it be diving in Madagascar, trekking across the Himalayas or the deserts of Morocco, skiing in Europe or kayaking in Sweden, you will have the chance to visit all corners of the globe, ensuring that your education is not restricted to the classroom.

We have well-established foreign language exchanges with other schools in France, Germany and Spain as well as a cultural exchange programme with schools in North Carolina and Prague.

adventure

community

At King Edward’s, students have a deep sense of personal and social responsibility. You will learn to appreciate the advantages that you have and be encouraged to contribute to the wider community through active involvement and fund-raising.

The Charities Commission plays a leading role within the School raising substantial amounts of money for local and national charities every year.

Many students work with our partnership primary schools.

These include reading schemes, language teaching and art, maths, science and sport workshops as well as the annual Endeavour programme that sees hundreds of primary school children participating in student-led activities. Community links extend to hospital visiting and running a summer camp for local young carers.

Further afield, work with children in rural poverty through the Goedgedacht Trust in South Africa has involved a large number of students. www.kes.hants.sch.uk

the future Achieving academic excellence is a key feature of your King Edward’s education and former pupils can be found in prominent positions worldwide with a significant number choosing careers in medicine, law, finance and business.

www.kes.hants.sch.uk

Whatever your aspirations, our highly experienced staff within the student guidance team will help you through the complex process of university application and the world of work. Should you consider taking a year out, specialist Gap Year advice will open your eyes to the variety of opportunities on offer around the globe.

When you leave King Edward’s, we are certain that you will possess the personal skills and qualifications to make a confident and successful transition into the adult world. As part of a thriving alumni network, we hope you will return to share your experiences with subsequent generations.

Admission

We understand that choosing a school can sometimes feel a daunting experience but we hope that this prospectus has given you a glimpse of what makes King Edward’s special.

Most children join at 11+ [Year 7]. However, there is an additional entry at 13+ [Year 9] and Sixth Form [Year 12].

All applicants are interviewed and will sit an entry examination in the January prior to admission. Students attend our school from all over Hampshire and our extensive bus network (including a late bus service) offers flexibility to those pupils living further afield as well as those living closer.

We believe you can only really fully appreciate the true measure of life at King Edward’s by visiting the School to see for yourself. This can be done either on Open Evening or by contacting the Registrar who will be happy to arrange a tour for you and your family. For further information please visit our website at www.kes.hants.sch.uk.

We look forward to meeting you. www.kes.hants.sch.uk

prospectus