Welcome from the Head of Lower Years

Dear Parents, Guardians and Pupils,

I am delighted to welcome you and your children to the Lower Years (Years 7 and 8) at King’s. I am very excited about the journey your child will go on over the next two years. As you know, children join King’s in the Lower Fourth (Year 7) from a variety of Primary Schools and also from our two Prep Schools, King’s St Alban’s and King’s Hawford. The Lower Years are important in easing the transition to Senior School, for learning and embracing new routines, for making new friends and preparing the children for the later years at King’s.

Having been a part of the King’s Foundation in various roles for 16 years, and a King’s parent, I can say that the School is a warm and nurturing environment and we will do our utmost to ensure your child is happy, safe and secure here. In my experience, if we get this right, children’s learning and development follow naturally!

There is a change as children move from Year 6 to 7 and we will work tirelessly to ensure this transition is not daunting and is well-managed. Think of the Lower Years as the last two years of a Prep/Primary School rather than the first two years of Secondary School. We want the children to build on existing learning skills, remain curious, embrace new routines and work hard, but we also want them to remain children! We want them to play as children at break times, enjoy new opportunities and widen their horizons.

Although the Lower Years is very much a part of King’s, it has its own areas for form rooms, offices and play areas, its own assemblies, timetable and lunch arrangements. Transition to King’s is done sensibly and gradually through the Lower Years and with the School’s values of ambition, resilience, humility, creativity and kindness at its centre. This is the start of an exciting journey.

My role, and that of my Deputy, Mrs Rachael Worth, and the Lower Years tutors, is to support, nurture and gently push your children to be the best version of themselves and thus prepare themselves for the Removes (Years 9 and 10), the House system and GCSEs. We are a very friendly team and children must feel they can ask us if they are unsure or worried.

As you might know, I will remain Head of King’s St Alban’s until the end of 2023 and I can’t wait to take up my role as Head of Lower Years in January 2024. In the meantime, do contact your child’s Form Tutor in the first instance and Mrs Worth if you have any queries or concerns. I already know a number of you and look forward to meeting you and your children at various events and on touchlines, concerts and the like over the coming months. Welcome to King’s and welcome to the Lower Years.

Best wishes,

Mr Richard Chapman Head of Lower Years, January 2024