Prospectus

Size

Pupils cannot drift, hide or get lost at King's; our relatively small size is a key to our success. Day pupils are fully integrated into our six boarding houses which provide all pupils with outstanding support.

Why choose King's Bruton?

We place a very high value on a genuinely holistic education in which every individual pupil is given an opportunity to flourish and develop. Central to this are our three pillars:

From the Headmaster

King's Bruton is a remarkable school with over 500 years of history. We are blessed with a wonderful location in South Somerset. There are over 360 pupils at King's and the key to our success, and increasing popularity, is to combine our relatively small size with a high-quality, full boarding education.

In recent years, we have had outstanding GCSE, A Level and BTEC results with the vast majority of our pupils going on to their first choice of university. Our hockey teams have reached 12 National Finals, there are over 70 pupils in our full Choir, our Chapel Choir sings Evensong in regional cathedrals every term, whilst our 200-seat theatre is the venue for outstanding drama. The School was honoured to host Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to open our new Music School in 2019 as part of our 500th celebrations. Our thriving CCF is one of the oldest in the country, and over half of our senior pupils undertake Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

King's pupils are encouraged to respect themselves and others, to adopt a positive attitude, and to strive to be the best they can be. Pupils leave here confident but not arrogant and fully prepared to contribute to life beyond the School gates. King's is a busy, happy and thriving community and we would be delighted to welcome you for a visit, we are confident that you will be impressed.

Ian Wilmshurst, MA (Cantab) Headmaster

Size + Quality = Success

Boys 50% Girls 50%

Boarders 50% Day 50%

International pupils

Other 3%

make up 10% of pupils at King's European 7%

Quality

What makes King's a remarkable school is the quality of the education we offer all our pupils. We provide academic strength and breadth, resulting in places at top universities to sought-after apprenticeships. Our music is exceptional and our sport is strong.

Boarding & Day

Parents can choose to send their children to King's as a boarder or a day pupil. All pupils, whether day or boarding, join a House.

Day pupils participate fully and proudly in House activities. This fosters a cohesive pupil community across the whole school whilst also developing a positive, competitive spirit in House competitions.

King's has Saturday morning school for all pupils followed by sport fixtures. Pupils are then able to enjoy a wide range of activities over the weekend. There is always a majority (around 80%) of boarders who stay ‘in’, ensuring a lively and active weekend community.

King's has a warm and supportive boarding community, and provides a comprehensive all round education in which pupils of all ages are valued as individuals.

The School has a strong Christian ethos, and encourages and supports pupils in their spiritual growth and faith. At King's we believe it is healthy and right to take matters of faith seriously and that investigation should be risk free and full of fun.

Success

Combine small size with high quality and the result is a successful school (for ages 13 to 18), where every pupil is supported to meet their full potential.

Academic Aspiration

Academic success at King's culminates in acceptances at top UK and international universities as well as places on outstanding apprenticeship programmes. At King's we provide the academic environment for all pupils to thrive and succeed, but also recognise that a top university place may not represent success to all. We nurture and guide the individual along their personal path to reach their own academic, career and life goals.

Well-Rounded & Accomplished

Academic results are only part of what makes a well-rounded and confident young adult. We strive to ensure that all pupils participate in a wide variety of extra-curricular activities. Participation in Duke of Edinburgh (Silver and Gold) and the Combined Cadet Force - including the Ten Tors expedition - is encouraged and very popular. Participation in sport and music is encouraged, and pupils can also benefit from a range of other activities including art, drama, astrophotography, silversmithing, KSBMotorSport, swimming, Rock Band, karate and skateboarding to name but a few.

After King's Bruton

The destinations of pupils, from King's Bruton Sixth Form, are characterised by variety, with pupils being individually supported to find their best fit. Over the past three years, over 90% of pupils applying to university have attained places at one of their top two choices, including prestigious institutions, such as the University of Oxford and many elite Russell Group universities, as well as on competitive courses, such as Medicine. The diversity of destinations has seen pupils achieve places at leading overseas universities, including Berklee College of Music Boston, Chicago University, University College Maastricht, Sciences Po and Les Roches (Switzerland). We are equally delighted by the success of pupils reaching market-leading apprenticeship destinations, such as Cushman and Wakefield, as well as offering further support to those who wish to enter the job market directly on leaving King's.

Destinations of Sixth Form Leavers in 2022

Ship Science @ University of Southampton

Fine Art @ Falmouth University

Early Years Development & Learning @ Norland

Business Accounting & Finance - Flying Start Degree Programme @ Newcastle University

Education Studies/Sociology @ Oxford Brookes University

Geography @ Newcastle University

Product Design @ Nottingham Trent University

Psychology @ University of Southampton

Physiotherapy @ Oxford Brookes University

Social Work @ University of Brighton

International Relations @ University of Liverpool

Business Management @University of Surrey

Sustainable Development @ The University of Edinburgh

Music Performance - Guitar @ ACM (The Academy of Contemporary Music)

Business and Management @ University of Reading

Sport Coaching @ Cardiff Metropolitan University

Exercise and Sport Sciences @ University of Exeter

Quantity Surveying & Commercial Management @ Nottingham Trent University

Business Management (Finance) with a Year in Industry @ Swansea University

Business & Management @ Oxford Brookes University

Sport Management @ Cardiff Metropolitan University

Foundation in Business @ Oxford Brookes University

History @ University of Leeds

Business Management & Accounting & Finance @ Nottingham Trent University

Law @ University of Oxford

Filmmaking @ BIMM Institute

Music Production & Music Business @ York St John University

Zoology @ University of Sheffield

Aerospace Engineering (with Foundation Year) @ Bristol, University of the West of England

History @ University of York

Business & Management @ Leeds Beckett University

Modern Languages (French advanced & Italian beginner) @ University of Bath

Economics @ Swansea University

Conservation Biology & Ecology @ University of Exeter

Nursing @ University of Exeter

Real Estate @ University of Reading

Ecology @ University of York

Environmental Science @ University of Liverpool

International Business Management with Study Abroad @ University of Bristol

Geography @ Newcastle University

Psychology @ University of Liverpool

Pharmacology with a Modern Language (4 years) @ University of Manchester

English Literature @ The University of Edinburgh

International Equine & Agricultural Management @ Royal Agricultural University

Psychology @ Durham University

Events Management @ Leeds Beckett University

Film Score Composition @ Berklee College of Music, Boston

Engineering Apprenticeship @ Numatic International

Commercial Surveying Degree Apprenticeship @ Cushman & Wakefield

Sport

King's performs at a high level in our core sports of Rugby, Hockey, Football, Netball, Cricket, Athletics and Tennis, and fully supports all pupils in providing opportunities to represent the School at sport. Girls’ Cricket and Football are increasingly popular, whilst our Athletic Development Programme supports pupils who have participated, currently participate or have the potential to participate in sport at a representative level. This support includes tailor-made Strength and Conditioning as well as individual and small group coaching and mentoring.

Music

In 2019, we were honoured to have The Queen Elizabeth Music School opened by Her Majesty The Queen. This state-of-the-art building offers musicians an unrivalled base for music accomplishment. There are outstanding recital venues and recording studios and a huge number of performance opportunities for pupils. King's offers musicians the scope to join a variety of orchestras, bands and choirs.

Learning Support

King's has a dedicated Learning Support Department which caters for a variety of learning requirements. We ensure at the outset that we are capable of fully supporting the needs of a pupil so they are able to access the breadth of our curriculum. We are a CReSTeD school, registered and audited by the Council for the Registration of Schools Teaching Dyslexic Pupils.

Overseas Pupils

Every year, King's welcomes overseas pupils from over fourteen countries including Germany, France, Spain, Kenya, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai and Azerbaijan. These pupils fully participate in life at King's and we, in turn, benefit from the wide cultural variety they bring to the School.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

Overseas pupils, who do not have English as their first language, are invited to join EAL classes to improve their English language skills and complete qualifications in the internationally recognised Cambridge Suite examinations.

Facilities

Pupils benefit from dedicated departments offering the latest teaching aides and technologies set in both modern and historic buildings. The sports facilities include excellent rugby pitches, cricket pitches, 2 x astros, tennis courts, netball courts, an indoor sports centre and gym. We have the use of a 25m indoor pool nearby at our prep school, Hazlegrove. We also benefit from an observatory, a beautiful historical Memorial Hall, The Queen Elizabeth Music School, the Fitzjames Theatre, an academic Sixth Form Centre and Sixth Form Social Club.

EAL

English as as Additional Language

King's Bruton combines a 500 year-long tradition of British history and culture with a narrative of modernity, creativity and innovation in education. The small country town of Bruton affords a healthy, safe and serene location, yet King's is within easy reach by road and rail of London and the vibrant university cities of Bath, Bristol and Exeter.

Our education policy is to ensure international pupils are engaged in every area of school life with an aim to encourage individuality, dynamism and confidence and the ability to collaborate and build mutually beneficial relationships.

While ensuring that contemporary teaching expertise and technological developments underpin the learning at King's, our school ethos is to promote a respect for history and tradition - our proudest example of which was being granted a visit from Her Majesty The Queen on the occasion of the opening of our new Music School to celebrate our 500th anniversary. The state-of-the-art Queen Elizabeth Music School boasts a recital hall, classrooms and individual teaching rooms, a professional recording studio and a purposebuilt percussion centre.

A grounding in Literature and the Arts is key for a rounded education and to stimulate creativity. All pupils are given access to a wide and stimulating variety of literature, including modern poets (Heaney, Duffy, Angelou), established playwrights (Shakespeare, Ibsen, Shaw) and innovative novelists (Yoon, Stevenson, Crace). The tradition of Music and the Visual and Performing Arts is exemplary at King's. Many of our actors have been accepted into the National Youth Theatre and the National Youth Music Theatre, whilst others have joined the profession onstage and backstage. Our choirs sing in cathedrals around the country and King's pupils have gone on to study music at Oxford and Cambridge universities.

Scientific subjects, Design, and Hospitality are taught in professional laboratory and workshop environments where hands-on learning promotes confidence, adaptability, and all-important problem-solving skills

Classroom learning is integrated with field trips, cultural trips to galleries, inter-school science and mathematics challenges at a range of venues from Stratford to Oxford to London. International pupils visit the Houses of Parliament in London where they receive a bespoke tour and attend a workshop.

FORCES FAMILIES

With ex-Servicemen in teaching roles and at senior management level, and a Registrar, herself an ex-Army wife, King's has a deep knowledge and understanding of the CEA system and the unique circumstances associated with military life.

KING'S BRUTON UNDERSTANDS FORCES FAMILIES

King's Bruton Combined Cadet Force offers pupils the opportunity to learn military skills, develop initiative, self-reliance, endurance, resourcefulness, responsibility and leadership.

A Forces Discount of 20% is currently available for all Forces families irrespective of whether they are in receipt of CEA.

The emphasis is on flexibility and understanding Forces families.

The School works hard to ensure our provision remains affordable for Service families whilst ensuring the best levels of education and care.

FAMILY ROOTS AT THE HEART OF KING'S BRUTON

Based in the beautiful South West of England, in the ancient town of Bruton in Somerset, King's is easily accessible by road, rail and air. Surrounded by countryside and with the benefit of being in the centre of a small town with a range of amenities, as well as having easy access to larger cities, King's offers the best of both worlds.

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