2023/24 was a year of a great many school achievements...
From being ranked the fourth best 11–18 independent co-educational day school in London to the hugely impressive theatrical productions, high participation and some wonderful successes on the sports fields, fantastic engagement with co-curricular life and an ever-growing community, action and service programme that our students enthusiastically participate in, our thriving school truly embodies the motto of Bene Agere ac Laetari ‘Work Well and Be Happy’.
As a community of students, staff, parents, governors, alumni and friends of the school, the impact we can make is more powerful when we work together.
From our innovative partnership projects with local primary and secondary schools to academic mentoring and charitable fundraising, meaningful collaboration brings a diversity of approach and reaches the greatest number of people.
2028 will mark two significant milestones: 50 years of being both fully co-educational and truly independent.
Our ambition is to substantially increase the number of fee-assisted places we can offer, by growing our bursary fund to double its current size by 2028. We can only do that with the ongoing support of our community.
Through growing our bursary fund, developing meaningful partnership and outreach initiatives, and encouraging service-oriented community action from our students, we are proud to continue to transform lives and build futures. At KGS, our aim has always been to deliver an education that gives every student the tools to develop both the ability and the will to make the world a better, kinder place whilst achieving personal excellence and fulfilment.
It can be difficult to measure the true impact that financial support makes to an individual student, but I hope this review begins to give a sense of the transformational nature of a bursary, along with the breadth of our partnership and outreach programme. As ever, I am hugely grateful to those whose generosity – whether gifts of time, expertise or financial support – enables us to continue to reach the widest possible audience.
Stephen Lehec, Head Master
BURSARIES TRANSFORM LIVES...
KGS students and alumni tell us what receiving a Bursary Award has meant to them.
“I am truly grateful for the bursary that has allowed me to be part of the incredible community at KGS. I have been given so many opportunities – from playing piano in the Lovekyn Chapel to acting in the Junior School Production –and have experienced such kindness. Thank you for believing in me.”
Lower School student
Anas joined KGS in First Year as a budding scientist. He leaves us this summer to take up a place to read Medicine at Imperial College, London.
“Having seen that KGS offered bursaries, I came to the Open Day and remember being completely inspired by the science laboratories. Science and maths have always been my passions so having such great teachers, who have encouraged me to be ambitious and helped extend my learning and expand my knowledge, has been truly fantastic.
From Chemistry for Medics to one-on-one maths sessions, I have always felt so supported. My ambitions for the future are to become a surgeon, possibly in emergency medicine.
I am also interested in the work of people such as David Nott, author of War Doctor, who talks about the psychologically challenging aspects of delivering medicine in conflict zones.
I can’t wait to see where my career takes me and it all started here, at KGS.”
Anas, Sixth Form student
“Receiving a bursary at KGS allowed me to experience a quality of education that I otherwise would not have been able to access, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities it has given me. As a teacher of English, I now strive to continue these high standards. I loved my time at KGS, both for the friendships I made and the support I received, and I will carry the values and skills I acquired into the future.”
Daisy Parker (OK 2017)
“I loved my time at KGS so much that I came back to the School as Head of Geography, where I had the pleasure of teaching the next generation of bursary recipients. KGS instilled in me an independent, questioning mindset, encouraging me to develop my wider interests. At Cambridge I was able to put into practice what KGS had taught me, becoming a Full Blue athlete and President of the Cambridge University Athletic Club.”
Humphrey Waddington (OK 2005)
OUR CURRENT STUDENT BODY:
Since 2016 the percentage of KGS students receiving bursary support has doubled
The number of students receiving a bursary since 2021/22 has risen by almost 25%
In the last 10 years...
The School has grown from 800 to 880 students.
Despite this, owing to increased funds raised, the percentage of students with bursary support has grown from less than 3% to 6% of the student population. That’s an increase from 31 to almost 50 students.
The School has a firm commitment to supporting young people of exceptional ability in and around Kingston.
With the support of Kingstonians around the globe, we have an ambition to be able to offer 100 fee-assisted places by 2028.
There are many ways you can be involved. To find out more, please contact Sarah Humphrey, Deputy Head (Development, Outreach & Partnerships) vhumphrey@kgs.org.uk
Percentage of students receiving a bursary:
2014 31 students 2024 47 students 2028 100 students OUR AMBITION
£1,000,000 Almost £1 million of bursary support was awarded in 2023/24 10% 6% <3%
Bursary costs:
ONE student x 7 years at KGS
£190K
The average bursary figure awarded
How we fund our bursaries:
Our Endowment Fund is managed proactively to achieve the best possible return on investment, safeguarding bursary support for years to come.
£225,000
2024
£10million Our ambition
To mark the 50th anniversary of Kingston Grammar School becoming co-educational and fully independent in 2028, our ambition is to grow our Bursary Fund to double its current size by 2028.
The Bursary Fund has grown fourfold over the last decade, from £225k to over £6m – with around £1m distributed annually.
“At
KGS, I learned to believe in myself. I consider it a privilege to help support the next generation of Kingstonians.”
Dr Sungill Kim (OK 1986)
As ever, we are hugely grateful to those whose generosity –whether gifts of time, expertise or financial support – enables us to continue to reach the widest possible audience.
A YEAR OF MAKING AN IMPACT...
From our innovative partnership projects with local primary and secondary schools to academic mentoring and charitable fundraising, meaningful collaboration brings a diversity of approach and reaches the greatest number of people. We have partnered with 10 primary schools to provide academic and extracurricular support through clubs, professional development sessions and activity days.
500 primary pupils received MFL taster lessons from our Third Year students.
21 pupils from St Joseph’s Primary School learned how to communicate and express themselves in front of an audience through our Public Speaking Workshop.
30 pupils visited us for a Christmas DT Workshop
110 KGS students have engaged with more than 1,100 primary school pupils through our outreach clubs and partnership activities.
255 primary pupils have benefitted from our sports outreach provision.
44 primary pupils were mentored by 22 Lower Sixth students who delivered fortnightly literacy sessions.
Collaborative ventures with 7 secondary schools have delivered Oxbridge interview guidance, careers seminars and university support to over 200 secondary school pupils.
MyBigCareer:
Our Director of Careers & Universities worked with 8 students from 4 secondary schools, whilst work he did supporting a student through Refugee Action Kingston has led to her receiving a number of university offers.
Maths mentoring:
24 Sixth Form mathematicians were involved in helping to support 30 secondary school pupils. The feedback was extremely positive and the students involved felt supported yet challenged and all said they benefited from the sessions.
“This invaluable support and expertise has hugely helped to guide 80 Year 12s towards their next steps.”
Charlie Venter, Headteacher at The Kingston Academy
SECTION TWO: COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
PRIMARY SCHOOL SPORTS DAYS
DT WORKSHOP
FOOD KITCHEN
LEADERS
GARDENING CLUB
LANGUAGE
TEA PARTIES
Community Action and Service programme
We actively encourage students of all ages to regard service to others as an integral part of their life at KGS. Such engagement has a positive and tangible impact on our local community and helps students develop their communication, leadership and organisation skills.
CHARITY IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF LIFE AT KGS.
294
KGS students volunteered for projects with other schools, community groups and charities.
58 enthusiastic Second Year students welcomed residents of local care homes to a tea party at KGS with musical performances, delicious cakes and rounds of bingo.
40 local people experiencing food poverty or homelessness enjoyed meals prepared for them by 17 Lower Sixth students.
250 pupils at 3 local primary schools took part in multi-sports sessions run by KGS coaches.
£12,000
Together this year we have raised over £12,000 for local and national charities. Our four main charitable partners have been...
The Elizabeth Foundation
As the UK’s largest single provider of education services for babies and pre-school children with all degrees of deafness, our donation to The Elizabeth Foundation will help to deliver essential support.
elizabeth-foundation.org
Football Rebooted
An initiative which enables us to avoid unwanted football boots being sent to landfill and provides a local young person with football boots which they would otherwise be unable to afford.
footballrebooted.co.uk
We have also supported:
BRITE
Box
This charity does important work in Kingston addressing increasing levels of food insecurity. They provide a weekly recipe kit to some of the nearly 4,000 Kingston households which are eligible for Free School Meals.
linktr.ee/thebritebox project
Kingston Food and Hygiene Bank
Twice a year we arrange a whole-school collection of toiletries and nonperishable food items which are donated to these two charities serving the local community.
thehygienebank.com
SECTION THREE: SCHOOL DEVELOPMENTS
September 2024 will see us open our brand new Sixth Form Centre at 100 London Road.
The Fairfield Building is changing too...
Exclusive teaching, studying and social spaces alongside access to specialist staff and resources will provide a university-style environment for our senior students whilst freeing up space on our main school site to upgrade facilities for students lower down the school.
Thanks to a significant donation from alumnus John Bridgen and his wife, Leslie, an exciting refurbishment and remodelling of the entire building is planned for later this year.
Kingston Grammar School International works in an advisory capacity to help establish schools around the world
In line with the way many other leading independent schools support their bursary programmes, the royalties from our involvement are gifted to support the KGS Bursary Fund, increasing the number of fee-assisted places we can offer here at KGS.
And at Ditton Field... Upgrades will maximise the use of our fantastic outdoor space opposite Hampton Court Palace.
A specialist science and technology centre offering cutting-edge teaching and collaboration spaces, upgraded laboratories and lecture hall-style rooms will be created, ready to inspire the next generation of KGS scientists.
SECTION FOUR: BE PART OF OUR FUTURE
Your support can make an immeasurable difference to a student’s life, opening the door to an education at KGS that previously would not have been possible.
THEN NOW
To mark the anniversary of 50 years of co-education and independence at Kingston Grammar School, we are launching three ambitious targets for 2028:
TARGET 1
The KGS Bursary Fund to stand at £20m, meaning we can offer Bursary Awards to 100 students each year who would benefit from an education at KGS.
NOW NEXT
TARGET 2
Raise £30,000 for local, national and international charitable causes each year.
TARGET 3
To expand the Community Service Programme, so that every student is involved in volunteering and service during their time at KGS.
There are many ways you can be involved. To find out more, please contact Sarah Humphrey, Deputy Head (Development, Outreach & Partnerships) at vhumphrey@kgs.org.uk
