King's College School - Today

Today

King's College School is one of the highest academically performing schools in the UK historically and to date, coming second in the country's league table of independent schools in 2007, with a high Oxbridge offer rate.

All sixth-formers at King's currently study the IB Diploma, but from September 2013 pupils joining the Sixth Form will have the choice of studying either the International Baccalaureate or A-Levels. In 2008 13 pupils obtaining the maximum IB score of 45 points, equivalent to 7 A grades at A-Level – a score achieved by only 72 pupils worldwide that year. In 2009 the average score for the school was 40.0 with 10 pupils obtaining the maximum 45 points. KCS came second in the country for 2006 in The Times' rankings for A-Levels, mainly due to the inclusion of its International Baccalaureate results. In 2007, it came third in the country in The Times' rankings for A levels, again due to its International Baccalaureate. King's was also named Sunday Times IB School of the Year in 2010. Boys and girls at the school this year averaged 40 points out of 45 across the entire sixth form. And 89% of all the Higher Level grades were 6s or 7s - equivalent to A and A* at A level. Over 50% of all grades are at level 7, equivalent to A*.

Overall, in 2012 90% of grades were at A* or A, with over 63% of grades at A*. 52 pupils, (31%) from the 168 cohort, were awarded 10 or more A* grades and 24 boys attained straight A* grades. Almost 60% of the year group sat the 'Additional Maths' Exam and 95% gained the very highest possible grade (A).

Typically over 24% of the year group gain admission to Oxbridge; in 2012 42 pupils gained places at Oxford or Cambridge, and previously in 2011 29 pupils achieved places. There were also nine offers from US universities that include Harvard, Yale and Stanford.

The majority of pupils come to the school from south west London, north Surrey and neighbouring areas. Sixty four per cent of the Year 9 entry consists of boys who continue from the King's College Junior School, thirty four per cent enter from other preparatory schools and about two per cent come from overseas. The Good Schools Guide described the school as "an inspiring place to be," adding, "Boys work and play very hard in this wonderful school community". It is a member of the Eton Group of 12 leading independent schools, and of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. Senior School fees are currently £17,520 per year.

The last headmaster (Mr ACV Evans) won the best headmaster of a public school category at the annual Tatler School Awards 2005. Mark Palmer, editor of the Tatler School's Guide, said that he "thought it was about time it was recognised for being an all-round, academically excellent school", he added, "That has a lot to do with the professionalism and integrity of Tony Evans". The school is currently under the headship of Mr AD Halls, who succeeded Tony Evans in January 2008. He too received Tatler's best headmaster of a public school award in 2011

The school is located on Southside, Wimbledon Common, on a 24-acre (97,000 m2) site, with the main building being the 19th century Great Hall. The School has 20 Science laboratories and a demonstration laboratory, alongside the 1st XV pitch. The buildings include the Q-block (based around the Quadrangle), College Court, South Hayes, the Taylor Wing, the Reeve School of Art & Design, and the Sports Hall, as well as the Junior School, which has its own buildings, and Rushmere house. There are 4 rugby pitches on the main site for use by the Senior School, with Coleman's field providing additional pitches for the Junior School. There are 6 tennis courts on site also, along with 4 squash courts, a 33m swimming pool and a 25 metre shooting range. There are two additional playing field sites, in Raynes Park and on West Barnes Lane, which provide two fully lit astroturf pitches as well. A new pavilion was opened at West Barnes Lane in September 2011 to replace the old changing rooms.