Kensington Park School

Kensington Park School is an independent, co-educational day and boarding school for students aged 11 to 18, where excellence is defined by the individual. 

Split across two sites on either side of Kensington Gardens, KPS offers an exceptionally well-rounded education in the heart of cosmopolitan central London. Years 7 to 11 are based at the Lower School on Bark Place, a short walk from Bayswater and Queensway tube stations, while the Sixth Form is located on Queen’s Gate, overlooking the Natural History Museum. The school’s boarding house, which offers outstanding accommodation to students from Year 9, is located in a quiet, leafy area of Earl’s Court within easy reach of both school buildings.

A forward-thinking and outward-looking school, our central purpose is, above all, to realise and release potential. We are a warm and welcoming community of individuals, and we pride ourselves on delivering a personalised education where each student is excited, challenged, and inspired to become the best possible version of themselves. As students move through the school, they are presented with exciting new opportunities and responsibilities, and given the space to develop the independence they need to grow into life-long learners, at university and beyond.

Small class sizes, coupled with an attentive and discerning system of pastoral care, ensure all students are individually known, valued and affirmed. Our integrated tutor and house system also plays a key role in building positive relationships between student, home, and the school, with parents and guardians maintaining regular communication with teachers and staff on their child’s personal and academic development. 

A broad-ranging co-curricular programme complements the academic curriculum, allowing students to explore their passions and discover new interests. Our purpose-built theatre provides exceptional facilities for music and drama, and we work with several outstanding providers in and around our home in West Kensington in the delivery of our sport programme, including Will to Win in Hyde Park for tennis and netball; the Porchester Centre, with its 30m swimming pool; Queen’s Skate for ice skating; and the Westway Centre for climbing and Eton Fives. Students are encouraged to take part in a wide variety of lunchtime and after-school clubs and societies, including Chamber Ensemble, Choir, Drama Club, football, ice-skating, climbing, Eton Fives, and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme.

This combination of academic and personal enrichment, individualised support, and outstanding pastoral care ensure that each year our students receive exceptional results at GCSE and A level. In 2022, our students achieved 100% pass rate at GCSE, with 63% Grades 9 to 8, and 80% Grades 9 to 6. In the Sixth Form, our leavers achieved 34% A*- A and 74% A*- C grades at A level, securing offers for a wide-range of competitive undergraduate courses at leading UK universities, including many in the Russell Group.

Selection to the school is based not only on academic ability, but on the contribution each child will make to our school community, and our assessment process is designed to identify potential. The main points of entry are in Year 7, Year 9, and Year 12, however, the school may have occasional places in other year groups. Students applying at 11+ and 13+ are assessed in English, Maths, and Non-Verbal Reasoning. Applicants to the Sixth Form are required to attend an interview with the Head of Sixth Form and offers will be conditional upon GCSE results. Sixth Form applicants are expected to achieve a minimum of Grade 6 in their chosen A level subjects, with a pass in all other subjects. IB or other international equivalents are also accepted. All assessments are written in-house.

KPS is committed to nurturing and rewarding talent among students from all backgrounds, and scholarships are available at all entry points for students demonstrating exceptional academic ability or outstanding achievement in music, art, drama, or sport.

The deadline for applications to Years 7 to 10 is Friday 18th November 2022. Applications to the Sixth Form are considered on a rolling basis.

We welcome all prospective students and their families to arrange an individual visit to the School through our Admissions team.