HeadSince2019,JoannaWright.Froma familyofvicarsandteacherssheattendedboth stateandprivateschoolsbeforestudyingFrench withtheatrestudiesattheUniversityofWarwick. Earlyrolesinaccountancywereunfulfillingbut shelovedsupportingherlocalschool’splaysso muchshethought...‘maybeIcoulddothisfora living?’
OnstartingaPGCEatReadingUniversityshewas toldshe‘wouldn'tsurviveinstateschool’but appliedtoHollyfieldSchool,Surbitonanyway, whereshetaughtlanguages.Laterpostsat Farlington,Oundle,St.Edward’s,Oxfordand QueenswoodinHertfordshire,whereshespent fouryearsasdeputyprincipalinchargeof pastoral.Herlastpostwasasdeputyheadat SaintPeter’sSchool,York,whereshespentseven years.
Saysitwastheschool’sFoundationprogramme thatbroughthertoKingEdward’s,‘Itsdeep historicalrootsinhelpingpupilswhohad…’,she quotesthehistoricalwordingcarefully,‘nohope’. Shewasexcitedabouttheopportunitytoimprove theexistingoffering,givingstructureto‘the journey’ofpupilsfromyear7tosixthform.‘The workwedo…it’saboutthewholechild…They needtofeelthattheybelong.’
Parentswespoketoareunanimouslypositive Inonemother’sview,MrsWrighthas‘broughta focustotheschool’,keepingit‘onanupward trajectory,withoutitbeingarevolution’.Another said,‘It’sincrediblewhatshe’sdoneforthe place.’Hercharacter,theytellus,isoneof ‘quiet,calmassertiveness,’butalso‘...aforce tobereckonedwith.’Oneparenttoldus,‘She’s probablyoneofthekindestpeopleI’vemetin years.’
“Ipassionatelybelieveincreating transformativeeducationaland pastoraljourneyswhereevery pupilisnoticed,notmerelyseen… islistenedto,notjustheard…is empowered,notsimplyenabled.
‘It’sabroadchurchin termsofsports,artsand academics…there’s somethingtherefor everyone,’sayparents. Pupilsagree,‘Everybody’s journeyissodifferent.’
JoannaWright,Head
ENTRANCE
Keypointsofentryareyears7and9.Pupilscome fromawiderangeofschools(equalmixofstate primaryandprepschools),includinginternational pupilsandLondonrelocators.
ApplicationinvolvesISEBtests,schoolreportsand aninterviewwiththeheadoraseniorteacher. Childrenshouldbeworkingataveragelevelor above.PupilsfromBridewellFoundationpartner schools,localprepsBarrowHillsandLongacre,are grantedassuredplaces
EXIT&LATESTRESULTS
Around50percentleaveafterGCSEsforlocal colleges,buttheadditionofJubileeHouseforsixth formin2022isimprovingretention.Afurther30per centjoinfromelsewhere.Popularuniversity destinationsareExeter,LSE,Durham,Nottingham, Leeds,WarwickandUniversityofLondoncolleges, witharound65percenttoRussellGroup.On average,fiveperyeartooverseasuniversitiesand occasionalonetoOxbridge.In2024,onetomedical schoolandtwoapprenticeships.Onaverage,two choralororganscholarshipssecuredannuallyby talentedmusiciansdestinedforuniversities, conservatoiresortheRoyalAcademyofMusic.
In2024,47percent9-7atGCSE;atAlevel,37per centA*/A(69percentA*-B).
Eachyeararoundtwothirds ofourstudents’transitionto OxbridgeandRussellGroup universities;othersprogress toarangeofother,often specialistuniversities, vocationaltraining, apprenticeshipsordirectlyto theirchosencareers.
TEACHING&LEARNING
WebeganourvisitinQueenMaryHouse(QMH),the hubforallpupilsinyears7and8(106atthetimeof ourvisit),boardinganddayalike.Everyoneregisters hereandparentscandropoffneartheentrance, creatingseparationfortheyoungestpupils.Parents describethisas‘areallynicetransition’to secondaryschool.
Childrenwemeettellusabouttheirfavourite(and leastfavourite)teachers,andareparticularlyexcited totalksports,dramaandorchestraaswellas science,SpanishandPSHCE.Fromtheoutset, emphasisisonpupils’‘appreciationofthewhole educationalexperience’,staffsay,andcompulsory afterschoolactivitiesaimtobroadenchildren’s interests.‘Learningisquiteeasy,’saysoneyear8 pupil,addingthatteachersarehelpfulandattentive. ‘Theygiveeveryoneagoandmakesurewe’reall learning.’‘There’ssomethingforeveryone.Sporty andartykidsbothloveit.’There’salso,‘lotsof prep’,oneboysays,sadly.
Movingintoyear9feelslike‘afreshstartforallof them’parentssay,asnumbersdoubleandthey’re mixedintodifferenthouses.Daypupilsbenefitfrom asimilarexperiencetoboarders,registeringintheir housebuildingsandreturningatbreaktimes.
Wespenttimeinyear9history,where19pupils(five girls)consideredwhetherFieldMarshalDouglasHaig wasrightlydubbed‘TheButcheroftheSomme’.In thelight,spaciousclassroomwithitswallofwrite-on glass,childrenweren’tjustworkingsilently,but enjoyingalessonthatwasinquirybased,interactive andexperiential.Phraseslike‘Iwanttoknow...’and‘I actuallythink...’suggestedtheteacher’splanwas working.
Theheadofacademicstellsushepromotes ‘approachableteachers,questioningand feedback,’andparentsagreethatteachingstaff ‘trytomakethingsinteresting’andare‘enthused andpassionate,excitedabouttheircurriculum’. Onemother,withparticularlyacademicchildren said,‘Anyconcernswehadthat[oursons] wouldn’tbestretchedenoughwereimmediately dispelled.’
Home-schoolcommunicationisanimprovingarea, withopiniondividedonhowfarit’scome,but teacher-pupilcommunicationsupportsattainment well.Schoolprioritisesverbalandwritten feedback,promoting‘activeplanningofclear stepstoprogression’.
Year10saytheirhomeworkis‘astepup’,particularly inEnglish.GCSEeconomics(recentlyintroduced)is provingpopular,asareclassicsandLatin.GCSE textilesandbusinesswillbeofferedfromSeptember 2025.Tohelpstretchandsupportpupils,theheadof digitalengagementhascodedanAIBottoactasan onlinetutor.We’re‘embracingtechnology,rather thanbeingafraidofit,’saystaff.
Onemother,with particularlyacademic childrensaid,‘Any concernswehadthat[our sons]wouldn’tbestretched enoughwereimmediately dispelled.’
Parentsofsixthformerssaytheyare‘veryhappywith theschool’.Abroadapproachtolearningincludes BTECs,City&GuildsandLevel3diplomas.We sawEPQ(extendedprojectqualification)exhibitions thatwereambitiousandunique:medicaldatainthe media,AIabuseonYouTubeandinternational counterinsurgencyinAfghanistan.WevisitedA leveleconomics,wherestudentswerestudying thefearofboomandbustinarigorous,lecture stylelessonwherediscussionandparticipation wereencouraged.
Abespoke‘Pre6thCourse’forchildrencominginto Alevelfromother(international)educational systemsoffersaoneyear,boarding,intensiveiGCSE programmeacrossacademic,scientificorcreative pathways.Allstudentsareofferedadditionalarts classes,culturalandeducationaltrips.
The‘NextStepsProgramme’supportsuniversityand careerschoicesandparentswemetwereimpressed withthesupportfromstaff.Amongthesmallsample ofsixthformerswemet,medicine,science,politics andlawwerefuturesintherunning,withonegoing toLSEtoreadeconomics.
LEARNINGSUPPORT&SEN
Academicbaselinetestinginyear7and9anda literacyassessmenthelpidentifyanylearningneeds. School’spreferenceisforquality-firstteachingand inclusiveclassrooms.Theybuildapictureofpupil needthroughconversationswithprimaryschools andparents,creatinglearningprofilesin collaborationwiththechild.SENDCostressesthe importanceofongoingdialoguewithhome.‘I’m particularlylookingforthekindofanxietythat doesn'tmanifestinschool.’OnepupilwithanEHCP whenwevisited.
The‘NextStepsProgramme’ supportsuniversityand careerschoicesandparents wemetwereimpressedwith thesupportfromstaff.
Astrong,workingrelationshipbetweentheSENDCo andtheacademicleadismaintainedthroughweekly meetings;theytellusthey’llhappily‘opena conversation’withteachingcolleaguesifapupilis strugglinginaparticularclass.
‘Theschoolisgoodatunderstandingtheneedsof manytypesofpupil,’saidonemother.‘Some peoplecomeherebecauseitcaterstoabroad ability,sostaffhaveexperienceofdifferentneeds,’ saidanother.Dyslexiaspecialists,aschool counsellorandtwotrainedELSAs(emotionalliteracy supportassistants),includingonewithadditional speechandlanguagetraining.Oneparenttoldus shewasconfidentthatinterventionshadimproved herson’sgrades,anotherthathewashappywiththe ongoingobservationsofstaff.
THEARTS&EXTRACURRICULAR
WevisitedtheCountessofMunsterMusicSchool, wherespecialistteachersdeliver150instrumental lessonsaweek,includingontheorgan.Theschool wasthefifthtobeaccreditedbytheRoyalCollegeof Organists,afterschoolslikeEton,RadleyandThe RoyalHospitalSchool.Ensemblesincludebrass,sax andjazzbandsandaround170pupilsgetinvolvedin schoolconcertseachyear.Weeklyrecitalsrangefrom informalshowcasestolargerevents.
ChapelservicesaretwiceweeklyandChapelChoir (around70pupils)performsatMansionHouse, Guildhall,StBride’sandabroad.Camerata(chamber choir)isevenmoreelite;theiretherealvoiceshave broughtgoosebumpstocongregationsat WestminsterCathedral,WindsorCastleandthe VaticanCity.It’snotallabouttheelitethough-two lowerschoolchoirs,seniorvocalensembleandjunior vocalensembleaimfor‘absoluteinclusivity’.
Dramais‘definitelyafavourite’accordingtopupils. Staffsaythey‘wanteveryonetobeprofessional…use therightlanguage…getasprofessionalanexperience aspossible’.Threeproductionsayear,includingthe year8-13‘bigshow’,whichisamusicaleveryother year.Wevisitedthemoderndramastudiowhere theatrestudiesstudentswerepreparingfortheirAlevel devisingexam;someastechniciansonlightingor sound,anoptionatbothGCSEandAlevel.InCharter Hallnextdoor,antiqueportraitslookoutacross woodenfloors.It’sthemainperformancespace, regularlyusedforassembliesandtheoccasionaldisco.
Extremelyspaciousclassroomsforartandtextiles, includingdarkroom,ceramicsstudioandAlevel studiospaces.Teachersdescribethemselvesas having‘onefootintheindustry’andanartistin residenceworkswithscholarsandsixthformers. Gallerytripsandworkshopsbyvisitingartists.Leavers havegoneintoarchitecture,fineartandillustration.
Thefullyrefurbisheddesigntechnologydepartment gainedtheprestigiousCity&Guildscentrecertification in2024.Hugewoodworkandmetalworkrooms,with lasercutters,vinylcutter,vacuumformerandno lessthanfive3Dprinterssetoutamongstthevast rangeofequipment(andtop-notchwork)ondisplay. Level2Certificateindesignandcraftonoffer(taught afterschool)from2025.
Compulsoryafterschoolprogramme(year7and8) includesgamesnights,bookclub,mentalhealth, physicalandwell-beingactivities.Olderchildren,‘can changeclubseveryterm’,saidonemother,whoseson wassigneduptocoding,debating(aspartofModel UnitedNations)andusingthefitnesssuite.‘Ifyouwant tobeoverlysporty,musicalortheatrical,youcan,’ saidoneboy,‘butifyou’rehappytodabble,that’s alsofine.’Clubsareincludedinfees(except wakeboardingandpadelclubs).
Musichasbeenthe shiningstarherefor years,butthereare strengthsacrossthearts andsomeimpressive facilities.
'Sportshavejustflourished,’says thehead.Parentsagree,crediting the2021appointmentofanexEnglandcricketer.Theschoolhas beenincludedinTheCricketer’s Top100SeniorSchools,andsports teachersareproudoftheir developingreputation.
SPORT
Twohoursofgamesaweek(minimum)forallpupils. Thefocusisonfootball,netball,hockeyandcricket. ‘Rugbyisaside-sport’oneboytoldushappily,‘it’s optional’.CorePE(boysandgirlstogether)isarota ofactivitiesincludingswimminglessonsinthe school’s25-metreswimmingpool.Onsitesquash courtsandclimbingwallareabonusandweliked theforestschooloption,forthoseexperiencing anxietyaroundorganisedsport.
'Sportshavejustflourished,’saysthehead. Parentsagree,creditingthe2021appointmentofan ex-Englandcricketer.Theschoolhasbeenincluded inTheCricketer’sTop100SeniorSchools,and sportsteachersareproudoftheirdeveloping reputation.‘Wherereallygoodcricketerswouldn’t stayherebefore,theydonow.’
Around80percentofpupilsplayincompetitive matches,agoodturnoutagainststandard benchmarks.FixturesareonSaturdaymornings, withadvancenoticerequiredofabsence.Staffsay, ‘there’saplaceforeveryone’andatleastone motheragreed,‘Mysonwasn’tthattalentedor encouraged[intoteamsatprimaryschool],buthe’s nowanenthusiasticmemberofthirdteam.’Another parentsaid,‘It'sasmallschool,butindividualyear groupteamsareverystrong.’Sixthformsportscan suffercomparatively,fromlackofnumbers.
Eliteperformanceprogrammeforsportsscholars offeringadditionalstrength,conditioningand nutritionalsupport.Staffgraduatepsychologists coachteamsthroughpsychologicalbarriers.
Topperformingindividualsinswimming,American football,athletics,cricket,football,golf,hockey, skiingandsquash.Recentalumnus,TobyRoberts, wonanOlympicgoldmedalinParis2024-the firstUKmedalinclimbing.
BOARDERS
Roughly30percentofpupilsboard(mostof whomfulltime),withafurther10-15percentflexi boarding.InQueenMaryHouse(years7and8) commonroomslookcomfortableandhomely. Thoughtfullydesignedbedroomsgiveeveryone asenseoftheirownspace.Mostchooseto sharerooms,butonegirlhadherown,‘Her preference,’staffsaid.Withaday’snotice,nonboarderscanstayuntil8pmatnoextracharge, enjoyingdinnerandactivitiesbeforepick-up. Appreciativeparentstelluspupilscanarrivefor 7ambreakfasttoo,and‘reallyfeelpartofthe community’.
Fromyear9everybodyisallocatedadayor boardinghouse.Wakefield,Grafton,Edwardand Ridleyforboys;ElizabethorTudorforgirls.Older pupilssayhousesare‘notjustwhereyou registerandhangout…they’reanimportant partofidentity’.
WelookedaroundGrafton,whereyears9to10share rooms,butyears11and12gettheirownCommon spacesandthekitchenwerefunctionalandbusy. Termlyhousetripslikego-karting(extracost).‘The schoolwerelookingtosupportus,’saidoneparent withboardingbursaries,‘theyseetheboysastheir family.
Jubileehouseisco-edandcatersforyear13 exclusively.Allhavesingle,ensuiteroomsandthere’sa separatestudyroomandboysareaccommodatedat differentendsofthebuildingandtheheadtoldusthat, ‘Transstudents’needs[wouldbe]consideredonan individualbasis’.Partofpromoting‘university-style living’,studentslearnmforprep.Girlstocook inexpensivemealsin‘lunchclub’,andresponsible drinking(withparents’permission)‘isokaywithameal, onspecialoccasions’,saystaff.The‘outduction’ programmeincludesinterviewskills,bikemaintenance, drugsawarenessandironing.Theyalsodotheirown laundry.
ETHOS&HERITAGE
‘UnitedbyDiversity’isthemotto,anditholdstrue. PartoftheBridewellRoyalHospitalFoundation,King Edward’swasfoundedin1553asaschoolfor‘destitute children’andhasinheritedasubstantialtradition. OriginallybasedinSaintBride’sChurch,FleetStreet, nearBridewellRoyalHospital,itremainsaBridewell RoyalHospitalschool,withbursariesfundedfromthat source.TheschoolmovedtoSurreyin1867,withsome buildingsdatingbacktothattime.
Arecentre-designhasshiftedthe(formerly unwelcoming)entrancetoanewreceptionbuildingwith abright,spaciouslibraryupstairsandagroundfloor café,opentostaff,pupils,parentsandthecommunity. Theschoolfeelscontemporaryanduncrowded,with preservedhistoricalcharmslikethemagnificent chapelandtheoldquad,whereastatueoftheyoung KingEdwardstandspeacefully.
School’spopularityhasincreasedinrecentyearssince itfirmlydispelledan‘oldreputation’forpoordiscipline. Thiswasunfairandlargelybasedonprejudice,thehead explains–asmanychildrencamefromLondonand difficultcircumstances.Theschoolstillsupports foundationchildren(around10percent),butchanges tosupportingorganisationsfundingmodelshave resultedinahigherproportionofpupilsnowapplying fromlocalandinternationalprivatemarkets.
Theaim,saysthehead,istobeinclusive,caringand quietlyambitious.Achievingexcellence,butwithout feelingthestrain.Asensethat,‘Wecandothis together.’
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Olderpupilssayhouses are‘notjustwhereyou registerandhangout… they’reanimportantpart ofidentity’.
Theschoolfeels contemporaryand uncrowded,withpreserved historicalcharmslikethe magnificentchapelandthe oldquad,whereastatueof theyoungKingEdwardstands peacefully.
Parents(aroundhalffromstateprimary)choose theschoolbecauseit'sco-edand,unlikesome localcompetitors,goesbeyond16.Flexiboardingandthewrap-aroundhoursare attractive,aswellthepastoralstrengths.
Beingfiveminutes’walkfromthestation (London-Guildford-Portsmouthline)makesrail agoodchoicefortransport,whilethosedriving generate‘acarparkofVWs,Audis...‘morenormal cars[thansomeindependentschools]’,saidone dad,echoingawidelyheldfeelingthatthe economicandracialdiversityhere(an improvementonthelocaldemographic),is refreshing.Schoolsupportsinclusivitybybeing ‘mindfulofhoweverybodyfeels’whenselecting parentevents.Parenttalks,‘Founder’sDay’and ‘ProminthePark’arepopular.Choralandsports parentsareparticularlyinvolved.
Parents’associationre-launchinginsummer 2025.
MONEYMATTERS
Feessimilartolocalcompetitorschools.Sibling discountoffivepercentextendstotheirpartner prepschools.Scholarshipsalsofromfivepercent (higherforexceptionalpupils)areavailableforart, drama,music,sport,designtechnologyand academics.
Londonfoundationapplicantsapplyviabursary scheme.Bursariescancover‘asignificant proportionoffees’andareawardedtothose facingchallengingtimes,likefamilytrauma.
The‘BridewellShiningStars’schemegivesallyear 7pupilstheopportunityToolearnanorchestral instrumentfreeforaterm(afterwhichcostis meanstested).
THELASTWORD
Afewyearsago,KingEdward’smaynothavebeen firstonmanyparents’lists,butthanksto impressiveleadershipandinvestment,itisnow. ‘It’sabroadchurchintermsofsports,artsand academics…there’ssomethingtherefor everyone,’sayparents.Pupilsagree, ‘Everybody’sjourneyissodifferent.’
VISITKINGEDWARD’S
Thebestwaytoexperiencewhatlifeislikeat KingEdward’sistoseeitfirst-hand.
Weencourageeveryprospectiveparentandpupil toarrangeavisittoourschoolwhereyouwillbe welcomedwithapersonal,tailor-madevisitwhich willtakeintoaccountyourdaughterorson’s interestsandgiveyouanexcellentfeelforallour schoolhastooffer.
Wewarmlyinviteyoutovisitustoexploreand experiencehowspecialaplaceKingEdward’sis forlivingandlearning–trulyaneducation withoutlimits.
PERSONALTOURS&OPEN MORNINGS
Usuallylastingaround90-minutesyourvisitwill includeameetingwithourHead,MrsJoanna Wright,alongsideopportunitiestoseeourdiverse andexcitingschoolcommunityinactionanda chancetomeetandtalkwithourpupilsasthey takeyouonatourofourexcellentfacilities.
Visitourwebsitetobookanappointmentorfeel freetocontactouradmissionsteam.
Openmorningeventsrunthroughouttheyearand canbebookbyvisitingourwebsiteorby contactingourAdmissionsteamtobookyour place.
CONTACTOURTEAM
Theaim,saysthehead,isto beinclusive,caringand quietlyambitious.Achieving excellence,butwithout feelingthestrain.Asense that,‘Wecandothis together.’
Ifyouhaveanyquestions,ouradmissionsteam woulddedelightedtohearfromyou.
Emailviaadmissions@kesw.orgorbycallingus directlyon+44(0)1428686735.
