King's St Alban's Good Schools Guide Review 2021

The Good Schools Guide Review ksw.org.uk

Spring 2021

A happy, nurturing and successful school.

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Head Since January 2016, Richard Chapman (40s). Previously senior deputy at King’s. Educated in the Midlands (Solihull School, where he was head boy) and read economics at Bristol. Worked briefly as a trainee manager at Marks and Spencer and even when the teaching bug eventually took hold, he kept fingers in other pies, balancing his early teaching posts with a stint as a semi-professional rugby player. Was head of sixth form and coach of the 1st XV at Warwick School before joining the King’s Foundation in Worcester as second deputy in 2007.

A fast talker and smooth operator, he’s spirited and bursting with ideas. There’s something of a competitive edge too, which parents say helps keep the school on its toes. ‘He’s the third and by far the best head of King’s in my view and his leadership is exactly what I want for the school,’ lauded one parent. ‘He’s never static – in fact he’s the opposite of the “this is the way we’ve always done it” mentality. He embraces everything new in education, whether it’s the growth mindset or innovative ways to ensure inclusivity.’ Certainly not a head you could accuse of being hands off – he has one of fullest teaching timetables we’ve come across (maths, games, rugby and Wednesday afternoon activities – mostly to year 6) though his favourite part of the week is celebratory assembly on Fridays when a huge range of the children’s achievements at all sorts of different levels are applauded. ‘My son did some charity work and he really embraced it, even though

it was all done out of school,’ one parent told us. He revels in the youthful exuberance all around him and you get the sense that he gets as much enjoyment from watching them let rip in the playground as learning in the classroom.

Last time we met him, cricket was his big love, though he spends more time watching it than playing it nowadays, with road cycling having become his latest obsession (his word) especially during lockdown. ‘Midlife crisis struck not long after the Good School Guide’s last visit when old school friends said, “That’s it, we’re getting road bikes!” and I’ve covered over 4,000 miles in the last year alone.’

Lives on site with his wife and two teenage sons, both at King’s, which all helps with the community feel.

He embraces everything new in education, whether it’s the growth mindset or innovative ways to ensure inclusivity.

Joining

History

Entrance: Nursery from age 2 on a first come first served basis. Reception up to year 3 involves spending some time in the school with the appropriate class, being observed.

From year 3, there are entrance tests in verbal reasoning, English and maths, which normally take place in the spring term for September entry, but the school will arrange for individual testing at other times of the year. Typically, there are three forms in years 5 and 6 and two in the younger years. Maximum of 16 pupils in pre-prep and 20 in juniors.

If you want to experience the ethos of King’s St Alban’s in a nutshell, just talk to the receptionist. ‘She’ll find a solution to every problem, she’s ultra-friendly and kindness rules – and that pretty much sums up the school,’ said a parent.

Exit: Over 95 per cent to King’s senior school – located on the same site – many with scholarships (15 in 2021). The few that leave do so for geographical or financial reasons.

‘Only one child to our local competitor in the last five years,’ says head with visible pride (that competitive streak again). Parents praise the transition – senior teachers come over to do assemblies and some teaching, parents get to meet the head and pupils become increasingly familiar with the facilities as they edge closer to year 7.

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The school was originally a traditional prep starting at 7 years old. In 2009, it bought up a family pub next to the senior school, bulldozing it down to create a purpose built facility which is bright, light and pleasingly noninstitutional. In 2013, it extended its property portfolio once again, snapping up an adjacent house, which allowed them to extend pre-prep and, in 2019, open the nursery where – as with the junior school – every bit of space is imaginatively used, and that goes for the outdoor play and activity areas too. The school has its own chapel and a lovely light library, and they share plenty of ‘Big King’s’ facilities including theatre and dance studio.

The Good Schools Guide View Teaching and Learning This is one of two preps that feed the senior school (all three make up the King’s Foundation), the other one being King’s Hawford. King’s St Alban’s, traditionally more academic than King’s Hawford (‘the pace is fast,’ confirmed a parent), also appeals to families for its location (‘both city centre and next to the senior school where many of us have older children,’ observed a parent). The links with the senior school are also not lost on parents (‘they share facilities, plus senior children are on tap to help and inspire them via things like reading and running events,’ said one mum).

Teaching in the pre-prep is topic based and becomes more subject focused as the children get older. The teachers describe it as traditional but creative and rigorous; parents tell us it’s both nurturing and challenging. ‘There’s a culture

of wanting to do well, right through the school,’ said one.

The small class sizes, enhanced with the use of teaching assistants, ensure that informal assessment is a daily feature and any learning concerns are picked up very quickly.

Subject specialist teaching in music, French (taught from reception), science, games and PE – and all teachers run at least one club ‘so they know what makes the children tick, seeing them not in just, say, English but also climbing club,’ according to the head. Setting in maths in years 5 and 6. The head has introduced debating to stimulate new intellectual channels for the children. ‘The teaching is amazing – I’ve been delighted with the way they’ve given my child a foundation to springboard to senior school,’ said a parent.

Learning Support and SEN

Wraparound

School now has its own SENDCo (they used to share one with seniors), with provision from age 2 upwards. Parents are kept firmly in the loop, as are teachers – means that intervention can be mainly classroom based, although a few children have additional small group sessions (and occasionally one-to-ones) outside normal class time at no extra charge.

In the main fee package is wrap-around 7.45am-6pm care (run by matrons and TAs) if parents need it, and quite a number do as many families are dual income (‘That’s another difference with Hawford which is more “old money”,’ reckoned parent). Clubs – 36 at last count – are mostly run by teachers and include everything from swimming and philosophy to science, drama and karate.

Music and Choristers The choristers, who are from year 3 upwards, have a full timetable with long days, though they seem to relish it.

Music features prominently for everyone whether a chorister or not. All year 1s have a ‘violin experience’ (probably not the top choice for lesson observations, we’re guessing), lots play instruments and there are a number of different music groups. The head is keen to present aspirational experiences to the children, and choirs from the cathedral and senior school regularly come to perform. ‘But it’s not just those who are brilliant that get the attention – in the more informal concerts, you get everything from a four-year-old plonking a few piano keys to someone that wouldn’t look out of place at last night of the proms,’ said a parent.

Sport While the parental perception is that King’s Hawford is the sportier of the two King’s preps, the aim to have everyone at King’s St Alban’s involved in sport clearly works. ‘They’ve done wonders for my sporty child – he plays cricket for county now and the school really helped with that – and they’ve also exposed my less sporty child to a range of sports and really given him a chance too,’ one parent told us. Another, who’d moved her daughter over from a state primary, said she was doing ‘sports she’d never have done and is itching to join after school clubs and looks forward

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to the matches.’ The school has had national successes in swimming and netball, with cricket also a strength and played by both boys and girls. The children get taught by senior school sports coaches, plus the prep’s own, though we heard a few grumbles from parents who felt coaching for girls’ sports could be improved. And if you’re dead set on a school with all sports facilities onsite, forget it as the city centre location means it’s a short walk away to the extensive fields and a short mini-bus ride away to the Astroturf (though there is a 25m pool and two sports halls on site).

Extra Curricular Opportunities The creative arts are a very strong feature generally, with drama on the curriculum from year 5 and as a club across all year groups. Children spoke enthusiastically about Creative ConneXions, an annual occasion that is the culmination of various arts events that go on through the year. There is dance, poetry and singing, with a half term’s preparation when children work to a particular theme such as children’s literature or the beauty of change. The longstanding art teacher is well loved and inspires an impressive level of work, even in times of remote learning when she features the results in two-minute videos shown in virtual assemblies – ‘I knew they’d be a few,

but there are so many!’ exclaimed the head. Wednesday afternoons are a big thing for years 5 and 6, given over to activities, fixtures and PSHE (the older children we saw were very much enjoying their PSHE discussions on a range of social issues). This allocated time has also been good for community links too, with the school having built a partnership with a local care home. Trips galore, a particular favourite being year 6’s visit to Normandy. And King’s has an outdoor education space in Wales which the pupils visit at various stages – a much-anticipated adventure.

Community Lots of parent involvement, though most are grateful that, as one said, ‘you’re not expected to bring in endless cakes or dress up for World Book Day.’ In the lower years, reading records go home daily. There are assemblies to which parents are invited two or three times a year, and at the start of every academic year there is a curriculum evening for each year group where teachers share the school’s methods of teaching as well as the actual material. Parents appreciate the school’s conscious work on developing character. The key words that provided

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the focus for everyone on the week we visited were concentration, enthusiasm and curiosity. These themes are shared with parents, who like the way the school uses moral scenarios to help the children with their own daily decision making. BBQs, picnics, cocktail parties and discos etc for parents who want to socialise, although one parent told us, ‘It’s not quite as sociable as it could be because the chaos of parking in a city centre means there’s not a lot of opportunity to stand around chatting’ (school says parking is now much improved).

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The King’s Warmth Pastoral care, inclusivity and discipline Discipline is an understated affair – behaviour tends to look after itself what with the hard-working culture – and while the school isn’t complacent about bullying, we certainly heard no complaints on this front: ‘it’s a kind school,’ summed up one parent. Leadership opportunities range from school council to head of eco club (both new) but there’s no head boy and girl – ‘It’s about giving every child an opportunity,’ says head, who duly gives every child a go at being school monitor. Mindfulness is taught to year 5s and 6s, which the school believes has led to a calmer learning environment. All teachers receive mental health first aid training and the school works with the foundation’s clinical child psychologist.

As for Covid, as one said, ‘they’ve been as on it pastorally as academically – my child’s class teacher has even rung up on a weekend to check up on her and work’s been marked on a Saturday lunchtime.’ Another told us, ‘My child’s currently on a Zoom music lesson – everything carries on that can do and you can’t ask for more than that.’

The Last Word A happy, nurturing and successful school which, as one parent put it, ‘is probably a more comfortable place for a more academic child.’ We were impressed with the level of attention given to celebrating each child’s individuality and to the way the ambitious head is open-minded and forward-looking while still respecting the school’s traditions. ‘My child went from someone who put her hands over her ears in pre-school to coming here where, six months in, she’s oozing confidence – it has completely changed her for the better,’ said a parent.

King’s St Alban’s ksw.org.uk Mill Street, Worcester WR1 2NJ T 01905 354 906 I E ksa@ksw.org.uk

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