INSPECTION HIGHLIGHTS
WELCOME
We are delighted to be able to share the highlights from our 2025 Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) report.
King’s met all the required standards in:
Leadership and management, and governance
The quality of education, training and recreation
Pupils’ physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
Pupils’ social and economic education and contribution to society
Safeguarding
The inspectors’ comments reflect our commitment to offering our pupils a holistic education in mind, spirit and heart, and a fantastic preparation for their futures in the world beyond school. We are delighted that King’s has been recognised as a community where pupils’ outstanding academic achievements are grounded in a “culture of kindness” and “stimulating academic challenge”, and where pupils are well prepared to “become active and contributing members of modern society” and “to lead purposeful adult lives.”
We are particularly proud to report that we have been awarded the highest accolade: our “extremely wide-ranging and highly effective co-curricular activities, partnership and enrichment programme” has been recognised as a significant strength, playing “a major role in encouraging pupils’ self-confidence, self-esteem and development of key personal qualities on which to found their adult lives”.
We hope you enjoy reading here about the special qualities of a King’s education.
Dr Anne Cotton, Head
SIGNIFICANT STRENGTH
Inspectors may highlight an area of provision that is a significant strength. Such recognition is rare and subject to rigorous quality assurance by ISI. We are delighted to have achieved this accolade.
Leaders' vision for ensuring a fully rounded education is evident in their creation of an extremely wide-ranging and highly effective co-curricular activities, partnership and enrichment programme.
This programme plays a major role in encouraging pupils' self-confidence, self-esteem and development of key personal qualities on which to found their adult lives.
This is a significant strength of the school.
ISI 2025
MIND
We want our pupils to enjoy an exhilarating adventure of learning and to pursue academic excellence with a fun, caring, welcoming environment as their launchpad. A culture of intellectual curiosity, courage and creativity fosters habits of mind that set King’s pupils apart.
Teachers create a scholarly classroom atmosphere that encourages pupils’ curiosity and pleasure in grappling with intellectual challenge.
MIND
The curriculum “reflects the school’s intention to support pupils’ development in mind, spirit and heart so that they acquire the skills and knowledge that prepare them for life beyond education by ensuring that schemes of work develop pupils’ curiosity and encourage them to pursue subject knowledge in depth.”
“The curriculum provides pupils of all ages with stimulating academic challenge, both in the classroom and beyond.”
Teachers “engage pupils in erudite discussions that take pupils' thinking beyond the bounds of an examination syllabus and enrich their understanding.”
“Effective and stimulating teaching results in pupils of all ages being enthusiastic, engaged learners who waste no time in lessons. They think independently and are self-motivated.”
“Pupils engage in thoughtful debate on non-material matters, such as the nature of art or the extent to which we are individuals and whether our self-concept is a social construct.”
“The learning enrichment department provides effective support for pupils who have special educational needs and/ or disabilities (SEND). The specific strategies identified for such pupils are used sensitively by teachers, so that the pupils make good progress from their starting points.”
“Pupils' participation in voluntary activities, lecture programmes and academic competitions enriches and deepens their intellectual curiosity and inspires them to think further.”
SPIRIT
We want our pupils to grow strong in spirit, in our shared values and in their qualities of character, as they prepare to make a positive impact in the world beyond school. We are committed to creating an inclusive community where each individual feels that they can belong. Kindness, respect and support for one another are central to the King’s ethos.
Pupils develop a deep understanding of the importance of kindness and respect for all.
ISI 2025
SPIRIT
“Pupils' wellbeing is actively promoted.”
“There is an extensive and effective pastoral structure in place through which staff consistently promote a culture of kindness and respect for all.”
“Pupils are respectful and supportive of each other.”
“Pastoral structures have been extended since the previous inspection, with an emphasis on ensuring that pupils can share any concerns with adults of their choice in school. Pupils are confident to convey any worries that they might have to staff.”
“Curricular choices encourage pupils’ respect for and appreciation of other cultures.”
“Leaders’ decisions reflect their commitment to ensuring that there is a culture of respect, tolerance and kindness, as well as of academic ambition, so that pupils’ mental health is supported.”
“There are opportunities for pupils of all ages to reflect on matters of religious faith, both in assemblies, in societies such as the inter-faith council and in discussions via links with partner schools overseas.”
In the co-curricular programme, “leaders’ vision, commitment and careful planning facilitate pupils’ involvement, which has considerable impact on pupils’ self-confidence, social awareness and sense of responsibility.”
HEART
We want our pupils to develop their own individual purpose and passions. We want them to be equipped to forge the pathway they choose, ready to serve and to lead, with the courage, determination and heart of our lion.
an extremely wide-ranging and highly effective co-curricular activities, partnership and enrichment programme.
HEART
There is an “extremely wide-ranging and highly effective co-curricular activities, partnership and enrichment programme. This programme plays a major role in encouraging pupils' self-confidence, self-esteem and development of key personal qualities on which to found their adult lives.”
“ Pupils develop their physical skills through regular exercise and well-structured teaching in the physical education (PE) programme, reaching high standards as a result and gaining success at national level in a number of sports.”
“The co-curricular activities programme provides senior pupils with the freedom to initiate and take responsibility.”
“Pupils' creativity and imagination are evident in their music and drama, in which they reach high standards."
“ The challenges and experiences that pupils encounter in their chosen co-curricular activities are key factors in developing their self-confidence and self-assurance. In these activities pupils also develop patience, empathy and leadership skills when dealing with others.”
“ Pupils' high levels of attainment are supported by the wide-ranging co-curricular and partnerships programme. It provides an extremely wide variety of opportunities for pupils, facilitated by a carefully designed timetable structure that ensures all pupils can benefit.”
WORLD BEYOND
We offer the very best preparation for our young people to create their futures and to make a positive impact in the world.
To do this, we look to the world beyond school and to life at 25. We look to the lives we are preparing our pupils to lead and we seek to equip them for their future adventures.
Pupils are well prepared to lead purposeful adult lives in modern British society.
WORLD BEYOND
Pupils “acquire the skills and knowledge that prepare them for life beyond education.”
“Lectures from visiting speakers with a range of different views encourage pupils to be politically aware and to form their own views.”
“Pupils are keen to take on responsibility within the school.”
“An extremely wide-ranging and highly effective co-curricular activities, partnership and enrichment programme… plays a major role in encouraging pupils' self-confidence, self-esteem and development of key personal qualities on which to found their adult lives.”
Pupils “are well prepared to become active and contributing adult members of modern British society.”
“Pupils are actively involved in the school's partnerships with over 40 local schools and community groups. The programme enables pupils to understand the opportunities and challenges of their local area and helps develop social awareness, leadership and organisational skills.”
“Pupils develop patience, empathy and leadership skills when dealing with others.”
“Leaders draw on linked international schools in Thailand, China and Monaco to extend pupils' understanding of the different cultures, including through online discussions and visits. This helps develop pupils' interest in and respect for diverse cultures.”
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
At King’s, we look to the future, and we are always seeking to develop.
Our World Beyond vision sets out our plans for continuing to strengthen the education we offer our young people as we approach our 200th anniversary in 2029.
Over the next decade, we are excited to be embarking upon one of the most significant developments in our history as we extend co-education through the school. We are taking this step so that we can open our doors to any young person who will flourish here. It is our belief that as a co-educational community, we will enrich the educational experience of all our pupils and the preparation we offer them for their lives in the world beyond school.
To read our World Beyond booklet, scan the QR code or click here
To read our Co-education booklet, scan the QR code or click here.
King’s College School, Wimbledon World Beyond
King’s College School, Wimbledon Co-education
ISI INSPECTIONS
All UK independent schools are inspected regularly by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI).
THE INSPECTION
We welcomed a team of eight inspectors over three days in spring 2025. Across both our junior and senior schools, inspectors observed lessons and activities, examined samples of pupils’ work, surveyed pupils, parents and staff, held discussions with pupils, teachers, professional services staff and governors, and reviewed our policies and other documentation.
THE OUTCOME
ISI reports no longer contain extended prose and do not use one-word judgments, as used to be the case. Under the current framework, inspection reports focus on standards across five key areas. In addition, they sometimes highlight an aspect of a school’s provision that is a significant strength – an area that shows a deep understanding of and aspiration for pupils’ development of knowledge, skills and understanding, and which has a very clear and highly beneficial impact for pupils. Such recognition is rare and subject to rigorous quality assurance by ISI.
King’s has met all the required standards and has also been awarded a significant strength.
To read the report in full, scan the QR code or click here
King’s College School, Wimbledon
kcs.org.uk