2026
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Welcome
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from the Head Teacher It is now more than a decade since we first welcomed pupils to The Kingston Academy and I am enormously proud of the thriving, ambitious and inclusive school community we have built together. From the outset, our aim has been to provide an exceptional education where every pupil is known, challenged and supported to achieve their very best. That ambition is reflected not only in the culture of our school, but also in the outstanding outcomes our pupils continue to achieve. In August 2026, TKA achieved its strongest GCSE results to date. More than half of all grades awarded were at Grade 7 or above, 36% were at Grade 8 or above, and almost one in five grades was a Grade 9. Our provisional Attainment 8 score rose to 6.41, with exceptionally strong performance across a wide range of subjects. These results are a tribute to the hard work of our pupils, the expertise and commitment of our staff, and the continued support of our families. They sit alongside everything else we value at TKA: curiosity, character, kindness, creativity and a genuine sense of belonging. As Head Teacher, I remain committed to ensuring that every pupil receives an outstanding education which develops their talents, broadens their horizons and prepares them confidently for life beyond school.
Mrs Sophie Cavanagh, Head Teacher
‘’This is an exceptional school where the values of ‘community, character and ambition’ are fully realised’ OFSTED REPORT, MAY 2024
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‘Pupils in the specially resourced unit are fully integrated into the school. Pupils with SEND receive high-quality support, balancing a focus on meeting needs along with developing independence. These pupils achieve very well’. OFSTED REPORT, MAY 2024
SEND and Inclusion TKA is committed to creating an inclusive school community where every child is known, supported and given the opportunity to thrive within a mainstream setting. We are proud to have established an Enhanced Provision for children with EHCP plans for ASC. Our aim is to provide these pupils with tailored support that nurtures learning and personal development within the haven that is our school community. Places to this provision are allocated by the Local Authority in partnership with the school, taking into account the needs of the individual child and our ability to meet each child’s needs. Each academic year we complete a thorough transition process for pupils in year 6, liaising with parents/carers, teachers, SENCos and support staff in order to create detailed profiles of the pupils before they start. This information is then delivered to all teaching and support staff, in order to raise their awareness of the SRP pupils’ needs.
“The provision staff provide extra support in the areas my son finds the most challenging, allowing him to make really good progress and not feel overwhelmed or different from his peers.” (TKA Parent)
“My child has been given amazing opportunities since joining TKA, from meeting David Attenborough to visiting a vets’ university, this provision inspires my child and excites him for the future.” (TKA Parent)
“Teachers have high expectations and very strong subject knowledge. They question pupils skilfully, ensuring that the chosen learning activities are well sequenced. This challenges pupils to think, do and understand more”.’
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OFSTED REPORT, MAY 2024
Results and Qualifications ‘Outstanding’ - Ofsted’s judgement As an Outstanding school, The Kingston Academy was inspected for the second time by Ofsted in April 2024. The judgement of the inspectors was that TKA continues to be an outstanding school. The inspection report noted that: This is an exceptional school where the values of ‘community, character, ambition’ are fully realised; Pupils’ behaviour is exemplary. They are highly focused on their learning, are very happy, feel safe and attend very well; The school has carefully considered and implemented a very ambitious curriculum; Teachers have very high expectations and very strong subject knowledge.
GCSE Highlights Attainment 8 rose to 6.41, meaning the average grade across pupils’ best 8 subjects was a strong Grade 6. Estimated Progress 8 was +0.97, meaning pupils achieved almost one whole grade more progress than similar pupils nationally. 51% of grades were Grade 7 or above, 36% were Grade 8 or above, and 18% were Grade 9. 92% of pupils achieved Grade 4 or above in both English and Mathematics, with 83% achieving Grade 5 or above.
A Level Highlights 39% of A Level grades were A–A*, and 69% were A*–B. The average grade increased from a Bto a B, with 63% of students meeting their ambitious benchmark grades. 20 students achieved 3 or more A or A grades*, with 5 students achieving three A* grades. 11 students completed the EPQ, with 7 achieving an A or A* outcome.
05 ‘The school has carefully considered and implemented a very ambitious curriculum. Leaders have ensured that the curriculum is thoughtfully sequenced in a way that promotes high levels of engagement’. LATEST OFSTED REPORT 2024
An Aspirational and Inspirational Curriculum Our broad and balanced curriculum builds on KS2
We have also been developing a more race-
programmes
conscious curriculum, ensuring positive
of
study,
ensuring
a
smooth
transition into specialist teaching at KS3. With the
representation of all, and expanding the individuals
National Curriculum as our starting point, we
and examples drawn on across all subject areas.
confidently meet all expectations and surpass
TKA has been awarded the Gold Race Charter
many. Our Curriculum Leaders routinely reflect on
Mark Award.
their schemes of work, regularly refining and improving
them.
Feedback
from
pupils
themselves also provides valuable input for the further development of our schemes of learning.
Our pupils are taught by highly qualified teachers who combine expert subject knowledge with creativity and high expectations. Alongside academic excellence, we place equal value on the wider experiences that help young people grow in
Our KS3 curriculum is designed to give students a
character and independence. Working closely with
broad and rich foundation of knowledge, so that by
parents, our Trust partners and the local community,
the end of Year 9 they have a strong understanding
we prepare pupils to succeed academically and to
of each subject, whether or not they choose to
approach life beyond school with confidence and
continue it at GCSE.
independence.
Sample Timetable of Year 7 Pupil at The Kingston Academy Time
Period
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Tutor Time
8.30-8.50 8.50-9.40
1
Art
PE
English
French
Music
9.40-10.30
2
Art
PE
Mathematics
Respect
English
Break
10.30-10.50 10.50-11.40
3
English
English
Creative Industries
Science
Science
11.40-12.30
4
Geography
Science
French
Philosophy & Ethics
Mathematics
Lunch
12.30-1.20 1.20-2.10 2.10-3.00
5 6
History Mathematics
Drama Mathematics
See thekingstonacademy.org for the latest information on our school
Science History
Geography Digital Literacy
Going Beyond
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Lesson Allocations Subject
Year 7
Year 8
Year 9
Years 10 and 11
English
5
4
4
5
Mathematics
4
4
4
5
Science
4
4
4
6
Art
1
1.5
1
3
1
1.5
1
3
Digital Literacy
1
1
1
3
Drama
1
1
1
3
Geography
2
2
2
3
History
2
2
2
3
Media Studies / Sociology / Business Studies
N/A
N/A
N/A
3
Music
1
1
1
3
PE
2
2
2
1
Philosophy and Ethics
1
1
1
3
Modern Foreign Languages
2
3
4
3
PSHE
1
1
1
1
Going Beyond
2
1
1
1
Creative
Industries
Subject specialists ensure that lessons provide opportunities for all pupils to make progress, through effective planning which makes use of assessment data on pupils’ aptitude for each subject. Pupils with Special Educational Needs are supported through the work of the Inclusion team, who work with teachers to ensure they can access the curriculum. Guided Choices At the end of Year 9 pupils and parents / carers receive extensive support to enable them to make the GCSE choices that interest them, reflect their strengths and provide them with a breadth of knowledge. Pupils study either 9 or 10 GCSE subjects in total (depending on whether they take separate science GCSEs or the combined award, accounting for 2 GCSEs). Sixth Form Our Sixth Form provision is based on rigorous A Level qualifications with the addition of the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Through these qualifications, students can engage with challenging academic content, helping them to build a thorough understanding of their chosen subject area as well as deepen their thinking through greater exposure to critical theory and analysis. In the Sixth Form, our students can access a wider range of subject choices such as economics and business, psychology, sociology and media studies. Beyond the Curriculum Our timetabled Going Beyond programme develops interests and practical life skills beyond the academic curriculum. Pupils explore areas including first aid, water safety, enterprise, employability, money management and the history of their local area.
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Teamwork & Enrichment
Enrichment A wide range of enrichment activities are on offer at lunchtime and after school to enhance the educational experiences of our pupils. These include:
Rugby Fencing
Science
Football Creative Industries club
Karate Archery Netball
Chess club
Orchestra
Equality and Heritage
Photography club
A Capella group
club Drama club Politics club
See thekingstonacademy.org for the latest information on our school
History club
Young Enterprise School council
Choir Art club
Creative writing club
Lawyer’s Club
Graphic Design
Going Beyond & Outdoor Education
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Enrichment built into every pupil’s timetable At The Kingston Academy, enrichment is not an optional extra. Our distinctive Going Beyond programme is built into the school timetable, ensuring that every pupil benefits from experiences that extend well beyond the standard secondary curriculum. From the beginning of Year 7, pupils take part in a carefully planned programme designed to broaden horizons, build confidence and develop the knowledge, skills and cultural capital that will serve them throughout their lives. The programme is deliberately wide-ranging. Pupils may develop discipline and resilience through karate, explore complex ideas through debate and “moral mazes”, learn first aid and water safety, gain an understanding of money, enterprise and employability, or take to the Thames in dragon boats and paddle boards. We offer the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at Bronze, Silver and Gold level and participation rates are high. Expeditions take pupils into the beautiful English countryside, where they learn practical skills, navigate challenging terrain and work together as a team.
Our pupils have the opportunity to hear from experts drawn from a wide range of fields to enhance their learning. Some examples include a school visit by Leyla Hussain, social activist and campaigner against FGM, pupils meeting with Sir David Attenborough at The Royal Geographical Society, school assemblies run by a prominent oncologist, a qualified engineer, a veterinary scientist, a construction project manager, firemen and police officers, amongst many others.
09 ‘Leaders have very high expectations of pupils. They provide an ambitious curriculum that meets the needs of pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). As a result, pupils perform extremely well across subject areas, including in the sixth form.’ OFSTED REPORT, MAY 2024
Care, Guidance and Support
Working with Parents
The 210 pupils who enter Year 7 are placed into one of 8 tutor groups. They form the building blocks of the pastoral system and are led by a staff member trained in pastoral tutoring, whilst being overseen by a Head of House. The tutor groups also provide pupils with a source of identity and a vehicle for competition and celebration, as well as their house allocation. The role of the tutor is central to achieving our goals regarding the pastoral care of our pupils – each tutor oversees their tutee’s progress and is responsible for managing their conduct.
Parental involvement is crucial to the success of the child and to developing our school within the local community. We hold regular drop-in sessions for parents which provide a forum for parents to discuss developments at the school with members of our senior leadership team.
In each year group, pupils are taught in classes which are made up of those from different tutor groups. Any pupil joining us as an in-year applicant is assigned a buddy to help them to settle in quickly with their peers.
The school’s focus is to build positive supportive relationships with all pupils, ensuring that every pupil feels known and valued. There are strong channels for feedback and dialogue, underlining the culture of respect and accountability.
A new parents’ welcome evening is held in July prior to entry in September. A priority at this meeting is to advise parents about communications systems and expectations of the school. A curriculum evening for parents is held early in the autumn term which focuses on how the curriculum will be delivered, assessment methods used and how parents can support their child’s progress at home. We encourage parents to become involved in all aspects of school-life including as part of consultative work and fundraising. Our Parents’ Association has previously supported the school by raising additional funds for the school, enabling the provision of two minibuses and supporting the purchase of our kiln amongst other recent projects. This year parents were the driving force behind the success of our TKA Big 10 Celebratory event in the summer, marking 10 years since the school first opened its doors.
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Working in partnership to enhance learning across the borough The Kingston Academy is a unique school, established as a result of a partnership between Kingston University, Kingston College and Royal Borough of Kingston. KET’s three partners have substantial and successful experience of strategic leadership and day-to-day management of educational institutions. In January 2022 KET converted to a multi-academy trust and welcomed Fern Hill Primary School, located next door to The Kingston Academy, into the Trust. Our access to the expertise, resources and facilities of our partners gives us unrivalled opportunities to enrich the learning experience of our pupils. Since its inception, the school has staged numerous events with our partners such as a Celebration Evening in The Rose Theatre, pupil art exhibitions in the Creative Industries Centre and The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lord of the Flies and That Night Follows Day in the Arthur Cotterell Theatre. Kingston University and Kingston College students often work with our pupils on exciting collaborations such as constructing and launching water rockets, running the extracurricular science club or assisting with our Going Beyond Programme. The school House Cup was designed through a project involving 44 students from Kingston University’s Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (FADA).
By working closely with our founding partners and through links and interactions with many other educational institutions, we play a key role in enhancing learning across the borough.
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Our Sixth Form Now in its seventh year, TKA’s Sixth Form achieves excellent A Level results, with the vast majority of students securing a place at their first-choice university. Our experienced teaching staff encourage Sixth Formers to think critically about the world around them, opening up learning that extends well beyond A Level course content. Our provision is centred on rigorous A Level qualifications, alongside the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Students engage with challenging academic content, developing a thorough understanding of their chosen subjects while deepening their thinking through exposure to critical theory and analysis. The greater demands of A Level study also require strong independent learning skills, which are actively nurtured through TKA’s Sixth Form culture. Through our ‘Learning to Lead’ Sixth Form reward scheme, students are encouraged to seek out opportunities to develop their leadership skills and to ‘give back’ through a range of school-based projects. At the heart of TKA’s Sixth Form is the belief that students should leave not only with excellent qualifications, but also with the skills and attributes to contribute positively to the world around them. Students’ aspirations and ambitions are supported through a tailored careers programme that includes university visits, bespoke careers guidance and one-toone mentoring for Oxbridge candidates.
Sixth Formers at TKA will enjoy more freedom and independence than previously experienced in school, but continue to work within the structured and supportive environment of the wider academy. We build on the strong relationships already established with our existing students, while warmly welcoming new students into the TKA community.
Pupils take part in an extensive programme of competitive sport, representing TKA across the borough, London and beyond
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Sport at TKA The Kingston Academy is committed to engaging all pupils in sport and developing an appreciation of the physical and mental rewards of sporting activity. We have been awarded the School Games Mark Gold Medal. This was awarded in recognition of our extensive competitive sports offering, both within TKA and with other schools, and of the leadership opportunities students are given with PE & Sport.
Our partnership with the YMCA Hawker Centre, together with our extensive on-site facilities, enables us to offer sport across all age groups, both within the curriculum and through enrichment.
Our new building provides us with the opportunity to offer a wide range of additional sports in a state-of-the-art indoor sports hall and fitness centre, from basketball to badminton, indoor hockey to netball, trampolining and gymnastics to yoga. The new facility also gives us a number of floodlit outdoor hard courts.
Enrichment Sporting enrichment clubs run before and after school 5 days a week and are hugely popular. The enrichment programme offers all pupils the opportunity to develop their skills and fitness to a higher level and is not exclusive to members of the school sports teams. Fixtures We run an extensive programme of fixtures, providing pupils with a motivating and focused sense of team and the challenge of competitive sport. Our teams play against local schools in the Surrey Schools Cup, London Schools Cup and the National Cup for boys’ and girls’ football and in the Borough leagues for all competitive sports. TKA pupils represent the school in Surrey Schools sports and the London Youth Games.
Sports Day TKA’s annual Sports Day is a significant highlight of the school’s sporting calendar, held annually in the summer at the Kingsmeadow Athletics Centre and attended by the whole school.
Sports Presentation Evening Sporting achievement is celebrated throughout the school year but particularly at the dedicated Sports Presentation Evening when individual and team sporting triumphs are recognised and rewarded.
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Admissions The Kingston Academy Year 7 and In Year Admissions Arrangements for entry from September 2027 Approved by the Board of Kingston Educational Trust on 15 December 2025
The Kingston Academy is a co-educational, non-selective, non-faith secondary free school for the local community and its families. The school provides places for young people aged 11 to 18 and has a fully inclusive ethos, which welcomes all who wish to come to the school, and requires everyone to be valued for who they are and what they offer.
1. Admissions Authority Kingston Educational Trust is the admissions authority for The Kingston Academy. 2. Entry into Year 7 in September 2027 and subsequent years of entry The Kingston Academy is part of the Pan London Coordinated Admissions Scheme. For applications in the normal admissions round you must name the school on the application form provided by your home local authority. Full details of the secondary school application process are available in your local authority admissions booklet. Kingston School Admissions provides full information about the school admissions application process on its website https://kr.afcinfo.org.uk. Inaccurate or false information on the form could result in the place being withdrawn.
See thekingstonacademy.org for the latest information on our school
3. Number of places The Kingston Academy has a published admission number (PAN) of 210 places in each year of entry into Year 7. 4. Children with an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) or Statement of Special Educational Need (SEN) Any child with an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) or Statement of Special Educational Need (SEN) which names The Kingston Academy will be admitted to the school before all other applicants are considered. 5. Allocation of remaining places The school will then offer the remaining places, admitting up to 210 pupils in total for entry into Year 7 each year. If the school is not oversubscribed, all applicants will be offered a place. In the event that the school receives more applications than the number of places it has available, places will be offered in the order of priority set out below. 6. Oversubscription Criteria for entry into Year 7 in September 2027 and subsequent years of entry: a. Highest priority will be given to looked after children and previously looked after children, defined as respectively: • children who are in the care of a local authority, or being provided with accommodation by a local authority in the exercise of their social services functions in accordance with Section 22 of the Children Act 1989, at the time an application is made; • previously looked after children are children who immediately after being looked after became subject to an adoption, child arrangements, or special guardianship order including those who appear to the Trust to have been in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care as a result of being adopted. Applications made under this criterion must be accompanied by details of circumstance and professionally supported evidence (e.g. from a social worker). b. Priority will next be given to children who have a sibling, including an adopted, foster, half- or step-sibling, living at the same home address and attending The Kingston Academy (including the Sixth Form) at the time of application; c. Priority will next be given to children for whom there are exceptional family, social or medical needs which only The Kingston Academy can meet. The full circumstances must be described, including the reasons why these needs cannot be met at any other school and verified by professionally supported evidence such as a letter from a GP, hospital consultant or other medical professional, educational psychologist or social worker. Note: special educational needs are not considered under this criterion because these can be supported at any school;
d. Priority will next be given to applicants who are
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the children of staff and live at the same home address (including adopted, foster, half- or step-children) who have been directly employed at the school for at least 2 years at the time of the application; or have been recruited to fill a vacant post at the school for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage. This priority applies to both teaching and support staff based at that school; e. The remaining places will be offered to children who live nearest to The Kingston Academy, as measured by a straight line from the home address to the main Richmond Road school entrance. All distances will be measured using Kingston School Admissions computerised Geographical Information System. The address given in your application must be your child’s permanent home address. Its authenticity will be checked and evidence may be requested to verify it. Where parents live separately, the application must be based on the address where the child lives most of the time. Where the child lives with both parents at different addresses, evidence of your care arrangements will be required. All available evidence that you provide to support your application will be considered to decide which address will be used to process your application. 7. Use of a tie breaker and final tie-breaker The distance from home to school, criteria 6e, will be used as a ‘tie-breaker’ if there are more applications than places available under any higher criteria. For applicants who live the same distance from the school, random selection by the drawing of lots is used as a final tiebreaker. This process will be independently verified. 8. Multiple Births Where a child from a multiple birth is allocated a place at the school under this policy, then any further child of the same multiple birth who has also applied and lives at the same home address, will also be allocated a place in order to allocate all siblings of the same multiple birth to the school and even though this may raise the number in the year group above the PAN. This provision applies where a child from a multiple birth is allocated a place under any criterion, including children with an EHCP and children allocated a place in the Special Resourced Provision hosted by the school.
A copy of the full admissions arrangements can be found on the school website: www.thekingstonacademy.org/about-us/admissions
Head Teacher - Mrs Sophie Cavanagh Associate Head Teacher - Mr Tom Brook The Kingston Academy Richmond Road Kingston upon Thames Surrey KT2 5PE T: 0208 465 6200 email: enquiries@thekingstonacademy.org www.thekingstonacademy.org @TheKingstonAca