The Next Chapter 2026
A CULTURE OF JOYFUL EXCELLENCE Belong • Flourish • Contribute
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Thomas’s Kensington is a school full of warmth, energy and possibility, and we are ambitious about all that it can become.”
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A message from the Head This year has marked a significant milestone for Thomas’s Kensington. Moving into our new home on 1 St Albans Grove, and bringing our whole school together under one roof, has been a historic moment, and one that will shape the next chapter of our school for many years to come. Over the course of the year, I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the children, staff, and families who make our school such a warm and vibrant community. Alongside my senior team, I have spent time listening, reflecting, and reviewing every aspect of school life: acknowledging the many strengths already present, while also identifying the opportunities that lie ahead. A strategic vision is an important part of that process. It sets out my aspirations for Thomas’s Kensington, as well as the kind of school community I believe we can continue to build together over the coming years. At the heart of this vision is a simple but ambitious commitment: that every child will belong, flourish, and contribute.
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We want Thomas’s Kensington to be a school where children belong and feel known, valued, and understood; where they flourish through excellent teaching, rich opportunity, and a genuine love of learning; and where they grow into kind, thoughtful young people who understand the importance of contributing positively to the world around them. Academic excellence remains central to our ambition, and we believe the strongest education is one that develops the whole child. Alongside scholarship and intellectual curiosity, we want children to develop character, creativity, resilience, confidence and compassion. We want our pupils to experience the joy of childhood while also being exceptionally well prepared for the next stage of their education and life beyond school. Our values and strategic pillars will underpin every aspect of school life. They will shape what we teach, how we learn together, how we treat one another and
the community we seek to build. We are committed to creating a culture of joyful excellence: one that combines kindness with high expectations, joy with ambition and opportunity with responsibility. The years ahead will bring further development and innovation as we strengthen the culture, quality and identity of our school. An outstanding school is built on strong relationships, inspirational teaching and the opportunity to experience everyday wonders. As we look to the future with optimism we will remain firmly committed to these principles. Finally, I want to thank our pupils, parents and staff for the warmth, support and commitment shown to me throughout my first year. Thomas’s Kensington is a school with enormous potential, and I am looking forward to working together in the years ahead, building on the foundations already laid. The next chapter begins here.
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Our values
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KINDNESS
COURTESY
COMPA SSION
Kindness centres all that we do: simply, we are kind to ourselves and we are kind to others. We are a supportive community of good friends who actively look out for one another and ensure everyone feels encouraged.
Courtesy is at the heart of how we treat others and how we act in school: we build a happier world by being unfailingly polite, considerate and mindful of the impact of our behaviour on others.
Compassion connects us all: it demands that we see the world through each other’s eyes, appreciate different perspectives, and treat everyone with care and consideration.
SCHOL ARSHIP
PERSE VER ANCE
Scholarship sparks our curiosity: we learn to think independently, focus, and approach every new challenge with creative and critical thought and a sense of wonder.
Perseverance turns challenges into triumphs: we cheerfully embrace hard work and patience, knowing that our minds grow stronger with effort and that setbacks are simply chances to learn.
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Our refreshed Thomas’s wide values express the qualities we want every child to develop: to be kind, to give their best and to make a difference.”
INTEGRIT Y
RESPEC T
Integrity guides our choices: it is the moral purpose that leads us to be completely honest, mean what we say, and do the right thing even when no one is watching.
Respect unites our school: we value ourselves, each other, and our environment, while proudly championing and celebrating the unique differences that make us who we are.
CONFIDENCE
LE ADERSHIP
GIVERS, NOT TAKERS
Confidence is our quiet strength: an inner superpower, we believe in ourselves and celebrate who we are without boasting, giving us the bravery to face challenges and know that our voices truly matter.
Leadership unites courage and empathy: we lead by including everyone, taking responsibility for our actions, and use a voice that speaks up for what is right and fair for everyone.
Kindness is where we begin, and helping others is what we do: we show a true spirit of generosity by using our unique abilities, time and privileges to leave the world around us a kinder and better place.
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Why now? The world is changing, and childhood is changing too. Children today are growing up in an increasingly connected and complex world. While technology and global connectivity bring enormous opportunity, they also create new pressures. Young people must learn to navigate the modern world with confidence, judgement, resilience and integrity. At the same time, the fundamental purpose of education remains unchanged. Children still need to feel safe, known and valued. They still need excellent teaching, strong relationships and high expectations. They still need opportunities to play, create, perform, debate, collaborate and think. Equally, they need adults who model kindness, wisdom and good character, and a community which enables them to grow into thoughtful young people, who contribute positively to their world. At Thomas’s Kensington, we believe a strong school is one that combines enduring educational principles with the ability to respond thoughtfully to the changing world. For this reason, our vision is rooted in the human foundations of education: discussion, reading, writing, problem-solving, creativity and meaningful relationships. We want children to experience the joy of childhood while also developing the habits and dispositions that underpin long-term success: curiosity, perseverance, responsibility, adaptability, self-discipline and a love of learning. This vision also reflects our ambition for the school itself. As an established school community within a new campus, Thomas’s Kensington is at a pivotal stage in its development. We have a unique opportunity to preserve everything that makes the school special while strengthening the quality of education we provide and shaping our culture, character and identity for years to come.
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Our new home gives us a rare opportunity: to preserve everything that makes Thomas’s Kensington special while creating new possibilities for the future.”
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Our vision
BELONG Be Kind
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ce E
F G LO iv e y UR ou I S H rb est
Mak
BU n R I re N T f fe C O e a di
A Culture of Joyful Excellence
At Thomas’s Kensington, we are proud to be part of the Thomas’s family of schools, sharing a vision that every pupil flourishes as a compassionate contributor to society and a courageous shaper of the future. Our vision for Kensington builds on this shared ambition: to create a culture of joyful excellence where every child belongs, flourishes and contributes - developing into a kind, confident and capable individual who loves learning, gives their best and makes a positive difference.
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PILL AR 1: BELONG – Be Kind At Thomas’s Kensington, belonging is the foundation of a great education: a culture in which children, families and staff feel connected and valued. At its heart is a simple expectation: to be kind - to oneself, to others and to the community we share.
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The joy of childhood We will champion the joy of childhood, creating a school experience defined by warmth, wonder, friendship and security. Children learn best when they feel happy, safe and inspired, and we will protect these conditions at every stage of school life.
Inclusive practice We will strengthen our inclusive approach, ensuring that adaptive, high-quality teaching enables every pupil to thrive. Inclusive practice will be embedded in everyday classroom life, so that every child is known, valued and supported to succeed.
Clear expectations and strong relationships Our approach to behaviour will be relational, restorative and consistent. Through our shared commitment to being Ready, Respectful and Safe, expectations will be clearly understood and upheld across all areas of school life.
Pupil voice and active citizenship Pupil voice and responsibility will be woven into the fabric of school life. We will foster a culture of kindness, respect and responsibility, developing pupils as upstanders, not bystanders, and helping them to understand, value and learn from people whose experiences and perspectives may differ from their own.
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A thriving staff culture Our staff are one of the school’s greatest strengths. We will cultivate a culture in which they are trusted, supported and continually developed; where professional growth and personal wellbeing go hand in hand; and where contribution, initiative and continual improvement are both expected and celebrated.
A connected community Thomas’s Kensington will be a connected and outwardfacing community, built on strong partnerships with families, alumni and the wider London community, recognising that children succeed when home and school work closely together.
Through clear leadership pathways and a strong coaching culture, we will nurture confident, capable leaders at every level and ensure that Thomas’s Kensington is a place where talented people choose to stay, contribute and thrive.
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PILL AR 2: FLOURISH – Give Your Best To flourish at Thomas’s Kensington is to grow as both a learner and a person. Every child will develop a deep and enduring love of learning, nurtured from the earliest years. We will cultivate a culture of joyful excellence, where intellectual curiosity, scholarship and high expectations are central to each pupil’s experience.
Exceptional teaching Excellent teaching will be a defining feature of the school. Grounded in evidence-informed practice, lessons will be characterised by challenge, clarity and purposeful learning, enabling every child to achieve highly and leave exceptionally well prepared for the next stage of their education. An ambitious and carefully sequenced curriculum Our curriculum will be ambitious, inspiring and carefully sequenced from Reception to Year 6, ensuring that knowledge and skills are secure, connected and meaningful. Pupils will encounter rich content, develop deep understanding and make purposeful connections across their learning. A love of reading and language Reading will sit at the heart of the school. Through rich engagement with high-quality texts, pupils will develop both a love of reading and the fluency, vocabulary and understanding that underpin all learning. Alongside this, they will learn to write with precision and discuss ideas with confidence, enabling them to think critically, articulate their ideas clearly and engage deeply with their learning.
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Thinking deeply & creatively We will foster scientific thinking, mathematical reasoning and creative expression as essential elements of an excellent education. Pupils will learn to question, investigate, reason and solve problems, developing a secure understanding of the world around them. The arts will play a central role in school life, enabling every child to create, perform and express themselves with imagination, skill and confidence. Through these experiences, pupils will develop the adaptability, creativity and character needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Breadth of opportunity A Thomas’s Kensington education will be rich in opportunity. A broad and ambitious co-curricular programme will enable pupils to foster their passions and discover new interests, growing in confidence across sport, the arts and intellectual pursuits. We will make full use of our London setting, extending learning beyond the classroom through meaningful and memorable experiences. Learning for the future Technology will be used selectively and purposefully, and only where it demonstrably enhances learning. At all times, we will prioritise the human foundations of education: direct teaching, discussion, reading, writing and problem-solving.
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Children flourish when they are inspired to love learning, encouraged to think deeply and supported to achieve highly.”
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We want children to understand that they have something valuable to offer - and that, through their choices, words and actions, they can make a positive difference.”
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PILL AR 3: CONTRIBUTE – Make a Difference Contribution is the outward expression of a Thomas’s Kensington education: using one’s talents with purpose as a compassionate contributor to society. Every pupil will understand that their talents carry a responsibility to be used well — in the service of others and for the good of the wider community.
Making good choices We will build a school where every child develops a strong sense of responsibility, service and moral purpose. Contribution will be woven into everyday school life: through kindness, leadership, participation, collaboration and care for others. Pupils will learn that making a positive difference is not defined by position or status, but by the choices they make, the values they uphold and the way they treat those around them. Joining in and playing your part A rich co-curricular programme will enable pupils to collaborate, perform and participate fully in the life of the school. Participation will be expected and celebrated, with pupils learning the value of teamwork, perseverance and shared endeavour. The House system will foster belonging, friendly competition and opportunities for pupils to contribute to the wider community. Making a positive difference Service will be a visible and meaningful part of school life. Pupils will engage in charitable work, community partnerships and environmental responsibility, developing social awareness and a strong sense of purpose. They will come to see themselves not only as members of the school community, but as active participants in the wider world, committed to making a positive difference.
Confident communicators We will develop confident, articulate communicators through a strong emphasis on oracy, debate and performance, enabling pupils to express their ideas clearly, listen thoughtfully and engage constructively with others. Values in action Alongside this, we will ensure that Thomas’s values are explicitly taught, modelled and upheld across all aspects of school life. Our values will not sit separately from the life of the school; they will be lived through the choices, relationships, routines and expectations that shape each day. A community of givers Contribution will extend beyond the pupils themselves. Staff, parents, alumni and the wider community will play an active role in shaping the life of the school and enriching the opportunities available to children. We want Thomas’s Kensington to be a community in which people contribute generously, participate fully and work together in the service of something larger than themselves. Ultimately, we want every pupil to leave Thomas’s Kensington as a giver, not a taker: confident in their abilities, generous in spirit and committed to using their talents well.
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Strategic priorities Over the coming years, our strategic priorities will focus on five key areas:
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Culture and belonging Creating the conditions for every child to belong
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Establishing a calm, relational and consistent culture in which children feel safe, known and valued, and where kindness and high expectations shape all aspects of school life.
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Exceptional teaching and learning Enabling every child to flourish academically and personally Embedding a consistent approach to excellent teaching, ambitious curriculum design and evidence-informed practice so that every child flourishes academically and personally, achieves highly and discovers a genuine love of learning.
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Scholarship, ambition and opportunity Broadening horizons and nurturing excellence Cultivating a visible culture of scholarship, ambition and participation through rich academic, creative, sporting and co-curricular opportunities that spark curiosity, nurture talent and inspire excellence.
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Character and service Helping children to make a positive difference Developing pupils who contribute positively to others through service, leadership, responsibility and meaningful participation within the school and wider community.
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Professional excellence and partnerships Building a strong professional culture and connected community Building a high-trust, high-performance culture for staff, while strengthening partnerships with parents, alumni and the wider community, so that our whole community can flourish.
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Our priorities are deliberately ambitious. They set out how we will bring our vision to life and create an exceptional experience for every child.” THE NE X T CHA P TER
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We look to the future with confidence and excitement, determined to give every child the opportunity to belong, flourish and contribute.”
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Looking ahead This is an exciting moment in the development of Thomas’s Kensington. As an established school community within a new home, we have a unique opportunity to strengthen the quality of education we provide and to shape the culture, character and identity of the school for many years to come. In the years ahead, we will continue to strengthen teaching and learning and expand the breadth of opportunity available to every child. Alongside this, we will continue to nurture a warm, inclusive and outward-facing community rooted in kindness, integrity and service. Ultimately, we want Thomas’s Kensington to be known for what our pupils achieve and for the kind of people they will become: curious, capable, compassionate individuals who give their best and seek to make a positive difference. The next chapter of Thomas’s Kensington is an exciting one. We feel privileged to be able to look back with pride and look forward with optimism.
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Above all, we want every child to experience the joy that comes from learning, doing things well and giving their best. In doing so, they discover what they are capable of, grow in confidence and come to know that they can make a difference.”
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THOMAS’S KENSINGTON 1 St Albans Grove, London, W8 5PN 020 7361 6500 | kensington@thomas-s.co.uk | thomas-skensington.co.uk thomass.kensington 23
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