| Kingston Grammar School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Kingston upon Thames, Greater London |
|
| Information | |
| School type | Independent |
| Founded | 1561 |
| Headteacher | Sarah Fletcher MA (Oxon) |
| Website | http://www.kgs.org.uk/ |
Kingston Grammar School is an independent co-educational school in Kingston upon Thames, Greater London. The school was founded by Royal Charter in 1561 but can trace its roots back to at least the 13th century. It is a registered charity under English law.[1]
In 2009 the GCSE results recorded 82.3% of all grades being A or A*. The Good Schools Guide described the school as "An academic school with a modern edge".[2]
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The school's history is traceable into the Middle Ages, where there are references to schoolmasters like Gilbert de Southwell in 1272, described as "Rector of the Schools in Kingston", and to Hugh de Kyngeston in 1364 "who presides over the Public School there". Notable in the school's history are the founding and endowing of the Lovekyn Chapel by John and then Edward Lovekyn in 1309-1352 and later by William Walworth in 1371. The chapel is still used by the school.
After the dissolution of the chantries in 1547, the chapel fell to the Crown and was deconsecrated. It, and by now its substantial related endowments, fell to a court favourite, Richard Taverner. He preserved the chapel so when in 1561 the bailiffs of Kingston petitioned Queen Elizabeth I for a royal grammar school, the building was still usable. Elizabeth granted the school a Royal Charter in 1561.
The school became a direct grant grammar school in 1946[3] as a result of the Education Act 1944 and chose to become independent when direct grants were abolished by the 1974–9 Labour Government.[4] It is now a co-educational day school for students between the ages of ten and nineteen and is represented on the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school has remained true to its Grammar School heritage by offering a high proportion of academic and sporting scholarships as well fee assisted places.
It celebrated the four hundredth anniversary of its charter in 1961 with a visit from Queen Elizabeth II. In 2005 Her Majesty opened the new Queen Elizabeth the Second building (a.k.a. the QEII Building), where she unveiled a plaque, met with students of Music and Geography and watched an excerpt of the play "Smike" after which the new Recording Studio was named.
The school has named its four houses after Queen Elizabeth (Queens house), William Walworth (Walworth house), Richard Taverner (Taverner house) and Edward Lovekyn (Lovekyn house). It also celebrates the school's founders once a year with a day of Commemoration in March. In 2011 the school celebrated its 450th anniversary with a number of high profile events, including music concerts, sports events and the hosting of BBC Radio 4’s ‘Any Questions?’.
The school is on London Road, and there are three main buildings:
The school's sports ground, with several acres of playing fields and a boathouse on the Thames, is at Thames Ditton, opposite Hampton Court Palace.