Established in 1884 by Rose Kingsley, daughter of the Victorian author Charles Kingsley, this independent all-through school occupies a cluster of beautifully maintained Cotswold stone Victorian buildings in the heart of Royal Leamington Spa. Originally founded as Leamington High School with the conviction that boys and girls should have equal access to quality education, the school has preserved its commitment to individual attention while embracing substantial investment in modern facilities. In 2024, the school underwent over £1 million in refurbishment, including a complete transformation of its Learning Resource Centre, gym, and garden spaces. The school is transitioning to full co-education in September 2025, adding boys to the senior school for the first time in its 141-year history. With 295 students across three campuses, this remains genuinely intimate, particularly in the sixth form where class sizes average 8-12 students per group.
At the Victorian gates, you encounter a school caught in a productive tension between heritage and innovation. The thick wooden banisters and original servant bells speak to the building's 19th-century origins, yet the recently renovated Learning Resource Centre and state-of-the-art gym signal an institution unafraid of transformation. Dr Sarah Howling, appointed as Headteacher in January 2024, has brought fresh momentum to the school while respecting its foundations.
The Independent Schools Inspectorate awarded the school Excellent ratings in all areas during its February 2023 inspection, specifically praising the nurturing environment, exceptional teaching quality, and robust pastoral care systems. Inspectors noted that students make outstanding progress relative to their starting points and thrive in an atmosphere where individual wellbeing receives genuine priority. The Prep School, meanwhile, was recognized as Outstanding for its support of both academic achievement and social development in the early years.
The school operates under a distinctive framework called "The Kingsley Way," built around four strategic educational pillars: Academic Education, Positive Education grounded in psychology research, Discovery Education promoting independence and practical learning, and what the school describes as its commitment to genuine human connections. This means students describe the school with language more often heard in smaller communities, they mention knowing staff by name, feeling heard, and experiencing genuine rather than procedural care. House systems named after the school's first headmistresses create cross-year connections, and a timetabled enrichment hour ensures every student has protected time for interests beyond traditional subjects.
The school's co-educational transition beginning in September 2025 represents a genuine watershed moment. Boys have joined the Prep School for decades, but their integration into the senior school and sixth form is genuinely novel. Leadership has been thoughtful about this change, seeing it as an opportunity to strengthen the school's relevance and offerings rather than compromise its established character. The Foundation Principal and support from the Warwick Schools Foundation network appear to have provided strategic guidance here.
The most recent published results show strong performance across the board. In 2024, 35% of GCSE grades achieved the top two levels (9-7), significantly above the England average. By 2025, this had risen to 47% achieving grades 9-7, nearly double the England average, with 100% of pupils achieving a pass (grade 4 or above) across all subjects. The school ranks 2,518th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool data), placing it in the national typical performance band, in line with the middle 35% of schools in England.
The curriculum itself reflects intellectual ambition. Students study core subjects, English, Mathematics, the three separate sciences, alongside a range of options including Spanish, Latin, Classical Civilisation, creative media, drama, food and textiles design. Smaller class sizes in particular subjects create genuine differentiation. Some GCSE classes operate with as few as 5-10 students depending on the subject, allowing teachers to tailor pace and challenge to individual pupils. The school credits this small-group approach with contributing to strong outcomes, particularly in subjects where curriculum breadth is valued alongside depth.
In the sixth form, results exceed GCSE performance in percentage terms. The most recent data shows 53% of A-level grades awarded A*-B, with the school ranking 770th in England for A-level performance (FindMySchool data), again placing it in the middle tier of schools. With typically only 40-50 sixth form students per year, the school offers an unusual breadth of choice, 30-plus A-level subjects. This genuinely personalised offering allows students to follow intellectual curiosity rather than fit into predetermined cohorts.
University progression is strong. In 2024, the school reports that 78% of sixth form leavers progressed to university, with 13% entering employment. This reflects the school's explicit focus on preparing students for their next stage, whatever that may be. The school's Career Support programme begins early, with dedicated guidance from Year 9 onward.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
54.17%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
—
% of students achieving grades 9-7
Teaching follows what the school describes as an enriched version of the National Curriculum, broad, challenging, and creative rather than narrowly examination-focused. In the Prep School, the 4D curriculum links humanities subjects to broader thematic understanding through half-termly explorations, encouraging integrated rather than siloed learning. The school's 2023 ISI inspection commended the quality of teaching specifically, noting expert subject knowledge and pedagogical skill across the board.
Faculty in the Prep School receive specialist training in swimming, languages (French and Spanish from Year 1), physical education, drama, and music. By the senior school, students encounter Latin from Year 8, Classical Civilisation as an option, and creative subjects treated with genuine curricular seriousness rather than as add-ons. The emphasis on small classes, average 20 in the senior school, much smaller in the sixth form, means teachers genuinely know students as individuals and can adjust instruction accordingly.
An unusual structural choice places the whole school on a unified timetable: five one-hour lessons daily plus a timetabled enrichment hour for every student. This enrichment slot, available to all, democratizes access to non-curricular activities and reflects the school's philosophy that development extends beyond traditional subjects.
The school publishes a genuinely varied set of university destinations reflecting the diversity of its cohort. In 2024, 78% of sixth form leavers progressed to higher education. Leavers attend a broad range of institutions including Russell Group universities and specialist colleges. Common destinations include universities across England and Scotland, with particular strength in admission to selective institutions for competitive subjects including mathematics, sciences, and languages. The headteacher's welcome notes that students gain places at "prestigious universities," and independent verification through the ISI inspection suggests this confidence is warranted.
The sixth form operates with open entry to external candidates, though the school maintains selective admissions criteria. Year 11 students may progress with GCSE grades of 4 (pass level) across most subjects, though individual A-level subjects may have higher entry requirements, a reasonable balance between accessibility and ensuring student readiness. With small cohorts, the sixth form offers a genuinely different educational experience from the senior school: more independent study, closer student-staff relationships, and access to university-style seminars.
Music permeates the school in ways that go beyond typical provision. The school houses a dedicated Music Suite with practice rooms and performance spaces. All pupils in the Prep School receive music tuition, and the school reports that over half of all pupils across the school learn at least one instrument. The Performing Arts Department offers music from age 3 through to A-level, with instrumental exams and LAMDA drama exams available. The school maintains multiple performing ensembles including orchestras, choirs, and smaller instrumental groups, with major productions staged annually alongside chamber concerts and larger-scale performances. Students describe music as integral to school life, not a marginal enrichment.
Drama operates with similar integration into school culture. A dedicated drama studio and access to the Bridge House Theatre at the partner Warwick School campus enable ambitious production values. The school stages major theatrical productions annually, and drama is offered at GCSE, A-level, and through Speech and Drama lessons (LAMDA exams available). The majority of pupils are involved in some aspect of performing arts, suggesting a genuinely inclusive ethos rather than talent-skimming approach.
The school owns a 17-acre sports field on the outskirts of town, a significant asset given the town-centre location of the main buildings. Approximately 20 sports are offered, including hockey, squash, swimming, karate, canoeing, Zumba, and equestrian activities. County and regional representation exists across athletics, hockey, netball, and tennis. The riding team has achieved national success, winning schools jumping and cross-country championships. GCSE and A-level PE are offered, and Duke of Edinburgh Award programmes run to Gold level, encouraging resilience and self-reliance beyond traditional sports.
The school designates STEM as a major pillar. Science students benefit from fully-equipped laboratories with separate biology, chemistry, and physics facilities. Computing and ICT suites feature the latest technology. Year 8 pupils compete in the STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory School Science Prize (pupils have reached finalist status), indicating genuine engagement with practical science beyond the curriculum. The school highlights its involvement in the Warwick Schools Foundation network, which enables access to specialized facilities and expert mentorship, particularly valuable for aspiring engineers or scientists.
The school maintains over 30 co-curricular clubs. Named offerings include orchestras, choirs, dramatic societies, dance clubs, riding club, debating society, Amnesty International student group, Young Enterprise, public speaking club, and subject-specific societies. The breadth suggests genuine student agency in shaping provision rather than a fixed menu imposed from above. Friday afternoon activities are timetabled enrichment, making participation accessible to all rather than voluntary only.
The Prep School benefits from a dedicated Forest School programme utilizing the 17-acre field, encouraging hands-on exploration and nature-based learning. This grounds early education in practical, sensory experience, child-led investigation rather than adult-directed instruction. The space also hosts regular outdoor sporting fixtures and recreational activities.
In 2024, the school invested over £1 million in facility improvements. The Learning Resource Centre (LRC) has been completely transformed into a state-of-the-art research and collaborative learning hub, moving beyond traditional library function. The Senior School Gym and adjacent garden underwent significant upgrades, providing students with modern physical education facilities and outdoor spaces for relaxation and informal learning. Science labs are fully equipped with modern apparatus, and the photography studio and music suite represent genuinely specialist spaces rather than multipurpose rooms. As part of the Warwick Schools Foundation, students gain access to additional facilities including the Bridge House Theatre and Warwick Hall, professional-standard venues for dramatic and musical performances.
Fees for 2025-26 are structured by phase. In the Prep School, fees range from £5,407 per term (Reception to Year 2) to £6,347 per term (Year 3 to Year 6). In the Senior School and Sixth Form, fees are £7,152 per term (Year 7 through Year 13). Additional costs include lunches, swimming (Prep School), textbook hire, and optional music lessons or drama tuition. The school charges extra for speech and drama lessons (individual lessons at £342 per term of 10 lessons; group lessons at £182.40 per term) and instrumental music (individual lessons at £342 per term; shared lessons at £201.60 per term).
Scholarships are available for Academic, Music, Sport, and Art achievement, typically offering 10-25% fee reduction. The school also offers means-tested bursaries, though the specific percentage of pupils receiving support is not published on the website. Parents should contact the admissions team directly for bursary information; the school's membership in the Warwick Schools Foundation may enable access to additional support mechanisms.
A non-refundable registration fee of £120 is charged upon registration, and a £500 acceptance deposit is due upon confirmation of a place (refunded less outstanding charges at the end of the pupil's final term).
Fees data coming soon.
The school operates a selective admissions policy across all entry points. Reception entry involves assessment of readiness for formal learning rather than competitive examination. Entry to Year 7 (the first point of entry into senior school) requires satisfactory performance on entrance examinations assessing core academic skills. Entry to sixth form involves GCSE results: typically Grade 4 (pass) across most subjects, though individual A-level subjects may demand higher requirements aligned to their demands.
The transition to co-education means the school is actively recruiting boys to Years 7 and 12 from September 2025 onwards, with the stated aim of achieving balanced gender numbers within several years. This represents a material change and prospective families should factor this transition into their evaluation, some may find the newly co-educational environment preferable, others may prefer to wait until integration has fully bedded in.
The school's selective policy and location in central Leamington Spa mean places are competitive, though not at the level of the most selective independent schools. Parents should visit and assess fit carefully; the school's emphasis on individual attention and personal growth means students who thrive tend to be those who appreciate relational education and intellectual curiosity rather than those seeking credential-focused education alone.
The 2023 ISI inspection specifically highlighted pastoral care as a strength, noting the school's commitment to student wellbeing and the effectiveness of support systems. House systems organize pupils across year groups, fostering mentoring relationships and wider community. The school operates a dedicated pastoral room where pupils can access their heads of year, and a therapy dog (reportedly "the most popular member of staff") is integrated into wellbeing support.
The school's Positive Education pillar brings research-based psychology to pastoral practice, focusing explicitly on building resilience, positive emotions, meaningful relationships, and mindfulness. This is not simply bolt-on counselling but woven into daily school culture. For pupils with additional needs or requiring specialist support, the school has a SEND provision page and indicates support is available, though details of the scope of provision are limited.
School Day: The unified timetable operates five one-hour lessons daily, plus a timetabled enrichment hour. School hours are 8:50am start and 3:20pm finish for senior pupils (check with the school for Prep School timings). Wraparound Care: The Prep School offers wraparound care services including before and after-school care. Contact the school directly for enquiries. Little Aviators (Pre-School) additionally offers Stay and Play sessions during half-term breaks. Transport: Leamington Spa offers reasonable public transport access and is located 15-20 minutes from Warwick and Leamington stations by car. The school's central location within Leamington high street facilitates walking for local families. Campus Layout: The school occupies three separate Victorian buildings near the top of the high street (Prep School, Senior School, Sixth Form), with the 17-acre sports field located on the outskirts. Students move between campuses throughout the day, creating a distributed rather than consolidated campus experience.
Transition to co-education (September 2025): The school is genuinely changing in terms of gender composition. Current prospective families must weigh whether they prefer the established all-girls senior school environment or prefer to enroll in a newly co-educational setting. The transition offers potential benefits, broader social experience, different pedagogical approaches, but also requires adjustment. Families strongly committed to single-sex education should factor this timing into their decision.
Selective admissions: The school selects at entry to Year 7 and sixth form. Approximately 2,200 candidates sit entrance examinations annually for approximately 150 Year 7 places, making acceptance genuinely competitive. Families should be realistic about their child's academic profile relative to the school's entrance requirements.
Three-campus structure: Students move between buildings throughout the day, particularly those in the senior school. This distributed model is deliberate, the school values the character of each building and the variety it creates, but it differs from consolidated campus schools. Families should visit and assess whether the campus structure suits their child.
Central town location: The school's position within Leamington high street creates limited parking and a more urban, less secluded environment than some independent schools. This may appeal to families valuing integration with the town; others may prefer a more insulated campus setting.
A genuinely thoughtful independent school balancing heritage with innovation, individual attention with academic ambition. The 2023 ISI inspection rated it Excellent across all measures, and subsequent investment in facilities and pedagogy suggests those strengths continue. With 295 students, small class sizes, and explicit commitment to relational education, this works best for families seeking intellectual challenge embedded within genuine pastoral care. The transition to co-education from September 2025 represents a significant change; timing of entry matters materially to prospective families. University destinations are solid if not elite, and the school's strength lies in developing thoughtful, resilient, intellectually engaged young people rather than raw credential achievement. Best suited to families valuing individual attention, creative and performing arts, and a school community where belonging and contribution genuinely matter.
Yes. The school received an Excellent rating across all areas in its February 2023 ISI inspection, the highest possible rating. In 2025, 47% of GCSE grades achieved levels 9-7 (nearly double the England average), and 53% of A-level grades were A*-B. The school ranks 2,518th in England for GCSE outcomes and 770th for A-levels (FindMySchool data), placing it in the middle tier. Students consistently achieve university places, with 78% of sixth form leavers progressing to higher education in 2024. The school is particularly valued for its teaching quality, pastoral care, and commitment to individual student development.
Fees for 2025-26 are: Prep School (Reception-Year 2): £5,407 per term; Prep School (Year 3-6): £6,347 per term; Senior School and Sixth Form (Year 7-13): £7,152 per term. Lunches are an additional £294 per term. Music lessons are extra (individual lessons from £342 per term). A registration fee of £120 and acceptance deposit of £500 apply. The school offers scholarships for academic, music, sport, and art achievement, typically offering 10-25% fee reduction. Means-tested bursaries are available; parents should contact admissions for details.
Entry to Year 7 is selective, with approximately 2,200 candidates sitting examinations annually for around 150 places, making acceptance genuinely competitive. Entry to sixth form requires GCSE grades of 4 (pass) across most subjects, though individual A-level subjects may demand higher requirements. Reception entry assesses readiness for formal learning. The school's entrance examinations assess core academic skills in English, Mathematics, and reasoning. Families should be realistic about their child's academic profile.
The school offers approximately 20 sports including hockey, squash, swimming, karate, canoeing, Zumba, equestrian activities, and fitness. County and regional representation exists across athletics, hockey, netball, and tennis. The riding team has achieved national success. Over 30 clubs and societies operate including orchestras, choirs, drama societies, debating, Amnesty International, Young Enterprise, and public speaking. Friday afternoon enrichment activities are timetabled for all pupils. A Duke of Edinburgh Award programme runs to Gold level.
Music is integral to school culture. Over half of all pupils learn an instrument, and the school maintains multiple performing ensembles (orchestras, choirs, instrumental groups). A dedicated Music Suite provides practice and performance spaces. Music is offered at GCSE, A-level, and through individual tuition (LAMDA exams available). Drama is similarly central, with major theatrical productions staged annually using the school's drama studio and access to the professional Bridge House Theatre at partner Warwick School. Drama is offered at GCSE, A-level, and through Speech and Drama lessons.
Yes. From September 2025, the school is becoming fully co-educational through to age 18 for the first time in its history. Boys will be admitted to Years 7 and 12 initially, with the stated aim of achieving equal gender numbers over several years. Previously, boys were educated in the co-educational Prep School but moved to other schools for senior education. This represents a material change; prospective families should weigh whether they prefer the established environment or the newly integrated setting.
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