When students enter the gates on London Road, they begin a relationship with an institution that traces its identity back nearly 465 years. In 1561, Queen Elizabeth I granted a royal charter to establish the Free Grammar School of Queen Elizabeth. Today, Kingston Grammar School remains one of South West London's most regarded independent day schools, serving 914 students aged 11-18 in a co-educational community that marries deep historical roots with genuine academic ambition.
The school's standing in England's secondary landscape is strong. At GCSE, 85% of grades achieved were 9-7 in 2024, placing the school in the elite tier nationally (FindMySchool ranking: 87th in England, top 2%). At A-level, 95% of grades were A*-B, with the school ranking 45th nationally (FindMySchool data), firmly positioning it in the top 2% of sixth forms. Under Head Master Stephen Lehec, who arrived in 2014, the school has continued this trajectory while building a culture where rigorous academics coexist with genuine pastoral commitment and breadth beyond the classroom.
The atmosphere feels purposeful without being frantic. Students speak about their studies with evident engagement, their teachers with genuine regard, and their school with belonging. This is less an institution that demands excellence and more one where excellence emerges through expectation, opportunity, and an unusually strong sense of community.
The school occupies a historic heart in Kingston upon Thames, though it extends well beyond its main London Road campus. The Victorian campus itself retains architectural character, yet the additions over recent decades signal forward-thinking. The Queen Elizabeth II Building, opened when the late monarch visited in 2005, exemplifies this blend of heritage and contemporary vision.
Walking the corridors reveals a school genuinely engaged in learning. The ISI inspection in 2017 noted that pupils display "marked self-confidence" and "particularly mature personal qualities for their age." This observation still holds. Students move through the day with a sense of direction, contributing to lessons not because they fear consequences but because the culture expects intellectual participation. Teachers speak about their subjects with clarity and evident knowledge. Year 9 students in academic enrichment seminars debate Russian geopolitics; students in design technology workshops prototype robots for televised competitions; musicians rehearse in spaces named after the school's donated collections.
The school's core values — aspiration, respect, and engagement — are more than wall-mounted text. In practical terms, they translate into a house system (six houses named after historical and contemporary figures connected to Kingston's story: Lovekyn, Walworth, Queen Elizabeth, Taverner, Stanley Shoveller, and Hosking) where vertical mentoring creates informal relationships across year groups. The prefect system draws from the wider community, and leadership positions require written applications and interviews, raising the stakes for those seeking them.
Head Master Lehec has instilled what the ISI inspection called "a culture of all-round accomplishment." This manifests not as shallow versatility but as genuine permission to pursue depth in multiple directions simultaneously. A student might excel academically, represent the school in rowing at national regattas, and lead the Debate Society. This is encouraged rather than viewed as distraction.
In 2024, 85% of grades awarded were 9-7, well above the England average of approximately 54%. The school achieved 65% of grades at 9 (the highest mark), a striking figure that reflects both the starting ability of the intake and the quality of teaching. Progress 8 scores indicate students make above-average progress from their starting points, and the school's Attainment 8 score sits comfortably above the national average.
Kingston Grammar ranks 87th in England for GCSE outcomes (FindMySchool ranking), placing it in the elite tier (top 2% nationally). Locally, the school ranks 4th among secondary schools in Kingston upon Thames, a position maintained consistently over recent years.
The sixth form tells a similar story. In 2024, 95% of A-level grades were A*-B, with 35% reaching A* alone. This consistency reflects not only pupil caliber but the school's deliberate approach to sixth form entry, which requires minimum Grade 7s across a range of subjects and demonstrated strength in the subjects to be studied at A-level.
The school ranks 45th in England for A-level performance (FindMySchool ranking), within the elite tier for sixth forms. Locally, it ranks 2nd among all sixth forms in Kingston upon Thames.
While performance is broadly strong across subjects, sciences and mathematics draw particular numbers, reflecting both the school's tradition of rigorous STEM provision and the career trajectories sixth formers pursue. English Literature and Classics also attract significant cohorts and produce strong results, though the school's true strength lies in breadth: no subject appears weak, and the school offers 26 A-level options, including Russian, Classical Greek, and Psychology alongside traditional offerings.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
A-Level A*-B
94.83%
% of students achieving grades A*-B
GCSE 9–7
84.6%
% of students achieving grades 9-7
Teaching here is structured and demanding, yet students describe it as responsive to their needs. Lessons observed during inspection contained "appropriately high levels of challenge and high expectations," with teachers employing "very effective questioning techniques" that pushed pupils to articulate reasoning. This mirrors the school's stated pedagogical stance: expecting independent thought while providing scaffolding to develop it.
The curriculum at GCSE spans the traditional breadth required, though the school actively encourages linguistic range. In Year 9, all students study two languages from French, German, Italian, and Spanish. Latin is available from Year 7 as a core option, and the study of Classical Greek is possible for top sets in Year 11, often studied alongside Latin. This approach signals the school's view of language as essential to intellectual development, not peripheral enrichment.
The Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) operates at junior and senior levels, with sixth formers producing research-based submissions on topics ranging from political economics to genetic modification. This represents a deliberate investment in independent learning and critical thinking beyond the formulaic exam preparation that can dominate sixth form life.
In 2024, leavers progressed as follows: 75% to university, 2% to further education, and 9% to employment (cohort size: 138). The university destinations are notably strong. While precise Russell Group breakdowns are not published by the school, independent analysis and historical patterns suggest approximately 80% of leavers secure places at Russell Group universities. Beyond Oxbridge, students regularly secure places at Imperial College, UCL, Edinburgh, Durham, Bristol, and Warwick.
The school maintains approximately 4 Oxbridge acceptances annually across both Cambridge and Oxford. While numerically modest, the school's approach to Oxbridge preparation is unusual in avoiding formal pipeline programmes, instead encouraging those with genuine subject passion to apply supported by rigorous teaching rather than coached application technique.
School-published data shows strong progress into competitive fields. Medicine attracted 18 leavers in 2024, a remarkable figure for a school of this size. Law, engineering, and natural sciences remain popular, alongside growing cohorts entering humanities, economics, and social sciences. Gap year placement is common, with perhaps 15-20% of leavers deferring university entry.
The school's careers programme operates throughout sixth form, with invited speakers from various professions and regular university admission talks. However, the primary vehicle remains the relationships between students and form tutors, who provide personalized guidance grounded in knowing individual students' aspirations and capabilities.
Total Offers
5
Offer Success Rate: 18.5%
Cambridge
5
Offers
Oxford
0
Offers
This section merits particular attention because it reveals how the school interprets "education" beyond exam results — an interpretation that shapes daily life substantially.
The school's sporting reputation is legitimately earned. At Ditton Field, a 22-acre complex opposite Hampton Court Palace on the Thames, the school operates two astroturf hockey pitches, four cricket squares, eight tennis courts, and four football pitches. The R.C. Sherriff Boathouse, named after the famous playwright who donated rowing eights to the school, sits directly on the Thames, and students begin rowing in Year 9 onward, representing the boat club at local and national regattas, including Henley Royal Regatta.
The school has produced 26 Olympians historically, a remarkable figure for an independent day school of its size. Recent medallists include Sophie Hosking (rowing gold, 2012) and James Cracknell (multiple Olympic gold medals). These are not distant historical figures but referenced directly in school culture: Hosking House is one of the six main houses, and rowing remains a genuine pathway for serious athletes.
The main sports remain football, netball, tennis, hockey, rowing, and cricket. What distinguishes the programme is the school's insistence that sport is accessible to all, not merely elite performers. The ISI inspection specifically noted that "nearly every sport offered is available to both boys and girls, and this equality of opportunity is valued by them." Students consistently report feeling able to participate across their ability range without pressure.
Musical provision centers on the Queen Elizabeth II Building, where dedicated performance and rehearsal spaces accommodate the school's many ensembles. The ISI report praised "the strong performance of many musical groups and ensembles," and current offerings include a chapel choir (which tours internationally), symphony orchestra, jazz groups, and smaller chamber ensembles. Approximately 40% of students learn an instrument, supporting both solo and ensemble participation.
Music lessons are available with peripatetic teachers at £250 per term for individual tuition or £125 for shared lessons. School instruments are available for hire, free in the first term then £40 per term thereafter, removing financial barriers to participation. Musical performances occur regularly in formal settings and as part of house competitions, which feature prominently in school life.
The school maintains its own theatre, the Michael Frayn Theatre, and drama staff direct ambitious productions annually. The ISI inspection noted excellence in "creative, design and performance skills," with some students going on to professional stage and screen roles. House drama competitions drive broader participation, and sixth formers often undertake visiting residencies or contribute to alumni-led productions.
The school lists over 70 clubs and societies, a figure that requires context. Named offerings include Debating Society, Chess Club, Young Enterprise, Combined Cadet Force (CCF), and Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme. The STEAM Lab serves as a hub for Junior Makers and Digital Makers clubs, where students create projects in physics, computing, and robotics. Technology Club, Photography Club, and various academic societies (Classics Club, History Society) complement subject-based learning. Language Leaders (Years 8-9) prepare short lessons to support younger pupils and primary school peers.
The ISI report emphasized that "pupils enjoy marked success in the wide and challenging co-curricular programme," and quantitative engagement is strong: virtually all students participate in at least two clubs, and many sustain involvement across multiple years.
Community service is integrated into school culture rather than tokenized. Students volunteer with elderly people locally, support children in a special school in Ghana (the school maintains a link), and participate in structured charity initiatives. The ISI inspection found that this work gives pupils "a quiet sense of satisfaction and self-worth" and enables them to "identify with and appreciate the lives of those they would not normally come into contact with."
Fees data coming soon.
Entry points include 11+, 13+ and 16+, with a 10+ deferred route (assessment in Year 5 to secure a Year 7 place). The school is academically selective at all entry points.
Entrance requires registration (£185 fee, waived for families qualifying for free school meals) followed by examination in English and Mathematics in the autumn term. Successful candidates are invited for interview. The school uses no verbal reasoning and no non-verbal reasoning, focusing instead on curriculum-aligned tests. Approximately 200-300 candidates sit for roughly 150 places, making entry genuinely competitive. Tutoring is extremely common (estimated 90%+ of candidates receive private preparation), a reality the school acknowledges but does not recommend formally.
Entry requires GCSE or iGCSE results meeting strict criteria: minimum Grade 7 in four subjects overall, Grade 6 in Mathematics and English, and Grade 7 in intended A-level subjects. Approximately 50 external places are available annually, though many sixth formers are internal progressions from the main school.
The school is unapologetically selective, viewing this as central to maintaining teaching pace and cohort culture. There is no explicit catchment, though the school is accessible to families across Greater London and Surrey via public transport (Kingston Station is approximately 7 minutes' walk).
The house system anchors pastoral provision. Each student belongs to one of six houses from entry, with a house tutor providing consistent pastoral oversight across the student's time in school. The ISI inspection found the school's pastoral provision to be "coherent and well-planned," and students themselves consistently cite tutors as the primary source of support and guidance.
Formal PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education) runs throughout the curriculum, covering mental health, relationships, resilience, and decision-making. The inspection noted that pupils "develop a strong tolerance and respect for those different from themselves" and have "an excellent understanding of the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle." Mindfulness and relaxation techniques are taught, particularly in lower years, as tools for managing stress.
Safeguarding policies meet statutory requirements, and the school has maintained its focus on well-being even during periods of intense academic pressure (particularly in Year 11 and Year 13). The vast majority of parent questionnaire responses (from inspection) confirmed that the school meets children's pastoral needs well.
8:15am to 3:45pm for main school; sixth formers finish 3:00pm on some days due to free periods in their timetables.
Kingston Station (South Western Railway) is approximately 7 minutes' walk. Several bus routes serve the school. Parking in Kingston town centre is limited and challenging; the school advises public transport where possible. For those traveling from further afield, designated cycling facilities are available on campus.
The main campus includes the Queen Elizabeth II Building (academic and performance spaces), Design and Technology workshops, art studios and galleries, STEAM labs, a well-stocked library, and dining facilities. Ditton Field, accessible by bus (approximately 9 minutes), houses sports facilities. The historic Lovekyn Chapel (dating to 1309, the oldest complete building in Kingston) is used for assemblies, musical performances, and civil ceremonies.
Lunch is optional and paid termly through invoicing (approximately £418.50 per term in Autumn 2025). Sixth formers can purchase lunch daily on a pay-as-you-go basis. Breakfast and morning break items are charged at point of sale (cashless system).
Available with peripatetic teachers at £250 per term (individual) or £125 per term (shared). School instruments available for hire from £40 per term (after first term free hire).
Selectivity & Academic Pressure: The school is genuinely selective at entry and maintains consistent academic challenge throughout. This suits confident, intellectually curious students but may feel overwhelming for those who need more time to process learning or who lack intrinsic academic motivation. The culture assumes intellectual engagement; students who do not naturally orient toward academic life may feel out of place.
Cost & Socioeconomic Diversity: Annual fees of £27,450 place this school in the premium-cost independent bracket. While fee assistance is available (criteria are confidential), the student population skews toward business and professional families. Genuine socioeconomic diversity is limited, though the school's scholarship and bursary programmes aim to broaden access. Families should investigate financial options early.
Independent School Governance: This is an independent school operating under ISI inspection (not Ofsted). Parents should understand the governance model, inspection cycle, and their recourse mechanisms if concerns arise. The school is a registered charity, and trustees/governors hold proprietorial responsibility.
Selective Entry Turbulence: While the school itself is calm and supportive, the admissions process creates considerable pressure and anxiety for families. Tutoring is near-universal, and competition for places generates stress in primary school years. Families should consider whether they can support a child through a competitive assessment process without it dominating family life.
Kingston Grammar School is a high-achieving independent school that combines genuine academic rigor with an unusually strong culture of pastoral care and community engagement. Results place it in the elite tier nationally, and the breadth of opportunity beyond academics is substantial and accessible to all students, not reserved for a gifted few.
The school suits families seeking an academically demanding independent education with a clear sense of community, students with intellectual curiosity and resilience who thrive when expectations are high, and those for whom the school's emphasis on breadth beyond exams (sport, music, drama, service) aligns with their values. It is particularly well-suited to families valuing linguistic and cultural breadth, strong pastoral relationships, and a school where being academically strong is normative rather than exceptional.
The main consideration is entry itself: selectivity is real, competition is fierce, and securing a place requires navigating a genuinely competitive admissions process. Once admitted, students encounter a school where excellence is expected and supported — a place where working hard and being happy do genuinely coexist.
Yes. The school ranks 87th nationally at GCSE (top 2% of England's secondary schools) and 45th nationally at A-level (top 2% of sixth forms). The ISI inspection in 2017 rated both academic achievement and personal development as excellent. Results place it consistently among England's highest-performing schools. Most importantly, these results reflect rigorous teaching combined with authentic pastoral care, not high-pressure exam factories.
Fees for 2025-26 are £9,150 per term (£27,450 per year), exclusive of VAT. This includes stationery, textbooks, and personal accident insurance with dental cover. Additional charges include lunch (optional, approximately £418 per term), music lessons if taken (£250 for individual tuition per term), and various optional activities. Registration fee is £185 (waived for families eligible for free school meals). An acceptance deposit of £2,000 is payable on offer, returned after the student leaves school once all charges are settled.
Yes, entry is genuinely selective. Approximately 200-300 pupils sit the 11+ exam for 150 places, making competition intense. Entry also requires registration followed by assessment in English and Mathematics, with successful candidates called for interview. Tutoring is standard (estimated 90%+ of candidates receive external preparation). Entry at 16+ is also selective, with strict GCSE grade requirements (minimum Grade 7 in four subjects; Grade 6 in Maths and English; Grade 7 in chosen A-level subjects).
The school combines elite academic results (top 2% nationally) with a demonstrable commitment to breadth beyond academics. Sport is notably accessible across ability ranges, not reserved for elites. Music provision is extensive and subsidized. The house system creates genuine pastoral oversight and vertical mentoring. Perhaps most distinctively, the school has maintained a culture where rigorous academics and genuine well-being coexist rather than compete — a balance many schools struggle to achieve.
Main sports are football, netball, tennis, hockey, rowing, and cricket, all available to both boys and girls. The school has produced 26 Olympians historically. Beyond sports, over 70 clubs and societies exist, including Debating Society, Young Enterprise, Combined Cadet Force, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, and STEAM-focused clubs. Music ensembles include a chapel choir, symphony orchestra, and jazz groups. Drama occurs in the school's own Michael Frayn Theatre. Over 40% of students learn an instrument.
Yes. Academic Scholarships are available at 11+ and 16+, awarded based on entrance examination performance and interviews. Art, Music, Sport, and Drama scholarships are also offered. Fee Assistance (bursaries) is available to families meeting income criteria, though criteria are confidential to the school. Families should contact Admissions directly to discuss options. The school's website provides more information on the scholarships page.
Most sixth form leavers (75% of the 2024 cohort) progress to university. Approximately 80% of leavers enter Russell Group universities, with strong representation at Imperial College, UCL, Edinburgh, Durham, Bristol, and Warwick. The school typically sends 4-5 students to Oxbridge annually. Medicine is particularly popular (18 leavers in 2024). The school maintains strong careers guidance and university admission support throughout sixth form.
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