The King's School, Gloucester

The King's School, Gloucester has a rich academic tradition as one of the seven famous Cathedral Schools established by Henry VIII in 1541. Now, it is a successful co-educational independent day school with around 700 pupils, aged three to eighteen, offering academic excellence, a celebrated range of extra-curricular activities and outstanding pastoral care.

King's is held in very high esteem amongst the local and wider community, winning Gloucestershire Independent School of the Year in 2020 and 2021, and being Highly Commended again in 2022. Following the 2022 ISI Inspection, King's was proud to be declared 'excellent in all areas'.

With small classes and inspiring teachers, The King's School offers a vibrant culture of endeavour and scholarship in the historic setting of Gloucester Cathedral. As a result, the school has a special sense of identity which encourages a moral framework and a powerful feeling of community.

The King's School aims to stimulate all pupils to the greatest possible academic, creative and extra-curricular achievement by encouraging the exploration of a wide range of cultural, intellectual and sporting activities. We offer a unique 'Keystones' approach which identifies and develops individual talents and personal qualities.

Aims and Aspirations

The life of the School at all levels is underpinned by our long term aims and aspirations, which represent the key principles on which King's is based.

• The King's School is a co-educational Independent School offering a distinctive education that is firmly based on Christian principles. We welcome into our community boys and girls of all religious faiths and cultures to promote the qualities of tolerance, understanding, compassion and commitment and to encourage young people to think of others, both within and beyond the community of which they are members.
• King's is by choice a medium-sized school with small classes from age 3 to 18, divided into two schools, Junior (ages 3 – 11) and Senior (ages 11 – 18). Since our Foundation in 1541 as a Cathedral School, we have educated the Choristers of Gloucester Cathedral, a role which is central to our ethos.
• To the best of our ability and resources, the School aims to educate young people from a variety of backgrounds, enhancing this capability by the further development of scholarships and bursaries.
• Through the expertise and dedication of our staff, through our facilities, close relationships with the Cathedral, excellent pastoral care and general ethos, we seek to stimulate all pupils to the greatest possible academic, creative and extra-curricular achievement by encouraging the exploration of a wide range of cultural, intellectual and sporting activities.
• Pupils are encouraged to think for themselves and to appreciate the importance of self-discipline. All pupils are treated as individuals, though at the same time they are encouraged to contribute to group work, teamwork and the community as a whole.
• The School is committed to a broad, balanced and well-knit curriculum which is relevant to the needs of its pupils. The curriculum offers scope for individual specialisation where appropriate and is constantly reviewed in the light of developments within the School, nationally and internationally. Innovation is encouraged.
• Whether pupils are of high or average academic ability, the School aims to enable them to develop fully as individuals, to prepare them for responsible adult life and to encourage qualities of initiative and leadership.
• Celebrating achievement is seen as a valued part of the School's success. Pupils' performances in academic life, sport, activities and the performing arts are all recognised in assemblies, in newsletters, on Speech Day, at Junior School Prizegiving and in many other ways.

Working at King's

King's places great importance on staff wellbeing and offers a number of benefits to support this, including:

• A peer-run staff wellbeing programme that operates year-round
• An on-site doctor available to staff for short consultations
• A staff "wellbeing day" - an additional day off that can even be taken during term time!

As a school, it is our collective aim to develop all staff into reflective practitioners who are committed to the ethos and aspirations of the school, and to empower staff as they work towards their own objectives.