Ages
This school is flying, brimming with enthusiasm and passion for learning, smashing it on the sports field and bounding with extracurricular opportunities. Children here are not babysat but encouraged and celebrated in achievements across the board and respond with a genuine happiness to be at the school. ‘This is a brilliant choice,’ summed up one parent.
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Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.
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Overview & data
- Pupil numbers
- 430 ·
- Sixth form numbers
- 170 ·
- Offers boarding
- Yes ·
- Religion
- C of E
- Fees
- Day £32,043; Boarding £49,104 pa
- Local authority
- Somerset County Council
- Linked schools
Headteacher
Headmaster
Michael Sloan
Since 2022, Michael Sloan, previously deputy head at Brighton College, where he rose through the ranks from assistant head (head of middle school). Grew up in Northern Ireland and attended the Methodist College in Belfast before reading ancient hi
Entrance
Aims to take 85 into year 9 via a meeting with the head and sitting the school’s own tests in maths, English and verbal reasoning. Many take scholarship assessments.
Many come from their associated prep, with others joining from prep school
- Open days
- First Saturday in October
Exit
Around 20 per cent leave after GCSEs. The majority of those who stay head to Russell Group universities. Bristol, Bath, Durham, Nottingham and Liverpool are currently popular. Two to Oxbridge in 2024 and one medic. Some follow their hearts and ski
Latest results
In 2024, 51 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 27 per cent A*/A at A level (54 per cent A*-B). In 2023, 38 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 37 per cent A*/A at A level (71 per cent A*-B).
% of pupils achieving AAB or higher, including at least 2 facilitating subjects (2024)
What is this?
Facilitating A levels are ones that are commonly needed for entry to leading universities. They are: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, further mathematics, geography, history, English literature and classical or modern languages. The % of pupils achieving AAB or higher may therefore decrease if many pupils have opted not to take two or more of the facilitating subjects mentioned.
Teaching & learning
This is a school that gradually – and with ‘a deliberate strategy’ – has lifted its academic game. While still standing by its inclusivity banner and celebrating the not (overly) selective image that it fosters, it is quietly achieving great resul
- Qualifications taken in 2024
- A level
- BTEC
- EPQ
- GCSE
Learning support & SEN
An SEN team that parents describe as ‘phenomenal’, accessed through a ‘learning strategies’ programme and adept at identifying and assisting those with additional needs. Around 20 per cent have entitlement to additional exam access arrangements an
Arts & extracurricular
School believes that ‘the creative is equally as important as the analytical’, so it comes as no surprise that the arts are strong. All students are immersed in music, music tech, performing arts, drama and DT, in line with the ‘have a go’ encoura
Sport
While they have upped the ante academically, this remains a sporty school and – in line with the exuberance for everything on offer here – the sports menu is muscle tingling; there is literally something for everyone. School considers itself ‘the
Boarders
While this is predominantly a boarding school (over 65 per cent fully board) King’s prides itself on its inclusion of day pupils. There is no day house but every boarding house has a percentage of day pupils and each of these can stay – at no extr
Ethos & heritage
A Woodard School, one of about 30 founded by a visionary Victorian cleric. Today ‘religious literacy’, in the words of the resident chaplain, is inculcated without a whiff of evangelism. Collective worship is a big part of school life; all faiths
Pastoral care, inclusivity & discipline
Inclusivity is a given here – friendship and integration are key selling points of the school and oft-repeated buzzwords among staff and parents. Both are done remarkably well, with the arms of friendship wrapping around the world in every year gr
Mobile phone policy
A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.
Mobile phone policy
Provided by the school and not part of our review
Our mobile phone policy aims to strike the balance between the educational and social benefits of modern technology against the need to safeguard our pupils and promote their wellbeing. Pupils are allowed to have their phones at school, but it’s not a free-for all! Our pupils develop self-discipline through our clear boundaries. Third, Fourth and Fifth Form pupils leave their phones in their houses during the day and hand them in overnight, while pupils of all ages are guided regarding responsible use and the mental health benefits of digital detoxing, which include better sleep and face to face social interactions.
Pupils & parents
This is a school where children thrive. In the words of one parent, ‘Everyone seems to leave here with impressive life skills: they are grounded, hard-working, great to have around, confident at communicating with adults, full of beans, diligent a
Money matters
Scholarships for academic, sporting and artistic prowess – to a maximum value of 20 per cent of the day fee – are awarded at 13+ and sixth form. Academic scholars are expected to contribute to the intellectual life of the school, not just pulling
- Fee information
- Day £32,043; Boarding £49,104 pa
The last word
This school is flying, brimming with enthusiasm and passion for learning, smashing it on the sports field and bounding with extracurricular opportunities. Children here are not babysat but encouraged and celebrated in achievements across the board
