The King's School (Worcester)

Since September 2025, Ben Charles, previously principal of King’s Rochester. Prior to that he was second master (senior deputy head) at Portsmouth Grammar for 10 years and before that, director of music at Chigwell and Millfield. He has a music

About two-thirds of the 11+ intake (124 places) from the two prep schools, King’s St Alban’s Prep and King’s Hawford Prep, the rest from a 50/50 mix of independent and maintained schools. The number of middle schools in the area mean that 13+ is an

Between 10-15 per cent leave after GCSEs. Nearly all sixth formers go on to university, 90 per cent to Russell Group. Exeter the most popular by far (‘perfect distance away from home, but easy to access by whizzing down the M5,’ says the school).

In 2025, 66 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 46 per cent A*/A at A level (75 per cent A*-B).

Few of these diligent, aspirational students walk away on exams results day with anything other than a spring in their step. School has worked hard to raise its academic profile of the school and has continued on this trajectory while expanding the

Learning skills department, run by one full-time and one part-time staff member, offers one-to-one and small group sessions at no extra charge. No EHCPs and school is keen not to over-promise, with most needs confined to mild dyslexia, ASD etc. Study

Music, as you’d expect, is outstanding. An impressive 20 practice rooms in the townhouse style music centre are filled with peris teaching all manner of instruments and there’s every type of ensemble, choir and orchestra you can think of including

No tour of King’s would be complete without a visit to the eye-catching boathouse whose tall glass walls jut out over the river which edges the school. Even on the miserable blustery day we visited, the views were striking, though wind and rain had

Pastoral support praised for being prompt and discreet; extends to whole family and counselling is proactively offered if considered it could be of benefit – a far cry from schools that expect pupils to ask for it and even then have long waiting

The demeanour of senior pupils is the clincher for many parents choosing to send their offspring here. Polite and chatty, they have an air of feeling comfortable with themselves and the world. ‘There’s definitely a King’s mould, although the mould

Academic and music scholarships at 11+ and 13+, with leadership awards at 16+. Both new entrant and hardship bursaries are available up to 100 per cent of fees, with up to 90 pupils generally getting bursary funding. The school aims to provide 40

A highly regarded yet down-to-earth cathedral school with a strong sense of community, loyalty and tradition. Particularly good for a child who is academic and/or musical. Polished, ambitious and caring, an aspirational school that wears its heart on