WHAT? WHERE?

Kingswood House School in Epsom, Surrey.

Kingswood House School is an independent day school in Epsom for boys and girls aged 7 to 16. It’s unique school that’s seen a fair degree of change over recent years, moving from what was originally a traditional boys’ prep school to an innovative and forward-thinking co-ed prep and senior school (up to GCSE).

It’s relatively small, with 210 pupils on the roll. And while there are plans to grow numbers, they won’t go higher than 275. The school’s superpower is its pastoral system – more on this later – but suffice to say it’s among the strongest I’ve seen at any school.

Kingswood House takes a ‘taxi rank’ approach to entry, which means it’s proudly non-selective and basically first-come, first-in. Inclusive is a big word here, and central to the school’s ethos.

The school’s motto Serva fidem – believe – sums it up beautifully. There’s an inherent belief in all children. But also a refusal to assess all children using the same metrics – typically exam results. That’s why the school’s prospectus features images of Greta Thunberg and Maya Angelou, powerful people who went against the grain to influence change.

The school’s distinctive offering means it attracts pupils from a wide area – from Barnes to Sussex, Wandsworth to Woking. The main entry points are Years 3, 5 and 7.

Kingswood House School has been around a long time. It was founded as a day and boarding school in 1899 by a former Epsom College deputy head, initially on Ashley Road in Epsom. It moved to West Hill in 1920, then in 1933 boarding closed and it became day-only.

The first Year 9 cohort was introduced in 2016 – expanding the school to include GCSE. And in 2021, girls were admitted. The boy-girl ratio tips in favour of boys by about four-to-one.

FACILITIES

Kingswood House School in Epsom, Surrey.

The school’s location, just stone’s throw from the town centre, means space is at a premium. You’re not getting a school with huge acreage. But despite the compact site, it defies expectation and offers a whole lot more than you’d think possible. The word Tardis comes to mind.

The main building is an attractive red brick Victorian property – once Tanglewood School for Girls, until it closed down. Kingswood House took over in the 1920s. It once housed classrooms and dorm rooms, but now has admin offices, a dining room, the study centre, music department and two IT classrooms including an AppleMac suite.

Purpose-built classrooms have been added in the last 10 years, and this is where most of the learning takes place. Classrooms are bright, light and cleverly-designed with bi-fold partitions to create flexible spaces.

Sports-wise there’s a sand-based all-weather astro which caters to football, hockey and cricket, a hard court for netball, basketball, tennis, badminton and pickleball, plus a climbing wall that’s all set for an upgrade. By spring 2025, it’ll be new again!

A field is used for athletics and events like school fairs. But it’s sloped nature means it’s not ideal for games, so children are bussed off-site for those. Hosever, the school’s central location puts it in a good position to make use of some excellent facilities including Epsom Sports Club, Epsom Hockey Club, Leatherhead Youth Football Club, Priest Hill Playing Fields, Parsons Mead Sports Ground and Ashtead Cricket Club. Ebbisham Sports Club comes in use for tennis, squash and badminton, and senior school pupils make use of Crossfit Epsom, which is within walking distance, and the White Spider rock climbing centre.

A pavilion in the grounds called The Hub is an occupational health centre, and there’s also a well-equipped DT centre.

SPORT

Kingswood House School in Epsom, Surrey.

The inclusive ethos at Kingswood House extends to sport – and as such there’s a determined effort to offer a wide range of activities to cater to all sporting appetites. It’s sport for all – there’s something for competitive types, and also plenty for those who simply want to take part.

There’s a focus at Kingswood House on developing core fitness skills like agility endurance and coordination, as well as introducing pupils to a wide range of team-based and individual sports.

The usual suspects are played competitively: football, netball, rugby, hockey, cricket, tennis and athletics – although rugby seems to be on the way out, and basketball and table tennis are also popular. Children also play sports like squash, pickleball, handball, badminton, ultimate frisbee and golf.

All children take part in two whole afternoons of sport each week. Swimming is not offered – mostly due to a lack of facilities and the logistics of bussing children off-site for lessons. But that may change, so watch this space.

THE ARTS

Kingswood House School in Epsom, Surrey.

Bold artwork by students is one of the first things you’ll notice when you step into the reception at Kingswood House School – and it’s lovely to see. The walls of the head’s office, too, are lined with student art.

It’s an area that’s gaining ground and popularity at Kingswood House. Art is taught by specialist teachers to all pupils from Year 3 upwards. In Year 9, pupils can choose to take art through to GCSE in Year 11. DT is among the most popular GCSE subjects.

There’s a strong tradition of drama, and like art the performing arts programme is also growing. Children in Years 7 and 8 have weekly drama lessons, and GCSE drama is an option from Year 9. A school production is staged each year. This year it’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (bigger and better than ever thanks to the new head of drama). LAMDA is also offered.

Music wise, it’s all about singing at Kingswood House School. All children up to Year 8 have music lessons as part of the curriculum with a focus on composing, performing, and then discussing their thoughts on it. As well as singing children learn guitar, drums, saxophone, trumpet and piano from visiting peripatetic music teachers. They can also join school choirs and rock bands. At GCSE (from Year 9), a ‘BTEC Tech Award’ in music practice is offered.

There are plans to expand the music programme at Kingswood House School – and new already a new Director of Music has been appointed. Luke Allen started in September 2024.

LITTLIES

Kingswood House School in Epsom, Surrey.

Children start in Year 3 at Kingwood House School. It’s single-form entry in Years 3-6, moving to two- or three-form entry from Year 7 upwards.

Class sizes are small. And in the 2024-25 academic year there’s no Year 4 class. In the younger years teaching is form-based, graduating towards specialist teaching as pupils move up the school. Music, French, art, PE and Forest School are taught by specialist teachers in Years 3-6.

ACADEMICS

Kingswood House School in Epsom, Surrey.

As pupils move up through the school into the senior years, the subject base becomes wider. Drama is introduced in Year 7 and classics in Year 8.

In Year 8, pupils chose their GCSE and BTEC subject options which they’ll begin in Year 9 as part of a three-year GCSE programme. The school is hugely supportive in the selection process.

Typically pupils will choose three or four options alongside the core subjects of English language, English literature, maths and combined science.

GCSE options subjects include art and design, classics, computer science, design and technology, drama, French, geography, history and PE. The BTEC Award in enterprise (business studies) and BTEC Tech Award in music practice are also offered. Many pupils will also do a Higher Project Qualification (HPQ) in Year 10 which helps to develop research, study and presentation skills.

In 2024, GCSE results were solid with 72% achieving grades 9-4 (A*-C), above the national average of 67%.

In the last five years pupils have gone on to a wide range of schools – both state and independent – including Box Hill, City of London Freemen’s, Claremont Fan Court, Dunottar, Epsom College, Ewell Castle, Reed’s, Hurtwood House, Howard of Effingham and St John’s Leatherhead. Other onward destinations include the Global Academy, The Brit School, The Golf College in Lingfield, Cobham Free School, Godalming College, Woking College, Esher College, Reigate College and Kingston College.

PASTORAL CARE

Kingswood House School in Epsom, Surrey.

As a school that is proudly mixed-ability, Kingswood House puts huge emphasis on creating a nurturing environment that recognises the individual needs and personal strengths of each pupil. As much emphasis goes on developing children’s social, emotional, spiritual and cultural development as it does on the academics. The school is very much of the view that if children are happy and secure in their learning, they’ll develop self-belief and fulfilment … and academic success will follow.

As a small school, there’s a genuine sense of family and community at Kingswood House. Size matters when it comes to staff knowing all pupils as well as they do here – not just just the names of each child, but also the particulars of what’s going on in their lives. If grandparents are visiting a pupil from abroad, staff will know about it.

As a school with a broad and inclusive mixed-ability range, there’s a dedicated learning support centre known as The Study Centre. It’s staffed by trained SEND teaching and learning professions, as well as a trained ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant) and a the school nurse.

The Study Centre was created to meet the needs of dyslexic pupils at Kingswood House School, and it demonstrates the school’s commitment to being a truly inclusive, yet mainstream school. Neurodiversity is celebrated here as a super-power. About 14% of pupils have a CHCP statements, and the school’s specialist tutors work closely with class teachers and parents to provide 1:1 or small-group tuition.

SIXTH FORM

There’s no Sixth Form at Kingswood House School, and right now there are no plans to extend the offering to include Years 12 and 13.

THE HEAD

Kingswood House School in Epsom, Surrey.

Matthew Bryan started as Headmaster in April 2024. Before Kingswood House, he was Headmaster at Longacre School in Shamley Green for six years, and before that was at St Ronan’s in Kent where he was Deputy Head (Academic).

Hugely passionate about education, Matthew’s career has wended its way through all independent settings from junior to senior schools, single sex and co-ed, boarding and day. So it’s perhaps fitting that he’s now in a role that straddles both prep and senior education.

Whilst Matthew believes the foundations for education and character are firmly laid in the junior school years, he’s also very aware that the 11+ entry system at most UK senior schools doesn’t suite all pupils. He’s keen to offer an alternative as well as broad, holistic and inclusive education.

He’s ambitious for the future of the school, and has big plans. There are no indoor sports facilities, for instance, and given a magic wand this would be one of the first things he’d rectify. But he’d also like to create a bigger art studio, add food tech and textiles classrooms, and develop the music department to include a recording studio. The library could do with some redevelopment, and a bigger dining hall would also be on his wish list. Watch this space!

The children genuinely come first at Kingswood House, and Matthew regularly lunches with small groups of students so he can really get to know what’s important to them. He also teaches the GSCE BTEC Award in enterprise.

Matthew has two children, both teenagers. He lives in Cranleigh with is wife.

QUIRKS

There’s a fabulous remembrance wall where past pupils have carved their name in the red bricks. Among those on the wall are Nicholas Witchell, former royal correspondent at the BBC, and Richard Rogers, the architect who designed the Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Millennium Dome and Lloyd’s Building, both in London.

WRAP AROUND CARE

Kingswood House School in Epsom, Surrey.

Breakfast Club runs from 7.30-8.30am for all year groups, and Late Club is from 5-6pm each day. The cost for each is £12 with food (breakfast or tea), and £6 without.

There’s an extensive extra curricular programme, with more than 50 clubs on offer. There’s everything from art club to eco club, dungeons and dragons club to pride club.

ISI REPORT

The most recent ISI inspection was a Focused Compliance & Educational Quality Inspection in April 2023. Read that report here.

MOBILE PHONE POLICY

Mobile phones are not allowed at school. Pupils who do bring them in are expected to keep them in the lockers during the school day.

TRANSPORT

Kingswood House School in Epsom, Surrey.

There are four mini bus routes which take in areas that include Wimbledon, Raynes Park and New Maldon; Effingham, Leatherhead and Ashtead; Cobham, Esher and Walton-on-Thames; Hinchley Wood, Surbiton, Tolworth and Ewell.

FEES – 2024-25

The good news it, fees are at the lower end of the Surrey school fees scale. In Years 3-4 it’s £5990 per term, Years 5-6 is £6320, Years 7-8 is £6395 and Years 9-11 is £6780. Stationery, books, lunches, minibus travel to matches and local trips are included in the fees. All children in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10 are expected to purchase a Chromebook from the school.

Scholarships are offered for academic, sport, music and performing arts – however the criteria focuses as much on a child’s potential as it does on their ability and talents.

WORD ON THE GROUND

Kingswood House School in Epsom, Surrey.

Parents say Kingswood House is a kind, inclusive and encouraging school which is great at developing children’s self-confidence. It’s incredibly nurturing and there’s a strong family-vibe. One parent said there was excellent support from teachers and staff, but children were also supportive of each other. Parents love the small class sizes, and say their children have thrived at the school. The Study Centre is highly praised for ‘totally getting SEN kids’ and understanding their needs. Another parent said that Kingswood House most certainly wasn’t a specialist school, but a school that makes specialist arrangements – going above and beyond to help children with special gifts.

THE MUDDY VERDICT

Kingswood House School in Epsom, Surrey.

Good for: Parents looking for a non-pressurised school with a ‘welcoming’ feel. It’s a small school so individual attention and pastoral care is high. Children with additional learning needs are well catered to and thrive here.

Not for: If you’re looking for large acreage, this may not be your school.

Dare to disagree? The next open event will be held in spring 2025. Events are planned for Fri 7 Feb and Fri 7 March. Book here

Kingswood House School, 56 West Hill, Epsom, KT19 8LG. Tel: 01372 723 590

Kingswood House School, Epsom

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