House system
All new students are put into one of six houses: Lovekyn, Queen’s (short for Queen Elizabeth’s), Taverner and Walworth, all named after founders and ancient benefactors, and Stanley, named after a KGS alumnus. The sixth House is introduced for September 2024 and will be known as New House, until such time as students determine the permanent name. The house system allows a series of keenly fought competitions in all fields of activity including sport, drama, dance, music, chess, debating and general knowledge to name a few. Parents are invited to many of these events.
Form groups are named after the houses and students will remain in the same house during their time with us.
Sport
Games lessons are held at Ditton Field, Summer Road, Thames Ditton, KT7 ORD. The closest railway station is Hampton Court. Rowing (an option for Third Year and above) is largely at the School Boathouse adjoining Ditton Field. All students are taken to Ditton by coach and are dismissed from there after Games at about 3.45pm, depending upon the nature of the afternoon’s activities. Students can be collected from Ditton Field, make their own way home or use the bus provided to bring them back to the London Road site.
All students will play hockey for the Autumn term. They will need a hockey stick, mouthguard, shin pads and a hockey glove. The School’s main sports up to and including the Second Year are hockey, football and netball in the Autumn and Spring terms and tennis, cricket and athletics in the Summer term. There is an option to try rowing in the Third Year.
Drama and Theatre
KGS has excellent facilities for Drama and Theatre: a modern 200-seat theatre with versatile Green Room, and a fully equipped Drama Studio. Performance opportunities include the Senior Play, the annual House Drama competition, and the biennial trip to The Edinburgh Fringe Festival. For students interested in design and technical theatre, we have a Senior Technical Club as well as opportunities for performance support. For those interested in dance, we hold an annual House Dance competition, and opportunities exist for Sixth Form students to contribute to the Junior Drama Club.
Music
There are many opportunities for students to enjoy music, whatever their experience or ability. There are a wide variety of performing groups, which are regularly adjusted to suit the needs of those wishing to take part. The rehearsal details for these groups are published on the co-curricular section of My School Portal and are advertised widely within school. There are normally three or four major concerts throughout the year, as well as a large number of other opportunities to perform, including lunchtime concerts, the annual House Music competition and regular music tours overseas.
Instrumental tuition is arranged by the School, but bills are raised directly by the visiting instrumental teachers. Students are encouraged to take up an instrument; we can cater for virtually every taste and the Music Department staff are happy to advise parents on suitable instruments for their children (contact details for the Director of Music can be found in the Key Staff contact details at the beginning of this document). Music theory lessons (a requirement for those hoping to go beyond Associated Board Grade 5 on any instrument) are available on the same basis as instrumental lessons. We have a stock of the most popular instruments for loan to beginners in their first term playing and are able to rent out instruments at preferential rates thereafter. Full details of all matters relating to instrumental tuition are available from the Music Administrator, Ms Calder, [email protected]. The form for instrumental and singing lessons can be requested from [email protected]. Further information can be found here.
Clubs and societies
There is a very wide variety of clubs and societies available at KGS and we encourage all students to take part in a variety of activities as a means of developing skills, confidence and friendships. In the second week of the first term students visit the co-curricular fair where societies advertise their activities.
Combined Cadet Force (CCF)
CCF is available to all students in the Third Year and above. The contingent aims to develop the self-confidence, teamwork, resilience and leadership skills of every member and is often an area for further discussion during university interviews. There is an Army and a RAF section and training is held on Friday afternoons from 4.00 - 6.00pm. There are regular camps, exercises and field days, including adventure training in the Easter holidays, central camps in the summer and flying days; all these events are voluntary. Every cadet is trained in basic first aid, navigation, field craft, drill, deportment and leadership to name but a few. Each cadet is offered the opportunity to gain the Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award, an NVQ Level 2 in personal development and for the senior cadets, the ILM Level 3 in Leadership and Management. All activities are heavily subsidised by the Ministry of Defence and are therefore very reasonably priced. The CCF does not recruit for the Armed Services and former cadets have no reserve liability when they leave the School. CCF remains a firm favourite amongst our student body.
