Earlier this term, we set our
pupil journalists a challenge: to write a letter to a prospective pupil, explaining what makes their school so special. This week, it's Oliver from
King's College School, Wimbledon's turn...
Dear Prospective pupil,
Welcome to King’s College School Wimbledon, a wonderful new prospect for the aspiring pupil, bursting with a variety of dexterous and compassionate people that can vary from lower schoolers to sixth formers. With a detailed educational system, it features a unique campus that can nurture students in the arts or academic pursuits and therefore bring a new feeling of excitement and trepidation that can be experienced in every school day. The school has a wide variety of laboratories to supply students with a comprehensive overview of the sciences as well as leisure spaces, a wonderful new music establishment, a library abundant in works of literature, a newly installed swimming pool and sports centre, and the Great Hall which serves as a figurehead of the school community.
As far as integration into school life, the uncertainty of using the lower school system for the first time may seem daunting at first, but the daily routine will soon be as much of your normal day as you might have once experienced as a prep or primary school pupil. Personally, I found making friends much easier than I might have anticipated. The school year began with a series of ‘team-building’ collaboration activities that were the basis of collateral bonding between peers, something I recommend all future applicants to utilise fully as a way of forging what might later become lifelong bonds.
The House system helps further the friendship between students especially here in the Lower School. The two houses respectively: Bourne and Watson participate throughout the year in a series of contests such as House Art, House Music, The House Mask Competition, and The House Spelling Bee (just to name a few) which maintains an air of healthy competition throughout the year in a race to win the coveted and prestigious House Cup.
Lessons here are far from the dreary, teachers are vibrant, expressive and extremely knowledgeable about their subjects making lessons a wholesome and worthwhile experience. The most “hands-on” of which is almost certainly Chemistry and Physics where the practical side of science is imbued alongside an equilibrium of written work. One of my favourite teachers is my French tutor who is extremely supportive in her lessons, inspiring us to form creative projects with new vocabulary such as utilising infinitives to formulate sentences all the while maintaining an energetic while responsible atmosphere.
On Tuesday and Friday afternoons you can expect to visit the acres of green field by coach that will make up the majority of the PE sessions that are respective to their seasons e.g rugby in the autumn football in the spring and cricket in the summer which you will attend in your time here. The coaches develop the sessions by splitting up pupils into groups where they begin with a series of physical activities before moving on to the main event. Students here are able to enjoy sport regardless of what level they are at and this will be taken into account within the grouping method. Whether you are an older student trying their hands at tennis, or a younger student getting to grips with a sport for the first time, it will always contain a detailed array of co-curricular activities to participate in throughout your physical life.
As well as sporting fixtures, the co-curriculum features many clubs that range from chess to photography, to young explorers and film observation which are both ‘teacher and pupil’ led and enjoyed during morning periods, break sessions, lunchtime periods and after school. I myself enjoy swimming club, quiz association, drama club, choir, rock band, book club, enigma club and the seasonal sports clubs that are available all year round including rugby, football and cricket. The school aims to establish a love of learning, open-mindedness and creativity in its pupils, but the prospect of things such as school lunch never seen to be overlooked. The menu is always abundant in a fresh variety of delicacies that can be consumed as well as a detailed array of vegetarian and vegan options alongside the main course and dessert. Tutees of all ages enjoy meals together in the pristine interior of the lunch hall that increases a sense of community among its members and faculty.
I hope after reading this you will have a better idea of life here at King’s and a glimpse into the structure of school life, where my personal experience can help you to choose a school that will allow you to reach your full potential and fulfil what you hope to achieve. King’s is a school that focuses not only on academic excellency but a caring and nurturing environment and educational nesting ground, where fledgling scholars can stretch their wings and fly into an ideal learning environment that in their own words is ‘a life changing experience’.
Yours Sincerely,
Oliver, Year 7
Our
pupil photographers' task was to capture the silver linings of lockdown. Here, Max shows us what stood out for him...
More sleep: I am getting more sleep as I no longer have to commute to school!
More exercise: I train in our flat every day
More home cooked food: this is my favourite, spicy salmon with green beans, roasted peppers and Yorkshire puddings
More London by night: I tend to go out once a day for a walk in my neighbourhood and it is quieter in the evening
More nature: I rarely see snow in central London and I would normally not even notice the plants in our car park