Evening Standard

Academic excellence in the heart of London

- Niki Chesworth

Kensington Park School, a new independen­t co-ed day and boarding school for 11- to 18-year-olds, offers a much-needed additional choice for parents searching for a brilliant education for their children

IT IS A VERY fraught time of year for parents as their children sit entrance exams and wait (very nervously) to find out if they have got into their chosen school or sixth form. With extreme competitio­n for every place, it is understand­able that they feel under pressure.

So why not boost your chances of securing a brilliant education?

Selecting a new school is a great tactic. Not only is an additional choice a way to increase your options, new schools tend to have slightly fewer applicants (they are not always yet on every parent’s radar).

However, do not think for one minute that a new school means your child will miss out in some way, or that you are going to have sacrifice the quality of your child’s education. Kensington Park School, right in the heart of London with two sites either side of Kensington Gardens, is already attracting a lot of attention as well as an amazing team of the highest-calibre teaching staff from some of the country’s leading independen­t schools — including a sizeable number from St Paul’s.

They include Dick Jaine, a former acting High Master at St Paul’s, and Heads of Department for subjects including Mathematic­s, Chemistry and Economics – all of whom have long, successful track-records when it comes to ensuring their pupils achieve examinatio­n success.

However, it is the most recent appointmen­t that is really putting Kensington Park School on the education map. Paul Vanni has recently been appointed as Head Master.

Currently deputy head of St Paul’s Girls’ School, he is passionate about education. Having spent his entire life in London schools, he is deeply attuned to what London pupils and parents want.

After 13 very happy years at St Paul’s School as a teacher, tutor, rowing coach and ultimately head of the Modern Languages department, he joined St Paul’s Girls’ School in 2011 as Deputy Head and Director of School.

While overseeing every aspect of school life, he has also continued to teach and remains committed to excellence in the classroom.

Vanni, right, says: “I am looking forward to working with the leadership, teaching and support staff to deliver what I know will be the next great school in central London.

“The passion and vision of the leadership team has drawn me to Kensington Park School; there is a clear commitment to excellence in education through small class sizes, personalis­ed pastoral care, and a unique and varied extra-curricular partnershi­ps programme.

“In addition, the school has both establishe­d and developing links around the world which will offer students a global perspectiv­e on education, equipping the young minds of today for the world of tomorrow.

“Kensington Park School is a friendly school with the individual at its heart, and yet it is a school with an ambitious vision for education in the 21st century. With access to so many world-class facilities and opportunit­ies on our doorstep, London is our campus.”

Just some of these world-class facilities and opportunit­ies include Imperial College’s Ethos Sports Centre with its state-of-the-art gym, pool and climbing wall.

Kensington Park School has also partnered with expert coaches, including former Olympians, in fencing and riding and pupils can row at Fulham Reach Boat Club and take part in an exciting outdoor programme including the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme. The school’s fantastic location also means it has similar partnershi­ps for music and drama.

So what are you waiting for? Kensington Park School entrance tests take place on Saturday, December 2 for 11+ entry in 2018 and 13+ entry in 2018, 2019 and 2020.

If you would like to arrange a visit or find out more informatio­n about the KPS scholarshi­p programmes, contact Jane Lovell, registrar at j.lovell@kps.

co.uk formers will also have an opportunit­y to add a non-examined elective subject, such as Mandarin, in order to help access the programmes of study in China.

The Kensington Park School Sixth Form Opening Evening takes place on Wednesday, November 29.

If your child is taking GCSEs this year (or next), book your place by emailing j.lovell@kps.co.uk and visit kps.co.uk/sixth-form.aspx to find out how KPS can transform their prospects.

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 ??  ?? World-class: the school has worked to establish and develop links across the globe for its students
World-class: the school has worked to establish and develop links across the globe for its students

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