2nd July 2020 — King’s Worcester has been celebrating its best ever team swimming performance after taking home three relay trophies at the recent schools’ swimming competition held at Perdiswell Swimming Pool. King’s took five Senior School teams to the Bromsgrove School Invitational Relays where they were up against 26 schools and 78 teams competed in this annual prestigious event. Schools came from all over the country to compete, including Newcastle under Lyme, Nottingham and Bedford.

The competition was fierce, starting with the heats, followed by the A finals for the fastest swimmers and B finals for the second fastest swimmers. For the first time ever, King’s Worcester was placed in the top eight making the A finals in all events.

The U15 girls (Jessica Day, Eve Hind, Amelia Venables, Catherine Rendall-Baker & Gabriella Barry) performed very well in both of their relays placing 5th in the medley and 7th in the freestyle. With only one member in each of the relays being in the correct age group and the rest being two to three years younger, this result is particularly impressive.

Similarly, the U15 boys (Harry Chandler, Daniel Arridge, Ben Gooch and Henry Halford) were also going to find it tough with only Henry in the correct age group and the rest being under 12. The boys fought well on both relays and placed a credible 7th in both races.

In the U18 competition, King’s fielded two teams in the girls’ races. This was another King’s first and they proved to be a force to be reckoned with. In the medley relay, with a Worcester County record holder swimming the butterfly and an English National champion on the breaststroke, it was no surprise that they were going to be tough to beat. The A team (Naomi Marsden, Hannah Woodcock, Gabriella Barry and Josie Armstrong) stormed to victory, beating the King’s B team (Alexandra Barry, Isabella Woodcock, Hannah Dixon and Isabella Trow) into second place by 6 seconds and King’s High, Warwick into third place by a further three. In the freestyle relay the A team once again dominated the pool. The team, this time consisting of Hannah Woodcock, Gabriella Barry, Alexandra Barry and Josie Armstrong, won gold convincingly with a clear three second lead. King’s B team (Naomi Marsden, Isabella Trow, Hannah Dixon and Isabella Woodcock) again had a battle with King’s High Warwick for second place but just lost out by 0.06 seconds taking third place overall.

The U18 boys had great competition in both relays. Oliver Osborne, Leo Rendall-Baker, Henry Halford and Daniel Day looked pure class in their medley, winning first place a second clear of both Abingdon and King Alfred’s School. In their freestyle it was the same three schools battling it out for the medals. In a very exciting race the boys were placed third on a blanket finish, with Oliver Osborne swimming a blistering 25.68 seconds on the last leg.

Lizzie Monkhouse, Head Swimming Coach at King’s Worcester added, “It was a very exciting day for King’s Swimming. With all teams making ‘A’ finals and bringing home three trophies for the cabinet, this is the best performance so far. We have a tremendous wealth of talent at King’s and it was a privilege and pleasure to watch and support all swimmers. All swam well without exception but special mention must go to Henry Halford and Gabriella Barry who swam in their age group (U15) as well as in the U18s, both swimming 8 races in quick succession. Well done, swimmers!”

9th February 2020 — This week the Department of Education published the 2019 A level results and we are delighted to share the news about King’s Worcester. In Worcester, King’s topped the pile with 32% of our pupils achieving A level grades at AAB or above.

With 133 pupils taking 408 exams in 2019, all of whom are entered for at least three A level subjects, this news is testament to the commitment of pupils and staff. Acting Headmaster, Jon Ricketts praised them on their achievements, commenting “I am delighted with the hard work of both the pupils and the staff and this outcome is well deserved on their part.”

To be recorded as achieving AAB or higher, pupils have to enter at least two facilitating subjects which include: biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, further mathematics, geography, history, English literature and classical or modern languages.

When sharing the news with our Upper Sixth, we asked why King’s pupils achieve such success in exams: “It’s not just that the teachers are great here, they know their subjects inside and out, they make learning fun and engaging too. What sets King’s apart is the pupil teacher relationships, they really want everyone to do well and always go the extra mile to help pupils achieve their very best.” Harry, Upper Sixth pupil.

The news received this week follows the recent successes of many of our current Upper Sixth pupils, from the five pupils who have received Oxbridge offers and Imogen Gillgrass who was offered 11 Sports Scholarship offers to America, to all the other exciting daily offers being received by our Upper Sixth pupils. There really is a buzz of excitement around the Sixth Form at present!

To view other local schools in the Local Worcestershire Education list search “Worcestershire” here https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/1335365/?utm_source=embed&utm_campaign=visualisation/1335365%27.

31st January 2020 — King's Worcester are exceptionally proud to share the recent news of some of their Upper Sixth students.

Five King’s students are celebrating after being offered conditional places to study at the UK’s two leading higher education institutions – The University of Oxford and Cambridge University. Charlie M hopes to head to The University of Oxford to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics and Bronnie E plans to also join Charlie at The University of Oxford to study Classics and Oriental Studies. Nicole S, Zoe K and Philippa W all have their sights set on Cambridge University, where Nicole will study Medicine, Zoe, History and Phillipa, English.

Competition for places at Oxford and Cambridge both from pupils in the UK and internationally have been stronger than ever and King's are incredibly proud that well over thirty-eight King’s students have been offered places over the past six years. Alongside this is the commitment these five students have made to school life and extra-curricular activities at King’s Worcester. Amongst them you will find a singer-songwriter who has produced her own EP, the Green Party Candidate in the School Mock Elections and a CCF Sargent and Head of the Debating Society.

Together with these students there are many other notable achievements from pupils at King's Worcester, including Imogen Gillgrass who was offered 11 unconditional Sports Scholarships at universities in America. The England U18 hockey star, has just returned from a tour of Michigan State University, The University of Louisville and Wake Forest University where she has been offered three “Full-Ride Sports Scholarships”. After her university course Imogen hopes to pursue a career in Sports Psychology and coaching.

Imogen was super excited with her offers and added; “I have always been a firm believer in hard work and it’s great to now start to reap the rewards of this. I’m really excited to be going to America. It’s such an amazing opportunity, the standard of academic study, alongside the facilities and student athlete support is first-class. The training schedules are intense with 20 hours a week on pitch, 5 hours strength and conditioning gym work and 3 games a week but I’m really excited. I know this will give me a great platform to further my career in hockey.”

When asked about what she will miss most about King’s when she leaves, Imogen added.

“I’ve been at King’s since I was two and will really miss the King’s community. I never ever thought I’d be going to America and King’s has given me the confidence to peruse my passion for hockey. I’m so grateful for the support I’ve received from so many of the staff.”

Many other students have been equally as happy, such as Head Boy and captain of the U18 Rugby XI, Hamish Stigant, who lifted the trophy at the Modus Cup and appeared in the chorus of Made in Dagenham. Hamish is currently studying History, Politics and Economics A-levels and is planning to study Business and Management with a year aboard. Fellow pupil Skye Weaver, who was lead role in Made in Dagenham, and performed in the recent Gold Arts Award “Make a Wish” dance showcase also hopes to head to University to study Business Management having received four conditional offers. King's Worcester is particularly pleased to see such a widespread of courses across Midwifery, Law, Veterinary Sciences, Dentistry, Criminology, Speech and Language Therapy, Biomedical Sciences, Architecture, Forensic Sciences and many other subject areas. Every department within the school has enjoyed success.

28th November 2019 — The Governors of The King’s School, Worcester are very pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Gareth Doodes as Headmaster following the sad loss of Matthew Armstrong in August 2019.

Gareth will join us in September 2020 from Dover College where he has been Headmaster for the last five years. Previously Head of Milton Abbey in Dorset, Gareth started his career at Taunton School as a history teacher and then as a Housemaster at Oakham School. He has coached sport and has always been involved with music and drama. Gareth is also a Church of England lay minister of communion.

Hugh Carslake, the Chairman of Governors, said of Gareth’s appointment, ‘The Governors are delighted that Gareth has accepted the appointment and I very much look forward to working with him. Gareth’s passion for King’s and his strong belief in the future of King’s were both contributing factors in his appointment’.

Gareth was educated at Eastbourne College, where he was a music scholar, and gained an MA in Modern History at the University of St Andrews. A keen cyclist and swimmer, he plays the piano and organ, and has extensive choral singing experience. He is married to Jessica, who is from Worcestershire, and they have two young children, Humphrey and Persephone, both of whom will become pupils at the school.

Commenting on his appointment, Mr Doodes said, ‘I knew Matthew, and was deeply saddened by his loss. He gave great leadership to King’s and as his successor I want to build on his legacy, strengthening the Foundation and ensuring that King’s long term success, growth and development continues. King’s strong community, exceptional co-curricular provision, links to the Cathedral and pursuit of academic excellence have inspired Jess and me. The affection for the school is clear from everyone I have met, and I am privileged to be leading the King’s family forward over the many years ahead.’