Music for Youth

Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:25:54 PST

The King’s Junior Chamber Choir has made it through to the National Festival stage of the Music for Youth finals in July this year. Music for Youth is an educational charity with a worldwide reputation for its work in music education. 100,000 young musicians take part in their festivals and concerts every year .

The King’s choir of thirty-six Year 7 and 8 girls sang a beautiful rendition of Chilcott’s “All for Love of One” as well as “Top of the World” by the Carpenters at the Regional Festival stage in Northampton earlier this year. They beat a number of performers to reach the next stage which will take part at the Symphony Hall in Birmingham in July. At this level they will compete with twenty two other Junior Choirs from around the country for one place to sing at the School's Proms in November at the Royal Albert Hall.

We wish the nicknamed “Singing Baguettes” (Mrs Jones practises with the girls at lunchtimes) well in their quest.

Employment Opportunities

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:26:23 PST

The are no current employment opportunities. Please check back soon.

Phase 2 of our Development Campaign is now underway

Tue, 13 May 2008 22:47:06 PST

We are pleased to announce the launch of our fundraising campaign for the new Creative Arts Centre – and the receipt of our first donation!

This represents the start of the second phase in our development programme, following the successful completion of St Mary’s and the new Sixth Form Centre, opened by Dame Judi Dench in December 2006.

Phase Two involves the transformation of St Nicholas, which we currently use for music, art and design technology, into a £3.7 million Creative Arts Centre, to include:

a 60 seat drama studio
a 96 seat music/drama studio
a keyboard studio
a recording studio
a music classroom
four practice rooms
four art rooms
a purpose-built dark room
instrument stores
changing rooms
various offices and meeting rooms

Decade Day Information

Mon, 12 May 2008 22:46:10 PST

Come to our 1970s DecadeDay

In association with the OGA, we are holding our first KHS Decade Day on Saturday 5 July 2008, for all Old Girls and former Staff who were here between 1970 and 1979. We shall be celebrating 1970s school life as well as the decade in general.

From 11am onwards, you are invited to:

take a tour of the school, including old favourites such as historic Eastgate as well as more recent additions, such as the new Sixth Form Centre
look at our archive displays from the 1970s, including the 1979 School Centenary celebrations, headlines of the decade, school life, lessons and people
enjoy drinks and a seventies-themed buffet lunch
meet up with old friends to enjoy reminiscences about the decade.

Tickets cost £15 per person, to include buffet lunch and drinks. We do hope you will join us on the day.

Please download and complete the below booking and memories forms, and return with a cheque for £15, made payable to Warwick Independent Schools Foundation, to:

Christine Musselwhite, Development Manager, King’s High School for Girls, Smith Street, Warwick, CV34 4HJ, by the closing date of Friday 6 June.

If you know of other Old Girls who would like to attend but who have not received information about the event, please e mail Christine Musselwhite at c.musselwhite@kingshighwarwick.co.uk with their contact details.

Download Booking Form
Download Memories Form

Literary Awards

Wed, 07 May 2008 14:36:50 PST

On Friday 25 April 2008, two sixth form pupils from King’s High School were presented with prestigious awards.

The 16th Gertrude Bark Award was presented to Madison Plantier. The award is for a student of literature, music or drama. The Trustees had a difficult task to choose one winner from nine gifted young people. 18-year-old Madison receives the award in recognition of her achievements as a poet. She impressed the Trustees by the breadth of her studies, covering both arts and sciences, and by her academic achievements. Her linguistic abilities enable an adventurous exploration in the world of literature, including Japanese, and ancient Greek literature.

The Trust makes one award a year to a Sixth Form student of literature, drama or music in the Warwick and Leamington area, looking for talent, enthusiasm and some indication that their contributions benefit their school and community. The standard of applicants is always high and Madison is to be congratulated on her achievement.

The Mary Dormer Harris Memorial Bursary was awarded to Chloe Riddle (18) in recognition of her outstanding commitment to Sixth Form Studies. The award is made to a Sixth former who shows promise in the widest possible sense. Chloe is an able scientist and a student of English literature.
Both girls have exciting plans for Higher Education.

Photo: Madison Plantier (left) and Chloe Riddle (right) with members of the Gertrude Bark Trust and Mary Dormer Harris Trust.

ILEX

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 21:04:52 PST

The 2008 ILEX will be published in the Autumn term, available to OGA members for £6. If any members would like to buy a copy please send a cheque, payable to KHS OGA to Ms Ruth Court at King’s High.

Hockey Champions

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 18:56:48 PST

Both King’s High and Warwick Preparatory Schools are Warwickshire Mini Hockey champions!

For the second year running both schools have won the county title and will go on to represent Warwickshire at the Midlands Finals at the end of April.

Head of Physical Education, Caroline Gilbert, commented “this is a fantastic achievement for both schools and we look forward to seeing the girls’ agility, determination and strength on display at the forthcoming Midlands event. Hockey at King’s has a bright future with our Under 15 and Under 12 teams also recently winning Warwickshire County titles”.

Easter 2008 Newsletter

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 20:59:04 PST

To read the Newsletter, please click here

Healthy Eating at King's

Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:07:35 PST

While the national debate continues on the promotion of healthy eating and its impact on children, King’s have embarked on a number of activities to promote Healthy Eating Week (3^rd – 7^th March).

School menus have been tailored and girls continue to enjoy the award winning healthy options on offer such as chilli bean casserole, lemon chicken, roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and roasted potatoes followed by selection of desserts and fruit.

The school also held a number of events during the week raising over £100 for Bulgaria’s Abandoned Children’s Appeal. Events included the sale of healthy smoothies and muffins at break time and setting up a cafe for girls at break and lunchtime. Year 9 girls, as part of their Food Technology lesson, took part in their own “Ready, Steady, Cook” session using healthy ingredients. The event was videoed to add to the authenticity and excitement of the day. A healthy recipe book will also be produced later this term, made up of recipes the girls are being asked to create.

Sun Shines in Paris

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:34:24 PST

The sun shone for King’s High girls during Half-Term in Paris while visiting several major galleries in connection with their History of Art course. They also had the opportunity to study the architecture of the city as they travelled between galleries - the Eiffel Tower at sunset being a memorable sight. Other visits included the Musee Rodin, Pompidou Centre, Musee D'Orsay, Picasso Museum, and the Louvre all in an intensive three day visit.

Learning Languages Through Food

Mon, 18 Feb 2008 15:50:25 PST

Celebrating pancake day was the latest collaborative effort between Food Technology and the Languages department. We have had German Christmas cooking (making stollen and biscuits with years 12 and 13), Spanish guacamoleand tortillas (with year 9 Spanish classes). The girls are given the recipes in the relevant language and have had great fun working together, bringing languages alive through food.

Oxbridge Success

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:20:30 PST

Nineteen sixth formers from Warwick Independent Schools have been offered places at the prestigious Oxford and Cambridge Universities. The students from two of Warwickshire’s top performing schools (King’s High and Warwick School) are set to study their chosen subjects ranging from languages to law.

Headmistress, Elizabeth Surber, is delighted with the schools’ achievement saying “This is a great result for our schools. It is a great tribute to the dedication of our staff and to the students themselves.”

Accompanying photograph shows some of the successful students in Warwick town centre.

From left to right: Back Row: Oscar Robinson, Jonathan Lindsell, Lucie Browning, Robert Howard, James Dargan, Richard Wilson, Hermione Mackay, Hannah Beeke, Boris Davis

Front Row: Edward Button, Abigail Behcist, Gary Wu, Yolanda Viola-Glapinska, Sam Atkinson, Edward Freeman, Kavern Chan and Susannah Reckitt

Old Girls Annual Lunch

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 15:20:11 PST

The OGA Annual Lunch – Saturday 1 March 2008

Over 70 former pupils, former staff and current staff attended the annual OGA lunch on Saturday 1 March.

Attendees arrived throughout the morning to enjoy a tour of the school, including visits to historic Eastgate and the new Sixth Form Centre, before catching up with old friends over pre-lunch drinks in Landor Hall.

Following the OGA AGM, a buffet lunch was served in the Main Hall, which was decorated appropriately with daffodils, as the event was held on St David’s Day.

Headmistress Mrs Surber gave an illustrated talk on life at King’s High today, and was joined by the current Head Girl, Nellie Wheeler, the Deputy Head Girl, Lucie Browning and Senior Prefect Hermione Mackay, who each told their stories, with great affection, of school life at King’s High.

Caroline Russell made a welcome return to school for the event, and presided over an impromptu auction for a beautiful original painting of Landor House, which was initially donated for the raffle that followed. Amid fierce bidding, the painting was sold for £50!

We were delighted to welcome back to school Old Girl Mrs Christina Jackson – who celebrated her 94th birthday on the same day. The occasion was marked with a birthday card and cake from the OGA, which were presented to her as everyone sang Happy Birthday.

Mrs Christina Jackson celebrating her 94^th Birthday, with Polly Beidas and 2007-08 senior team: Eleanor Wheeler, Lucie Browning, Rachel Weston Smith & Hermione Mackay.

Enjoying pre-lunch drinks in Landor Hall

Lunch in the Main Hall

Mrs Surber delivers an after-lunch speech

Caroline Russell presides over the auction

Mrs Jackson cuts her birthday cake

Farewell to our Deputy Headmistress, Mrs Russell

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 11:45:28 PST

1989 - 2007

During the last week of term a number of events were held to mark the retirement of Mrs Caroline Russell following her 19 years with the school. A tea party was held on the 15 December for Old Girls and former members of staff. The prefects told a special assembly, held on 18 December, of their affection, their escapades and their enduring memories of dramatised lessons and role played scenarios with their Deputy Headmistress.

Mrs Surber wished Mrs Russell “a happy retirement” on the staff’s behalf at a final luncheon after the Carol Service. She was presented with a Sue Lewis-Blake landscape as a retirement gift from everyone and an engraved bowl by the Governors.

Welcome to our new Deputy Heads

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:07:41 PST

Welcome to our new Deputy Heads

Mrs Renton takes on a new role as our Deputy Headmistress (Pastoral). She is already well known to the King’s community, having been a member of our Senior Management Team for the last three years. Mrs Renton previously was Head of Geography at a GSA school and a teaching housemistress at Wycombe Abbey before joining King’s as Senior Teacher (Pastoral) and Head of Key Stage 4. In her spare time she enjoys travelling, opera, riding and dining out.

Mr Bethel joins King’s High as our Deputy Headmaster, Academic, from King Edward VI Camp Hill Girls’ School in Birmingham where he was Head of Biology and Training Manager. His expertise lies particularly in leading and developing classroom practice, use of performance data to improve learning and creativity in the classroom. Mr Bethel is married with three children and assorted animals, including two rescued, ex-racing greyhounds.

Catering Staff win Double Award

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:06:25 PST

King’s High School kitchen staff scored a double whammy with a Gold Award and a Heartbeat Award from Warwick District Council. The Gold Award recognised the excellent standards achieved in hygiene and safety as well as the technical knowledge and food safety management demonstrated by the catering team. The Heartbeat Award was given in recognition of the healthy food choices available at the school.

Spring 2008 Newsletter

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:05:07 PST

To download our Spring 2008 Newsletter click here .

Christmas at Kings

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 17:23:48 PST

King’s girls were busy in the run up to Christmas, with a variety of charity and community activities.

As in previous years, the school was involved in Operation Christmas Child, filling and sending 161 boxes to less fortunate children in other parts of the world. Girls also collected gifts for children and mothers staying at Warwickshire Women’s Refuge over the Christmas period.

The girls enjoyed their own Christmas lunch at school and also the Christmas Concert and Carol Service at St Mary’s: a fitting finale to a successful term of hard work.

Exam Successes 2007

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 13:57:36 PST

100% A Level and GCSE Passes

We are proud of all of our sixty-four Year 13 pupils who achieved a 100% A level pass rate out of 195 entries in 22 subjects. A third of the year group obtained 3 grade As. In total, 81% of the A levels were awarded at grades A or B and 55% at grade A.

At GCSE level our girls yet again achieved a magnificent 100% pass rate. 86% of the total entries for the 84 girls resulted in A* or A grades with 83 of the girls being awarded at least one A* or A grade. 48% of grades awarded were A*s. 98% of grades were A* - C.

7 girls gained 9 top A* grades each. 18 girls achieved 19 of the top 5 marks nationally in Science (11), Information and Communications Technology (4), Food Technology (2), French (1) and Spanish (1).

Departmental Reports

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 12:52:16 PST

Read more about life in our various subject departments from the last academic year. Click here