At King’s High, academic excellence is only part of the story. Our students are curious, ambitious, and eager to explore the complex questions and emerging issues that shape the world.
As a Centre for Creative Thinking, we equip our pupils to become innovative, original thinkers who can respond creatively to real-world challenges.
Our Learning Wheel
Our distinctive approach is guided by the Learning Wheel, which underpins the Curriculum of the Future Project. This forward-looking framework focuses on three key areas: the content of the curriculum, the skills developed through high-quality learning, and the habits and character traits that remain with students long after they leave King’s.
At the heart of the Learning Wheel is our mission to nurture a community of Changemakers. Pupils are encouraged to use their learning to make a positive difference in the world. Surrounding this core are our key dispositions: independence, collaboration, persistence, curiosity, and imagination — essential qualities for thriving in school and beyond.
The Wheel also emphasises action and application. Inquisitiveness, for example, is cultivated through investigation, questioning, research, challenging assumptions, and exploring ideas. The outer ring represents the broader horizons of a King’s education, preparing pupils to seize opportunities and develop as confident, outward-looking individuals ready for the challenges of the future.
From Years 7 to 9, pupils can participate in the Changemaker Award, which recognises imagination, collaboration, and community responsibility.
In Years 10 and 11, students can study three unique EduQual-accredited courses alongside their GCSEs:
Global Changemaker Programme – covering Social Justice, Global Citizenship, Law & the Legal System, and Climate Change
Innovation and Entrepreneurship Programme – exploring Sustainable Engineering, Data Analysis, Neuroscience, and Entrepreneurship
Science for Change Programme – including Experimental Science, Conservation, Sustainable Synthesis, and Medical Physics
These courses are unique to King’s High, challenging pupils to think critically, solve real-world problems, and develop the skills and mindset needed for a rapidly changing world.
One of the questions we are most passionate about is how we teach students to use their knowledge to generate good ideas, in other words, how to be creative. Our teachers are dedicated to busting the myth that creativity is the preserve of the elite few. We also apply the principles of creativity across all of our departments. It is just as possible to be a creative physicist as it is to be a creative artist, and we want all of our students to become confident in proposing, refining and developing their own ideas, regardless of their particular interests. You can read more about our approach on our Creative Thinking blog below.
