Two pupils from the 2025 leaving cohort took up places at Harvard, reflecting a strong US pipeline.
HMC boys' day school in London, founded by royal charter in 1829
Why this school
Two pupils from the 2025 leaving cohort took up places at Harvard, reflecting a strong US pipeline.
A 2019 sports centre houses a 25-metre swimming pool and a six-court sports hall.
The school rows from its own boathouse on the Putney Embankment, with playing fields at Motspur Park.
King’s College School, Wimbledon — known as KCS — was founded in 1829 by royal charter of George IV as the junior department of King’s College London. It moved to its current 20-acre site on Wimbledon Common in 1897 and has operated as an independent HMC (Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference) school ever since. With around 1,400 pupils aged 7 to 18, KCS sits firmly among the most selective boys’ day schools in the UK, drawing families from across London and internationally. Its sixth form offers both A-Levels and the IB (International Baccalaureate) Diploma concurrently, which is unusual for a school of this type and shapes the academic culture throughout.
Pupils enter at age 7 into the junior school and progress to the senior school from Year 7. At GCSE, the school follows a broad academic curriculum before pupils choose between A-Levels, the IB Diploma, or a combination that may include the EPQ (Extended Project Qualification). The school does not offer BTEC (Business and Technology Education Council) or Pre-U. Class sizes are consistent with a selective independent school of this scale.
KCS was named IB School of the Year 2025 by the Sunday Times Parent Power guide. The IB cohort averages over 40 points against a UK average of approximately 35. At A-Level in 2025, 86% of grades were A*-A, with 50.75% at A*.
The sixth form (Years 12 and 13) is one of very few in the HMC sector to run A-Levels and the IB Diploma side by side, allowing pupils to choose the qualification that best suits their university ambitions. EPQ is also available alongside A-Levels. Termly fees for Years 9–13, including sixth form, are £11,404 (VAT included), giving an annual figure of £34,212 (2025). Among 2025 leavers, more than 60 Ivy League placements were recorded alongside strong Russell Group and Oxbridge numbers, a destinations profile that reflects both qualification routes on offer.
A-Level results
86% A*-A (2025)
As a day school, KCS structures its week around a full academic and co-curricular timetable. Pastoral care runs through tutor groups, with form tutors and heads of year providing continuity across a pupil’s time at the school. The 20-acre Wimbledon Common site provides genuine outdoor space within an otherwise urban setting, rare for a London day school. Lunch is included in the termly fee.
Sport at KCS is taken seriously across a wide range of disciplines. Rugby, cricket, rowing, and tennis are among the most established, and the school competes at national level in several of them. Music has a strong presence, with ensembles, orchestras, and chamber groups performing across the year. Drama and the arts occupy dedicated facilities and productions run to a high standard. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) programme is available alongside societies, debating competitions, and academic enrichment activities that complement the IB and A-Level curricula.
The school occupies a 20-acre site adjacent to Wimbledon Common in south-west London. It is a green, open environment that is genuinely uncommon for a capital day school. Buildings span several eras, from Victorian originals to modern specialist blocks for science, arts, and sport. Recent investment has kept the infrastructure in line with what a school of KCS’s academic profile requires. The Common itself extends the effective outdoor space well beyond the school’s own grounds.
Annual tuition
£34,212 per year · day · Years 9-13 (incl. Sixth Form) · 9-13
Other tier breakdowns shown below.
| Stage | Year groups | Type | Audience | Fee / year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Years 7-8 | 7-8 | Day | — | £31,230 |
| Years 9-13 (incl. Sixth Form) | 9-13 | Day | — | £34,212 |
Additional fees
Deposit
£4,752
Registration
£210
South-west London; London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is approximately 13 miles away.
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KCS offers both A-Levels and the IB Diploma in the sixth form, one of very few HMC schools to run both programmes concurrently. The EPQ is also available alongside A-Levels. Pupils choose the route that best fits their university goals and approach to learning.
For Years 7–8, termly fees are £10,410 (£31,230 per year, VAT included). For Years 9–13, including the sixth form, termly fees are £11,404 (£34,212 per year, VAT included). Fees cover tuition, lunch, and most curriculum resources. A registration fee of £210 and a deposit of £4,752 also apply.
At A-Level in 2025, 86% of grades were A*-A, with 50.75% at A*. In the IB, the school’s cohort averaged over 40 points against a UK average of approximately 35. KCS was named IB School of the Year 2025 by the Sunday Times Parent Power guide.
Among 2025 leavers, more than 60 Ivy League placements were recorded. The school also sends a significant number of pupils to Russell Group universities and Oxbridge each year, across both its A-Level and IB Diploma routes.
KCS admits pupils from age 7 to 18, spanning both the junior and senior schools. There are approximately 1,400 pupils in total across the school.
No. KCS is a day school. All pupils, including sixth formers, attend as day pupils. The school is based on a 20-acre site adjacent to Wimbledon Common in south-west London.
The school is located in south-west London, close to Wimbledon Common. London Heathrow Airport (LHR) is approximately 13 miles away. Wimbledon station provides direct rail and Underground connections into central London.
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