Kings' School was formed in 1985 by merging the two previous schools on the site: Danemark School and Montgomery of Alamein School. These schools trace their roots back to the Wesleyan Day School, St Thomas's School, St Mary's School, and Danemark Central School. To begin with teaching was split between both the former Montgomery site and the former Danemark site. By 1993 all teaching had transferred into the largely redeveloped Danemark site. The main hall, science block, sports hall and maths block of the Montgomery site were demolished in 1993 and housing now stands on the site. The english block, technology block and old dining hall still stand on the Montgomery site.
Academic achievement
Between 2012 and 2015, between 74 and 95 per cent of 15-year-olds have achieved five or more GCSE grades A to C, including Maths and English. According to data from 2008 in the BBC League Tables, Kings' is one of Hampshire's top state schools. According to Government League Table data from 2014, King's school is still within the top 50 schools in Hampshire sorted by their A*-C achievement percentage. The school's results in 2015 saw 76% of the 333 pupil cohort achieve 5 or more A* to C GCSE grades, including Maths and English, with 86% achieving 5 or more A* to C grades overall.
Curriculum
The school teaches a large number of subjects, both at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4. Most courses are assessed in the form of a GCSE qualification taken at the end of Year 11, but the school does offer a couple of more vocational courses.
Key Stage 3 - Years 7 to 9
Key Stage 3 pupils are taught the UK's National Curriculum. All pupils study the following subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, Business Studies, Physical Education, Religious Studies, History, Geography, Music, Art, Drama, Technology, photography, psychology, sociology, food technology, computer science, media studies, textiles and PSHE. All pupils take a language in Year 7, either French, Spanish, German or Italian. Some pupils may study a second language in Year 8, either French, Spanish, Latin, German or Italian.
On average, pupils enter 10 GCSE or equivalent qualifications at the end of Year 11. All pupils in Year 10 and 11 study the following examined subjects: English Language, English Literature, Science, Mathematics and Business Studies. Pupils in Year 10 and 11 also study PSHE and PE, but these subjects are not examined. Other subjects that are offered at GCSE level include: Art, Child Development, Computer Science, Dance, Drama, French, Food Preparation and Nutrition, Geography, German, Graphics, Health and Social Care, History, Italian, Latin, Media Studies, Music, Photography, PE, Psychology, Religious Studies, Resistant Materials, Sociology, Spanish and Textiles. The school also offers OCR National courses in Business Enterprise, ICT and Sport Studies.
Facilities
The school's facilities include an indoor swimming pool, an astro turf and The Tower Arts Centre, which is used for drama and dance rehearsals and performances, as well as exercise classes, conferences, meetings and training workshops. There is also a newly built climbing wall and bouldering wall available for public use.
Catchment area
Kings' School has a large catchment area, from Winchester to the southern surrounding villages. Students from outside the catchment area are brought in by bus from as far north as Andover to as far south as Southampton. Unusually for a State Comprehensive school, Kings' School previously had a boys' boarding house, the Kings' School House. The boarding house closed in August 2015 after a review by Hampshire County Council
Criticism
In November 2008, a girl was to be taught in isolation as a result of dyeing her hair. Later that month, several parents complained that new restrictions regarding the colour of underwear were unfair and an invasion of privacy. The school stated that it was a misunderstanding, as it was a suggestion only, not a new rule.
