King Alfred School

The King Alfred School was founded in 1898 by a group of parents who believed in the then radical idea that boys and girls should be educated together in a secular environment that encouraged learning for its own sake. It wanted to provide an education that focused on what was best for the whole child, on the development of character and individuality. Based on these principles and deriving its motivation from every child's natural eagerness to learn, King Alfred's remains a school that stands out from the prevailing educational environment and continues to provide an outstanding educational experience. Academic success is achieved without excessive pressure, and informality is typified by the use of first names between students and staff, the absence of uniform and as few rules as can be managed within a community. By promoting the development of strong staff-student relationships and personal responsibility, we pride ourselves on facilitating the emergence of relaxed, confident, tolerant and articulate young people who are able to take responsibility for planning their own lives. It is the school's belief that each child should be allowed to develop at their own pace in an atmosphere that is free from fear, according to the principles of mutual respect and trust. We place a strong emphasis on creative and active learning and on the value of play. Supported by a high staff to pupil ratio, we aim to provide a happy, compassionate environment in which the emotional, physical and social development of each child are held in equal regard to academic progress. The founding values of the school are at the heart of King Alfred School education today: Mutual respect, Individuality and self-reliance, Social responsibility, Freedom, play and the enjoyment of education, A broad definition of success As these values can have widely different interpretations, the King Alfred School Society has developed a 'Framework' to define what we mean by them at King Alfred School. The Framework sets out our rationale for holding these values, and how they are put into practice today. The Framework underpins all aspects of our academic and pastoral education. Our objective is to help train up its scholars in the way of the good life, to help to fit them for effective work in the world, for effective sympathy and for effective joy.