Kingsley Devon, which is a co-educational boarding and day school accommodating pupils between the ages of 2 and 18, is wholeheartedly dedicated to promoting positive mental health and wellbeing for each of its students, with an aim to achieving both academic success and happiness. Such level of commitment makes it an excellent choice for families within and outside the United Kingdom, who share the belief that every child is unique and deserving of personalised attention and support.
As a relatively small school of around 420 boys and girls from Nursery to Sixth Form, Kingsley’s atmosphere is like a large family where everybody knows each other well. The school’s philosophy encourages personal qualities such as courage, generosity, honesty, imagination, tolerance and kindness. In addition, we develop the students’ broader interests and skills in sport, music, outdoor education, surfing, art, and drama. Overall, a Kingsley education develops each student’s individual character and talents both inside and outside the classroom.
Location. Kingsley School is situated in the beautiful North Devon market town of Bideford, a historic port beside the estuary of the River Torridge. The spectacular scenery of the North Devon coast and beautiful beaches are on our doorstep, and there is easy access to the National Parks of Exmoor and Dartmoor. The North Devon link road, which passes close to Bideford, provides a direct route to the M5 motorway.
Earth Centre. The development of the Earth Centre offering, based in the heart of Devon’s UNESCO biosphere, is a destination for excellence in educating and developing students to be future leaders and experts in environmental protection and sustainability. Environmental sustainability is of significant importance and is seen as an integral part of the curriculum and the way Kingsley School is run and operated. In particular, climate action, biodiversity restoration and nutrition from healthy food are at the forefront of the schools' policy on environmental sustainability. Through its investment in the Earth Centre concept, Kingsley is driving its school operations towards carbon neutrality, investing in ecology zones to restore and enhance biodiversity on its school sites; and developing commercial-scale market gardens to provide nutrient-dense healthy food for its pupils and the wider community. These activities also aim to cultivate a range of academic and vocational skills relevant to the environmental challenges we face and the new career opportunities that become available.
Organisation. Kingsley School is entirely co-educational and comprises a Senior School with approximately 240 pupils aged 11 to 18 years and a Prep School with approximately 130 pupils aged 2½ to 11 years, as well as 50 in our Pre-Prep, which offers wraparound care for children from 2 to 3 years old. In addition, Kingsley has a nationwide reputation for outstanding dyslexia provision, serving around 25% of the school’s pupils.
Site and buildings. Situated on a beautiful 25-acre site, the school has two Boarding Houses for boys and one for girls, all of which have immediate access to extensive playing fields, theatre, studio, an all-weather pitch, playing fields, netball and tennis courts.
In recent years, an investment programme has led to the provision of excellent facilities for surfing, drama, gymnastics, art and science. The Library provides an excellent environment for study, research and career guidance.
Curriculum. In Senior School, for GCSE study, the core subjects include English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Modern Languages and Religious Studies. In addition, subjects such as Art and Design, CoPE, Computer Science, Drama, Engineering, Geography, History, Hospitality, Music and Sports Science and PSE complete the programme of study. In the Sixth Form, there is a wide choice of A Level and vocational subjects, including Applied Science, Art, CoPE, Biology, Business Studies, Chemistry, Drama, Economics, EAL, English Literature, EOQ, Geography, History, Horticulture, Hospitality, Maths, Further Maths, Modern Foreign Languages, Music, Photography, Physics, Psychology and Sport. Tuition in English for speakers of other languages is also available.
Sport and Physical Education. All pupils, girls and boys, are encouraged to participate in various sports, including rugby, hockey, netball, cross-country, handball, cricket, gymnastics, badminton, basketball, football, rounders, tennis, judo, swimming and health-related fitness. The Judo Academy has a unique link with the elite Team Bath. The school’s gymnasts compete at a local, regional and national level. Our cross-country athletes compete at regional and national ISA levels. Our new Surfing Academy, supports all students to become confident, competent and healthy surfers.
Clubs and activities. There is an extensive range of extracurricular activities organised and supervised by staff. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme, Ten Tors, Eco club, gardening, filming, choir, orchestra, judo, computing, art, music, climbing and surfing are among the most popular clubs available for our pupils to enjoy. Numerous expeditions and field trips are organised each year, both in the UK and abroad. Musicals, plays and concerts are regularly presented in the school’s purpose-designed theatre.
Careers. From Year 9 onwards, pupils are offered a planned programme of careers education and guidance as part of the tutorial programme. This is complemented by presentations from visiting professionals, visits to careers events and close contact with Careers Advisers from Connexions Cornwall and Devon. All pupils have access to the latest careers information in the School Library.
Pastoral care. In addition to their Year Heads, all pupils have a Personal Tutor responsible for monitoring their academic progress and personal wellbeing. For boarders, care is also the responsibility of the Houseparents.
Admission. Boys and girls join the Nursery from 2 years. Entry to the Prep and Senior Schools is by interview and taster day. For pupils with recognised learning difficulties, entry is by interview and an up-to-date educational psychologist’s report. 13+ admission is through our own Entrance Examination or Scholarship Examination. An interview and a report from their present school are required for older pupils.
Scholarships. Many of our scholarship programmes are combined with a fee reduction and this can be as much as 100% with some of our Sixth Form scholarships. Entrance scholarships are offered annually for pupils joining Year 7, Year 9 and Year 12 based on the results of entrance tests held in the preceding January. Candidates may be considered for an academic scholarship along with individual scholarships in Music, Performing Arts, Sports, Judo, Gymnastics, Netball, Surfing, Art, Top Universities Programme and Earth Centre. Scholarships will be awarded on the basis of an interview, audition or assessment at the School, together with a supporting portfolio of achievements in the relevant subject. Assessment for Year 7, 9, 12 academic scholarships is made through written tests in Mathematics, English and Science, and a verbal reasoning test.
Fees per term (2024-2025). Prep School: Day £2,790 (Reception), £2,925 (Years 1 and 2), £3,610 (Years 3 and 4), £4,625 (Years 5 and 6); Boarding (from Year 7) £8,695 (flexi), £12,930 (full). Senior School: Day £5,845-£6,180. Fees include VAT.