The Senior School is a warm, welcoming, busy and vibrant environment in which pupils are encouraged to aim for the highest standards in all that they do and to set the kind of example that they would also wish to follow. Whilst we are very proud of examination results that consistently rank King Edward’s amongst the highest performing schools in the south-west of England, we also understand that academic excellence is only one ingredient in the recipe for happiness and success.

As the city’s former grammar school, founded in 1552, KES has a very healthy tradition of nurturing academic excellence and ambition, reflected these days in the School’s consistently outstanding results which consistently place us in the top five independent schools in the South West. The ethos of the School is one that encourages all pupils to play as hard as they work and to make the most of all the wonderful opportunities here, both in and out of the classroom, that enable them to grow and thrive within a supportive and caring framework. We set the bar high, but we also give our pupils all the tools that they need to reach those ambitious standards. We aim to foster talent in all its forms and to open doors to enquiry and discovery. Independent-mindedness and creative spirit are strong suits, but so too is the sense of community that seeks to respect and value all its members. 

As a family of three schools, the Pre-Prep, Junior and Senior sections of King Edward's offer an inspiring and supportive environment for children age 3 to 18. Some join us just for the Sixth Form, many stay for their entire school career. All pupils are encouraged to be the best they can be and all are nurtured along the pathway to leading happy, fulfilled and successful lives at school and beyond.

Children thrive most when they are given the opportunities to find their voice and to express themselves, be that through Sport, Music, Drama, Art, Debating, Creative Writing, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, CCF, Outdoor Pursuits or any of the dozens of clubs and societies that help our pupils grow into confident, engaging and well-rounded young men and women who are ready to throw themselves into the joys and challenges of life beyond school.

ISI Inspection report. In 2015 the School was inspected by the ISI and was judged as ‘excellent’ across all eight aspects of school life under review including pastoral care and co-curricular provision.  The report noted that “The success of the school lies in the strength of the ethos which permeates it from the EYFS to the sixth form.  All three sections of the school encourage the pupils to strive for excellence and to achieve to the best of their ability in a stimulating environment so that they acquire a love of learning which goes beyond the formal curriculum.”