1. What are the hours of the school day?
Pre-Nursery: 9:00am to 4:15pm Reception and Key Stage 1: 9:00am to 4:35pm
2. How many pupils are there at King’s Infant School? We can have up to 200 pupils approximately.
3. How many pupils are there in each class? On average, there can be between 20-25 pupils per class.
4. What is the ratio of international pupils at the school? 69% of our pupils are Spanish and 31% international (approximately 5% are British).
5. Which curriculum does the school follow? The English National Curriculum.
6. Are the teachers British? All academic staff teaching the English National Curriculum are qualified British teachers, with the exception of some of the language teachers, who are native speakers. Those teaching Spanish language, Spanish validation and Bachillerato are qualified native Spanish teachers.
7. What language do the pupils speak in the playground? It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact language since many of our children are international, sometimes English or Spanish will be the main language of play. However, children from the same cultural background will commonly speak their own home language with one another. New children joining the school with little, or no knowledge of the language generally pick it up very quickly. English is the language of the classroom and pupils with little or no Spanish will receive additional support in Spanish lessons to ensure full integration.
8. Will my child learn Spanish at King’s Infant School? Spanish pupils are required to take a minimum number of Spanish classes per week from Year 1, the frequency and number depending on their age.
9. What other languages are available? French and Chinese (as an optional class). Spanish is taught as part of the curriculum in Year 1 & 2, and children from Nursery and Reception enjoy weekly sessions of Spanish as part of their early immersion into the Spanish Curriculum
10. What sports are available? Children take part in sports’ lessons as part of the curriculum. We also offer extracurricular classes in ballet, judo, football, rhythmic gymnastics, and swimming.
11. How much homework is set? Homework at Kings Infant School reflects the age of our pupils. Children may be set optional homework tasks to further enhance their learning experience at school by sharing this with their parents at home. Pupils are expected to take reading books home regularly to read at home with their parents/carers.
12. What examinations do students take at a King’s School? (I)GCSE (Cambridge), GCE A Level (Edexcel) and International Baccalaureate (IB). Spanish university entrance examinations are undertaken when pupils join the senior departments, later on during the King’s academic journey.
13. Where do students go after finishing their studies at King’s College? Students who finish their education at King’s College enter universities all over the world. In the past, the majority of ex-students have entered British universities and a considerable number have been admitted to top institutions such as, Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College and LSE. Other prestigious universities have entered include Durham, St. Andrew’s, Edinburgh, Manchester and numerous colleges belonging to the University of London. Some students have preferred to attend Spanish universities (UAM, Complutense, Carlos III, etc.) and many others have decided to continue their higher education in other parts of the world and have gained entry to universities in the USA (Boston College, Harvard, MIT, New York, Princeton and Rutgers), Canada (McGill, Dalhousie, University of Toronto and Waterloo), France (Sorbonne) and Japan (Aoyama, ICU, Keio, Sofia, Tokio, Tsukubu and Waseda), as well as in Australia, Chile, Korea,Turkey, Venezuela, etc.
14. Is it possible to study at King’s College for one term only? At King’s Infant School this is possible if there is space. At other King’s
College Schools the minimum time we can normally accept students is for one whole academic year. However, for certain courses the minimum stay is two full academic years. This is true of the (I)GCSE course in Years 10 & 11 and the A Level (AS & A2) courses in Years 12 and 13, which are integral 2-year programmes.
15. How well do new international pupils adapt to the school? Pupils at King’s Infant School are used to welcoming newcomers and on the whole are very friendly and helpful. The staff makes sure that “buddies” are always on hand to help the settling in process.
16. How do I go about applying for a place for my child? The first step in the admissions process is to send in an application form which may be obtained from our web page or by contacting the Admissions Department directly. The procedures for admission vary slightly according to the age of the candidate (please see Admissions). Infants are required to provide reports from the school of origin if these are available.
17. Does King’s Infant School accept pupils with little or no English? Yes, we do, though we recommend that you speak to the Headteacher. For a limited number of Primary pupils between the ages of 5 and 14, we offer an “Induction English” programme. This is a special course for non-English speaking newcomers of proven academic ability, whose entry to King’s College would not otherwise be possible. They receive intensive English classes in very small groups and individual support is provided in mainstream lessons. From the age of 10 onwards new pupils must have a high level of English to enter the school.
18. How many students choose to follow the Spanish system at the age of 16? This varies greatly from year to year depending on where they intend to study after leaving King’s College (i.e. in Spain or abroad). However, the advantage our students have is that, whether they choose the British or Spanish system for their final two years at King’s College, because they have studied in the British system up to the age of 16, they are well prepared to study at universities abroad. Every year many students who have completed their A Levels at King’s enter Spanish universities.
19. What is the difference between the schools in Chamartín, La Moraleja and Soto de Viñuelas? King’s Infant School in Chamartín is a purpose-built Infant School for 200 pupils between the ages of12 months and 7 years (Pre-Nursery to Year 2). Children transfer to the main school in Soto de Viñuelas or to King’s College School in La Moraleja at the end of Year 2. King’s College School in La Moraleja caters for 500 pupils between the ages of 20 months-16yrs (Pre-Nursery to Year 11). In Year 11 pupils transfer to King’s College Soto de Viñuelas. All schools follow the same curriculum.
20. Which Exam Boards do pupils follow at each level?
· King’s College I/GCSE Exam Boards and Course Numbers:
- English Literature – CIE 0486
- English 1st Language – CIE 0500
- English 2nd Language – CIE 0510
- Art – CIE 0400
- Coordinated Science – CIE 9654
- History – CIE 0470
- French – CIE 0520
- Spanish Literature – CIE 0654
- Business Studies – CIE 0450
- ICT – CIE 0418
- Geography – AQA – 3031
- Media Studies – AQA 3571
· King’s College AS Exam Boards and Course Numbers:
- English Literature & Language – Edexcel 8179
- Mathematics – Edexcel 8371
- Economics and Business Studies – Edexel 8128
- Chemistry – Edexel 8080
- Physics – Edexel 8540
- Biology – Edexel 8040
- History – Edexel 8264
- Geography – Edexel 8214
- French – Edexel 8190
- Spanish – Edexel 8590
- Art CIE 9704
- ICT – AQA
- Media Studies – WJEC