At a glance
Curriculum and academics
King's College School, usually shortened to KCS, was founded in 1829 as the junior department of King's College London and moved to its present site beside Wimbledon Common in 1897. It is one of the strongest academic schools in the capital and a natural shortlist entry for families weighing the city's IB schools in London. The junior and senior school educate boys from age 7 to 18, and the sixth form is coeducational, admitting girls from Year 12, so the upper years bring boys and girls together for advanced study.
The lower and middle school follow a broad British programme leading to GCSE and IGCSE in the Fifth Form. The defining feature of KCS is its sixth form, where pupils choose between the IB Diploma Programme and A Levels. The school has offered the IB Diploma since 2000 and runs a large IB cohort each year, typically a significant share of the sixth form, alongside its A Level pathway. IB Diploma candidates take six subjects, three at higher level and three at standard level, with a language and a science required, plus the core of theory of knowledge, the extended essay and creativity, activity and service. Results at both A Level and the IB are consistently high, and university destinations are competitive in the UK and overseas. The school is known equally for a wide programme of sport, music and activities beyond the classroom.
Not sure if King's College School suits your child?
Take our 5 minute school finder quiz. We shortlist three London schools based on your child's age, target qualification and your budget. Free, no obligation.
King's College School Wimbledon fees
| Stage | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Year 3 (age 7) | GBP 29,022 |
| Year 6 | GBP 30,957 |
| Year 7 | GBP 31,230 |
| Year 13 (sixth form) | GBP 34,212 |
Source: King's College School Wimbledon (kcs.org.uk). Annual figures (termly fees x3), inclusive of VAT. Excludes lunches. Fees are the most recent published figures and exclude one-off costs such as registration, deposits and capital levies. Always confirm current fees directly with the school.
King's College School Wimbledon fees fall in the premium band of our London fees guide. Senior school tuition is broadly GBP 34,000 a year, charged across three terms, with lower fees in the junior school. As with all UK independent schools, headline tuition rose after the introduction of VAT on private school fees in January 2025, so families should confirm the current figure with the school directly.
Budget beyond tuition for a registration fee when you apply, a deposit on accepting a place, lunches, and the usual trips, instrumental lessons and activity charges. The school offers means tested bursaries, including full and partial awards at the main senior school entry points of Year 7, Year 9 and the lower sixth, which can cover most or all of tuition for eligible families. To weigh KCS against other south west London options on cost and pathway, open our compare tool.
Admissions
The principal entry points are at 7 into the junior school, at 11 and 13 into the senior school, and at 16 into the sixth form. The 11 plus assessment covers English, mathematics and reasoning, while 13 plus entry uses a deferred system in which boys apply and sit tests in Year 6, three years ahead of their start date. Sixth form entry depends on GCSE results and subject interviews, with candidates indicating whether they intend to follow the IB Diploma or A Levels.
Competition is strong at every stage, so registering early matters. Overseas families relocating to London should contact the admissions office well ahead to align with the assessment calendar and to discuss timing, particularly for the deferred 13 plus route, which assumes an application long before arrival.
Location and who goes there
The school occupies a large campus on Southside, beside Wimbledon Common, in the SW19 postcode in the London Borough of Merton. Wimbledon Village and the wider south west London belt around it are among the capital's most sought after family neighbourhoods, with fast rail and underground links into Waterloo and the City from Wimbledon station. Families are drawn from across Wimbledon, Putney, Richmond and the surrounding suburbs.
The community is predominantly British, with a steady international element among professional and diplomatic families who settle in south west London for the green space and the schools. For how Wimbledon compares with other parts of the capital on schools, commute and cost, see the London city hub and our best IB schools in London guide.
King's College School Wimbledon reviews
GlobalSchoolGuide does not yet hold verified parent reviews for this school. We publish reviews only once they are submitted by named families and checked by our editorial team, so you will not find an invented star rating here. If your family has attended, you can help other relocating parents by sharing an honest account through our school reviews hub.
No school pays to be listed on GlobalSchoolGuide and no fee changes a placement on this page. Our profiles are built from public sources, inspection material and the schools own published information.
Frequently asked questions
How much are King's College School Wimbledon fees?
Senior school tuition sits in the premium band of London independent fees, broadly GBP 34,000 a year charged across three terms, with lower fees in the junior school. Headline tuition rose after VAT was applied to private school fees in 2025, so confirm the current figure with the school.
Is King's College School Wimbledon a good school?
King's College School is a long established academic school with consistently strong A Level and IB Diploma results and a wide programme of sport, music and activities. It is a member of the Headmasters and Headmistresses Conference and is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate. We do not publish an invented rating.
Does King's College School Wimbledon offer the IB?
Yes. Sixth form pupils choose between the IB Diploma Programme and A Levels. The school has offered the IB Diploma since 2000 and runs a large IB cohort each year alongside its A Level pathway.
Is King's College School Wimbledon a boys school?
The junior and senior school is for boys. The sixth form is coeducational, admitting girls from Year 12, so the upper years bring together boys and girls for A Level and IB Diploma study.
When do King's College School Wimbledon applications open?
Register early. The main entry points are at 7, 11, 13 and 16, and 13 plus entry uses a deferred system with tests sat in Year 6. Sixth form entry depends on GCSE results and interviews, so contact admissions a year or more ahead.
