Private School News

King’s awarded a ‘first’ for ‘inspired’ teaching

THE King’s School Ely is the first independent school in Cambridgeshire to achieve the prestigious NACE Challenge Award for excellence in provision for able, gifted and talented pupils.

The award is given by NACE (the National Association for Able Children in Education) for high quality work throughout the school in challenging all pupils, including those with high abilities, to achieve their best.

Assessors observed lessons, interviewed pupils, teachers, parents and governors and looked at the pupils’ work.

“Parents value highly the extensive range of ways in which a child can excel and the inclusive approach where every child is seen as special,” said their report.

“At King’s Acremont, King’s Junior and King’s Senior School, teachers’ subject knowledge is exceptional and pupils are offered challenging contexts for their learning.

“The curriculum is broad, balanced and enriched, drawing on both the school’s facilities and those of the city of Ely. The ‘Ely Scheme’ (King’s outdoor pursuits programme) is used to help the development of pupils’ leadership, entrepreneurial and team-building skills.

“In lessons observed, exceptionally high levels of challenge and inference were expected from pupils who were motivated to wrestle with concepts and high order applications. For example, pupils at a chemistry master class demonstrated high levels of problem-solving and co-operation.

“Celebration of achievement is a strong feature with vibrant displays showing what is being achieved and what everyone can aspire to. Social and successful learning skills are valued equally alongside academic achievements. There are highly effective systems to meet the pastoral needs of all pupils. The monitoring of pupils’ progress is robust and personalized. As a result, pupils have very good attitudes to learning.”

King’s is the fourth independent school and the one hundred and seventieth school in the UK to achieve the NACE Challenge Award for able, gifted and talented pupils.