The King's School, Witney

The King's School is a co-educational independent Christian school located on a spacious site on the outskirts of Witney, Oxfordshire, England. Catering for children aged 3 to 16, the school is known for its strong Christian ethos. It is currently in the top three schools in the Oxfordshire County Council league tables for Independent schools in the county, thanks to outstandin
GCSE results

The school is owned, governed, and supported, financially and prayerfully, b
Oxfordshire Community Churches
(OCC). The church oversees the consistently strong academic excellence alongside spiritual growth of each pupil. The school offers a nurturing environment where children are encouraged to reach their full potential as unique individuals loved and valued by God.

The school has grown significantly over its 40+ years and now serves around 220 pupils. The Secondary school has around 110 pupils (Years 7-11), Primary has around 90 pupils (Year 1-6) and Early Years has around 20 pupils (Nursery to Reception).

Vision and Ethos

At the heart of the school’s philosophy are three key values:

* Biblical Wisdom: Encouraging children to develop their relationship with God and approach learning with curiosity and a positive mindset, rooted in the guidance of Scripture.
* Spirit-Led Faith: Empowering pupils to embrace their God-given gifts, share the gospel, and step into their purpose with courage and confidence.
* Sacrificial Love: Cultivating a Christ-like community where humility, kindness, and integrity are at the core of every relationship, preparing students to serve and influence the world with love.

History

Founded in 1984 by th
Oxfordshire Community Churches
The King’s School originated from parents who wanted education that was more than academic achievement. They wanted a place where children were nurtured to be all God intended them to be. The first Principal was David Freeman, who pioneered this uniquely Christ-centred approach to education.

In 1989, after initially using temporary buildings, the Secondary school moved to its current purpose-built site on New Yatt Road. In 2010, the Primary school joined them, in a new building, boasting modern classrooms and a large sports hall, which is also the home o
Witney Community Church
on Sundays.

In its early years (throughout the 1980s and beyond) the school used Accelerated Christian Education, a right-wing conservative evangelical syllabus from America. This material taught against evolution and in favour of racial segregation. Concerns over religious hardliners inspecting independent 'faith schools'
/ref> However, the school now follows the National Curriculum and often encourages other Christian schools to move away from the ACE curriculum by showcasing how Christian education can be integrated with the National Curriculum. Christian principles and awareness of Christian and other worldviews are woven into all subjects. This shift reflects the school’s ongoing commitment to providing an education that is both academically rigorous and spiritually enriching.

At the school’s most recent inspection by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), feedback noted: “Pupils’ cultural understanding is strong. Pupils from a variety of cultures integrate harmoniously across the school and are embraces by their peers. Primary pupils, including children in the EYFS, develop supportive, respectful relationships with one another from an early age. They are curious about other cultures and traditions and, encouraged by teaching, they celebrate differences and deepen their understanding through the sharing of experiences. Pupils of all ages gain wider cultural understanding from participation in a variety of cultural trips.”

Academics and Community

The King’s School offers class sizes of between 8 and 26 pupils, splitting larger year groups for some subjects to offer a more tailored approach to education. All teachers are committed Christians who feel called to work in this unique school.

In addition to the impressive sports facilities previously mention, the school offers a bright art studio, large drama and music hall, computer suite including 3D printer and science laboratories.

GCSE results are consistently high and in 2024, 100% of exams taken were grades 4-9, with 58% of results in the top tier of grades 7-9. Many alumni go on to hold leadership roles in their sixth forms and beyond.

The school fosters a sense of community, encouraging relationships between pupils of all ages and their families. Parents consistently express high levels of satisfaction, with nearly 100% reporting that they are satisfied or extremely satisfied with their child’s school experience.

Extracurricular Activities

The school offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, including sports competitions between local independent schools and Christian schools, annual drama productions for each year group, and an annual Enrichment Week, where pupils can try their hand at something fun outside of the regular curriculum. Pupils have opportunities to explore other cultures through trips to Germany and France, and, in the past, through mission projects in Zambia, helping pupils develop leadership skills and a global perspective.

Despite being a smaller school, The King’s School offers regular trips with unique experiences to enhance learning, from feeding tigers at a local zoo, to going back in time at the Globe Theatre. There are also more local trips including visits to the fire station, library, and a pizza-making restaurant, to name a few.

The school has a big emphasis on sacrificial love, raising over £1,600 for local, national and international charities in the 2023-24 academic year. It also organises community litter picks, clothing and food collections and encourages volunteering, particularly for Year 9 pupils, many of which take part in the school’s Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. This reflects its commitment to fostering a spirit of compassion and generosity in its pupils.

Pupils look forward to the many fun events, especially the annual Christmas Secret Present Room, organised by the school community.

Wellbeing plays a big role in school life and pupils enjoy regular inter-year group lunches, welly walks and fun days, which encourage all ages to get to know one another. There are regular opportunities to pray together and the older children set a great example to the little ones about how to have a personal relationship with God. Staff, parents and friends of the school meet regularly to pray for the children and wider school and understand the difference prayer makes to the school.

The school has its own qualified Forest School Leader, and everyone in Primary and most children in  Early Years spend time each week learning in the dedicated, safely contained, outdoor learning area. This has been specially designed to encourage wildlife and enhance imagination, including a mud kitchen, bug hotels and climbing logs.

References

External links

The King's School website

Private schools in Oxfordshire
Witney

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