Mike H. 

Head of KCIS

Dear KCIS Families,

It is with great joy that I welcome you to the start of a new academic year at KCIS. A special greeting goes to the many new families who are joining us for the first time. We are delighted that you have chosen our school and we look forward to getting to know you and your children. To our returning families, thank you for your continued support and commitment. Together, we will celebrate the achievements of last year while building on them to create new successes in the year ahead.

Our school is more than a place of academic learning; it is a family where every child is known, valued and encouraged to reach their potential. We take pride in the caring and supportive environment we create together, and we know that it is this strong sense of community that makes KCIS such a special place.

Looking ahead, we are excited to strengthen our academic programmes further, enhance opportunities in the arts, sport and creativity, and place an even greater emphasis on student wellbeing. We are also working towards shared school improvement goals, including deeper learning in English and mathematics, greater use of technology to support learning, and more opportunities for students to develop leadership and responsibility.

As always, our core values of respect, compassion, honesty, collaboration and personal responsibility remain at the heart of everything we do. These principles guide us in our teaching, in our relationships, and in the way we support one another as a community.

I look forward to partnering with you throughout this academic year. Together, we can ensure that every child learns with joy, grows with confidence, and flourishes in character.

Warm regards,

Mike H.

Lara M.

KCIS Assistant Head (Pastoral Care)

Dearest Families,

Welcome to a new school year at KCIS! After a long summer break, it is wonderful to be reunited with our returning students and to embrace new students. We look forward to a positive and meaningful journey this academic year.

Our pastoral focus for 2025-26 is “Building a Strong, Caring Community.” We believe that the strength of our school begins in each classroom, where students learn daily to practice respect, kindness, honesty, team work and responsibility. From this foundation, we aim to enrich the whole KCIS community as our students feel a deep sense of belonging and care in our school environment. It is our hope to further extend our positive role to the wider NKCS community.

This year, our pastoral and wellbeing goals include embedding PSHE and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) across homeroom, assemblies, and daily teaching, developing student leadership through peer mentoring and wellbeing ambassadors, and strengthening home–school connections with meaningful communication and parent workshops. We are also committed to proactive wellbeing checks, a whole-school resilience programme, and ongoing safeguarding training for staff and students.

At the heart of this work is an inspiring truth captured by the following notion:

Every child deserves a champion – an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be.

——Rita Pierson

With your partnership, we look forward to making this a year of growth, resilience, and community for every child.

Warmest regards,

Lara M.

Matt W.

KCIS Assistant Head (Academic)

Dear Parents,

I hope you and your families enjoyed a restful and memorable summer. It has been a real joy to see our students return this week with such energy, enthusiasm, and readiness to learn.

Last year was another exceptional one for KCIS. Our Grade 5 pupils once again outperformed the UK average in Key Stage 2 SATs, reflecting the steady growth and improvement in our academic standards year on year. Every Grade 8 student who joined the advanced mathematics programme achieved an A* in their iGCSE Mathematics examination two years early, a remarkable accomplishment that speaks to both their dedication and the expertise of their teachers. Alongside this, student performance across subjects continued to flourish. From inspiring cross-grade drama collaborations to growing participation and achievement in sport and music, our pupils showed not only their academic strength but also their creativity, teamwork, and determination.

As we look ahead to the new school year, we are excited to build on these achievements and to continue striving for excellence in all areas. Teaching and learning will remain at the heart of our work, with a focus on consistency and quality in every classroom. We are refining our curriculum, strengthening opportunities for collaboration between teachers, and embedding ERIC reading time into the school day to nurture a love of reading across the grades. Supporting students through key transitions, such as the moves from Kindergarten to Primary, Grade 5 to 6, and Grade 8 to 9, will also be a priority, ensuring every child feels confident and ready for the next step in their journey.

Another important focus this year is preparing our students for a world where technology and artificial intelligence are becoming part of everyday life. At KCIS, we want our pupils to see AI not as a shortcut, but as a tool to support creativity, problem-solving, and learning. Clear guidelines are in place to help students use AI responsibly and ethically, and we will continue to monitor and adapt our approach so that technology enhances education while keeping children’s wellbeing at the centre.

Equally important is the partnership between home and school. We will continue to develop our communication channels, ensuring you feel informed and involved in your child’s learning. Opportunities for parents to engage with the school will remain a central part of our work, helping us strengthen the sense of community that makes KCIS so special.

These priorities are guided by our vision of being a learning community aspiring to excellence. We are committed to giving every child the chance to thrive academically, socially, and personally, and to fostering resilience, curiosity, and character alongside strong academic foundations.

Thank you, as always, for your trust and support. We look forward to working closely with you throughout the year ahead, and to celebrating the many successes, both big and small, that your children will achieve.

Matt W.