KCLMS expansion update

Background to the expansion of King's Maths School

An OFSTED-outstanding state sixth form, King's College London Mathematics School (KCLMS), opened in 2014 with a vision to make the best quality mathematics education available to a diverse range of students and with a plan to expand if the school were to be successful.

Each year (Years 12 and 13) has approximately 70 students, of whom 1 in 4 has parents with no history of higher education. We are very proud of what we have achieved in a relatively short amount of time and with limited resources. KCLMS has been the top performing college for A Level results for nine years in a row. About 1 in 3 students progresses to Oxford or Cambridge, a higher proportion than any other school.

In addition, our outreach work has grown and the school runs programs for local students from Year 5 to Year 13 (9-18 years old). Independent research has indicated that we have a demonstrably positive impact on achievement at GCSE for students who attend our courses. We want to share the outstanding teaching we offer with more students, particularly from the local area.

Please see the outreach pages of the school's website to find out more about the specific programmes we run.

As we look to the future, we know that there is one critical element that will determine future success: physical classroom space. Both our current student numbers and our capacity to do more outreach work, is limited by the school’s site. Applicant numbers for both have increased year on year since we opened, and for the past few years we have been forced to reject many candidates as our site is already stretched to its limit.

In light of that, the school is proceeding with its expansion plans, which have been ten years in the making. Below is a timeline of key events:

Timeline

2012: King's College London (KCL) announces plans for a pioneering new sixth form free mathematics school which will be situated close to the college's Waterloo campus.
2013: KCL announces that the school will be located in part of the Lambeth Walk Group Practice surgery building. As well as housing the GP surgery, the building has also been used by the university for teaching. It is this space which will be occupied by the new free school.
2014: King's College London Mathematics School (KCLMS or King's Maths School) opens its doors to students in Years 12 and 13.
2014: Discussions and negotiations commence between the school, Lambeth Walk Group Practice, the Lambeth Clinical Commissioning Group (LCCG), NHS Estates and the Department for Education regarding the site and the lease. The site is acquired by the Department for Education in 2014. The expectation is that the school will expand into the space currently occupied by Lambeth Walk Group Practice.
2016: At a face-to-face meeting, representatives from KCLMS reiterate to the GPs and the practice manager that the lease will not be extended and that alternative premises for the practice will be needed.
2018: Initial scoping work is conducted. NHS Estates indicates that the GPs may be able to vacate the site before 2023.
2020: A representative from the Lambeth Clinical Commissioning Group (LCCG) writes to the school asking for an extension to the lease; this is not granted due to KCLMS having already started planning and work towards the school expansion.
2022: A second request is made for a lease extension; this is not granted for the same reason as above.
2022: Due to overwhelming demand for school places, KCLMS conducts a public consultation regarding plans to expand. The aim is to have a refurbished building which is ready to accept more students in September 2024. The consultation closes in November 2022.
2022: KCLMS applies to the Regional Schools Commissioner for permission to increase the school's planned admission numbers, and to the Department for Education for the funding required to finance the expansion. Both are granted.
2023: Building work is due to start. However, KCLMS delays the works to allow the NHS estates team more time to find suitable premises for the Lambeth Walk Group practice. The Department for Education and KCL agree to extend Lambeth Group Practice surgery's lease until May 2024.
Spring 2024: KCLMS' planning application for the refurbishment of the building will be submitted. The approval process can take up to 11 weeks.
Summer 2024: Providing the planning application goes ahead, building work is due to start which will affect the interior of 5 Lambeth Walk. From the exterior, our expanded maths school's building will be altered very minimally to retain its beautiful character. Internally, the new space will be reorganised to provide additional classrooms, break out areas and workspaces.
September 2024 - August 2025: Expansion works are due to take place alongside the school's operation. Education at King's Maths School will continue on site during the refurbishment works. Whilst the refurbishment goes ahead, we will endeavour to keep disruption to local residents, our staff and students to a minimum.
September 2025: KCLMS is due to enroll additional students into Year 12.

Further to the timeline above, there have been regular site visits by surveyors and contractors during the planning phase of the school's expansion project.

Impact of our school

The fundamental reason for expanding KCLMS is that we have an incredible educational impact on the students who join us.

The educational outcomes for students at KCLMS are outstanding. In 2023, we earned the top place in national A-level rankings: 70 per cent of A-levels taken by our students were A*, and 92 per cent were A or A*.

Over the last few years, KCLMS has regularly been placed by the Department for Education as the top-performing provider for A Level grades in the country, above all other state and independent schools. In addition to this, the progress that students make between GCSE and completion of their A levels is substantially above average at nearly +1 grade per entry.

In 2017, KCLMS was named the ‘Sunday Times Sixth Form of the Year’, and this was upgraded to 'Sunday Times Sixth Form of the Decade' in 2021. KCLMS graduates progress to the most competitive universities in the UK in high proportions: at last count, 85% of the school’s graduates have gone on to study at a Russell Group university, a figure that increases to 96% when you include the 30 most competitive universities in the UK as defined by the Sutton Trust.

Expanding our capacity will allow more talented young mathematicians to take advantage of the exceptional teaching available at KCLMS, whilst preserving the small character of the school which we feel is essential to its success. We know that there is sufficient demand to meet this increased capacity as our applicant to place ratio is above 10:1.

In addition, KCLMS has run an extensive and impactful array of outreach activity since its opening in 2014. The school intends to create additional classrooms designed with outreach as well as core activity in mind.

Key FAQs

Q) Why do you need to expand?

A) Both our current student numbers and our capacity to do more outreach work is limited by the school’s site. Applicant numbers for both have soared year-on-year since we opened, and for the past few years we have been forced to reject many candidates as our site is already stretched to its limit. Our applicant to place ratio is above 10:1.

As we look to the future, we know that there is one critical element that will determine future success: physical classroom space.

Q) How many more students will the school accommodate?

A) We will be able to accommodate approximately 210 students. Currently we can accommodate about 140 students.

Q) How much will the building be changed?

A) We are not looking to build a new storey or enlarge the building externally. Our plans are for an interior refurbishment of the building only.

From the exterior, our expanded maths school will be altered very minimally to retain the building's beautiful character. Internally, the new space will be reorganised to provide additional classrooms, break out areas and workspaces.

Q) Why can't you find another site?

A) The funding allocated by the Department for Education for developing the 5 Lambeth walk site is for an interior renovation project only and would not cover significant changes, such as adding an extra storey. Since 2014, the expectation has been that the school would expand into the space currently occupied by Lambeth Walk Group Practice.

The Department for Education’s funding stipulates that that the expansion of King’s Maths School can only take place through the renovation and refurbishment of the existing building. It cannot be used for relocation.

Q) Can you let us know what the specific plans are for the development?

A) The school currently occupies part of the ground floor and all of the first floor of 5 Lambeth Walk. We intend to convert the remaining part of the ground floor into new classrooms and collaborative group work spaces, allowing us to increase our capacity for both 6^th form students and for our outreach work with students from the local area.

Q) Can your development accommodate the practice alongside the expansion?

A) The funding from the Department of Education allocated to developing the 5 Lambeth Walk site would not cover significant changes to the building, such as adding an extra storey. Our plans are for an interior refurbishment of the historic building only.

Q) When will the planning application be submitted?

A) Planning will be submitted in spring 2024.

Q) How long will the planning application process take?

A) Statutory guidelines stipulate that planning application decisions should be concluded within 11 weeks.

Q) When will the works take place if the planning application process goes ahead?

A) They will likely take place between September 2024 - August 2025.

Q) When did you first let the NHS know that you would be likely to end the lease after the 10-year period?

A) The surgery has been aware since the launch of KCLMS in 2014 that the 10-year lease would not be renewed should the school be a success. The first formal discussion occurred in 2016. Please see the timeline above.

Q) Why can't you delay again to give the GP more time to relocate?

A) We have already extended the lease twice to enable Lambeth Walk GP surgery to stay longer in the current building.

For further queries, please contact: KCLMS-expansion@kcl.ac.uk