Alex Atherton
QK is an 11-18 mixed, truly comprehensive and highly diverse school with over 1,400 students, of whom approximately 370 are in the sixth form. We are situated in St. John’s Wood in the London Borough of Westminster, close to two tube stations, one train station and many buses. QK is an academy, having converted in 2011.
These are exciting times at QK. In 2015 we moved to a brand new building and facilities, still on Marlborough Hill. The whole project is now complete including new sports facilities and a Sixth Form Centre.
In September 2017 we will join the Harris Federation, more information is here. Harris has an outstanding record of academic achievement over a long period of time. Although my job title will change from Headteacher to Principal, I will still be here in September.
I joined QK in January 2014 following almost eight years as Headteacher in another inner-London secondary school. My ambitions are very high for what all our students can achieve and the young people they can become. I want even more students to leave QK with fantastic examination results and go on to the best possible universities and careers. Our last Ofsted report (September 2014) acknowledged a great deal of progress in a short space of time. It stated that ‘changes have been rapid and palpable’. We have made a great deal of progress since that inspection as evidenced in our 2016 examination results at both GCSE and A level.
Our mission statement is very simple; we aim to ‘develop the best in every student’. We place a high value on both academic qualifications and whole child development. Everyone at the school focuses on preparing students for life, and not just the next stage of their education. They are taught to be ‘Ready – Respectful – Safe’, the three key words from our behaviour policy. Our values are ‘Aspiration – Resilience – Community’. Our students aspire for the best education and careers, respond positively to a high level of challenge and seize all the opportunities on offer as part of a cohesive and nurturing community. Families form a huge part of this community. QK students benefit from very hard working and talented staff who value the partnership between home and school. By working together there is no limit to what we can achieve.
Our website will be updated regularly, including with In the Loop, our regular newsletter, as will our social media feeds. I look forward to meeting you.
Alex Atherton