Robert Lobatto

King Alfred School was founded in 1898 by local parents who wanted an alternative to what was on offer in the educational world of North London. KAS has retained some of the characteristics of its founding years: it is co-ed; it is all-age; it covers a wide range of abilities; it is uncommitted on religious and political matters and it is by modern standards small - though much larger than when it was founded. There are about 620 on roll: some 300 in the Lower School and 320 in Middle and Upper Schools. KAS offers at 16+ some 15 subjects, including Photography and PE, CDT, Music, Music Technology and Theatre Studies and Philosophy and both standard and less usual subjects at A level. The overall staff ratio is under 9 pupils to one teacher.

In the last few years, the Design and Technology area has been expanded: Special Studies in Middle and Upper Schools re-housed in a brand new building: renovation to all 6 laboratories completed: two further phases of the re-building of Lower School completed: computing/IT expanded and re-housed, and building of a new Art, Music and Drama Suite is now complete. The School has expanded on to its Ivy Wood site providing additional facilities which includes a theatre and a new CDT Building.

The staff at The King Alfred School is unusually committed and relations between teacher and pupil are excellent. The focus of the school is very much on that relationship. It is a school which genuinely tries to practise what is implied by the cliche word 'caring'. In consequence the general atmosphere of the school is unusually friendly and welcoming to adults and children alike. There is no school uniform; and all are on first name terms. The school is effectively parent-owned (via membership of the King Alfred School Society) and the governing body is composed almost entirely of current parents.

Alumni - Old Alfredian Society, c/o Peter Palliser, King Alfred School, North End Road, NW11 7HY.

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