Kings London on the pleasure of a fresh start

Danny Carroll, Principal of Kings London, on the fresh start of a new academic year in a new place, and what diverse students find they have in common

Let me take you to the first day of the new academic year here at Kings London. Students have arrived from all over the world – new learners representing a wonderfully diverse cohort of nationalities. Among the many international students coming through our doors for the first time are a small number of UK students, many of whom are here to retake GCSEs or A levels. Everyone appears eager to get going, if a little apprehensive about what the year ahead has in store.

Having been welcomed by their personal tutors, Course Directors and members of the Welfare Team, our students are now gathering in The Link, our central meeting space, for a more formal introduction to the school community. As I make my way to the front of the space, there is a palpable sense of nervous excitement and a low hum of chatter among the gathered students. I begin: “Hello, everyone; welcome to Kings London.  This is now your school and your community. Please look to your right and to your left.  Now, look in front of you and behind you.  Please put your hand up if you see anyone who you knew before this morning”.

“The students begin to realise, as they do every year, that they are free to start afresh –the future starts now”

No hands are raised.  Some students are standing on tiptoes, straining to see if they recognise anyone, maybe someone from their local area – even, maybe, from their previous school. Still, no hands are raised. “You will notice that you all have something very special in common, whether you have travelled from the other side of the world or a short walk away. Kings London is a place of new beginnings and new adventures – this is your opportunity to decide who you want to be over the coming year.”

And so, the students begin to realise, as they do every year, that they are free to start afresh. Whether they will be studying on our one-year intensive GCSE, Advanced Level Foundation or UAL Art Foundation courses or the two-year A level programme, the future starts now.

For me, this is one of the most vitalising aspects of the start of the new school year at Kings London.  I know that over the coming days and weeks, students will tell me how free they feel, how relieved they are to have left behind the politics and drama of their previous schools. As a team, we know that this feeling will carry into the classrooms, where our skilled teachers will encourage students to focus this energy into their studies. We also know that, at some stage, they will start to miss certain aspects of their previously lives, and it will be then that the broad array of welfare support we offer will smooth their journeys.

Fast forward to the second week and the school is recognisably a collective endeavour, with clubs and societies in full swing, community outreach project planning close to completion and preparations for celebrations of all sorts underway. Beginnings have already grown into new journeys and all of us, who were strangers, are quickly becoming a close community. Onwards.

Kings London kingseducation.com/uk-uni/kings-london

Further reading: MPW’s enlightened approach to education