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Article April 8, 2025

Honouring Kath Thomas: A life and legacy remembered

By King's InterHigh

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of our dear colleague and Head of Year 12, Kath Thomas. While words can never fully capture the impact Kath had on our school community, we want to take a moment to celebrate her life and the lasting legacy she leaves behind.

Kath was a beacon of warmth and wisdom, whose presence touched the lives of students and colleagues alike. With her steady, calming demeanour, she had a unique gift for instilling self-belief in students—a sentiment echoed by many in Kath’s remembrance book.

In her capacity as a teacher of Business for our Year 11 cohort, Kath developed many excellent resources especially to help our IGCSE students on exam preparation. Her colleagues share that despite her workload, she always found time to check in with and support others. She was also a keen driver of setting the highest standards.

Kath’s role as Head of Year was pivotal. Her dedication extended beyond academics; she co-created the Sixth Form Pastoral programme, fostering student development in all aspects of their lives. Her efforts to build connections with external organisations opened doors for students, guiding them towards university, employment, or apprenticeships.

Her impact on the UCAS and university application process was profound. Kath went above and beyond, even hand-delivering applications to ensure students met their deadlines. Her dedication was unwavering.

Her involvement with the Student Council on initiatives like Wellbeing Week and Environmental Action Week showcased her commitment to student welfare and environmental consciousness.

As a cornerstone of the Sixth Form team, Kath was the go-to person who seemed to have all the answers. Her signature kindness and composure were constants, whether she was navigating the complexities of the academic year or offering a listening ear to a student or colleague.

Beyond her professional achievements, Kath was a cherished colleague and friend. Her encyclopaedic knowledge of our school and willingness to support new team members made her an integral part of the team.

As stated by those who worked most closely with Kath, she was the kindest, most caring person you could wish to work with, and her legacy will continue to inspire us all. She will be deeply missed, but her spirit and contributions will forever remain a part of King’s InterHigh.

We extend our deepest condolences to Kath’s family, friends, and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.

By King's InterHigh

King’s InterHigh is an independent British international online school. Offering Primary, Secondary and Sixth Form education, we cater to students from age 7 – 18 who are looking for a high quality British education delivered in a way that revolves around their lifestyle.

VAT charges explained

The UK Government has implemented a policy to charge VAT on independent schools taking effect from the 1st of January 2025. This VAT charge is payable by families who are based in, or access, King’s InterHigh from the UK. This change does not impact families who are based outside the UK and access King’s InterHigh from another country.

We understand the significant financial commitment you make in choosing our online school as well as how important it is to be able to financially plan. After careful review of the details of the legislation, we will support parents by absorbing costs ourselves, so that a slower phasing in of this unwelcome change reduces its financial impact on families.

For the upcoming 2024-2025 academic year (starting September 2024), Inspired Education Group will absorb much of the 20% VAT charge. For the Spring and Summer terms when the 20% VAT will now apply, we will only pass on 8.5% to families, taking up the difference ourselves.

To further support families with the financial implications of this change in government policy, for the 2025-2026 academic year (starting in September 2025) there will be no inflationary tuition fee increases, and that Inspired Education Group will continue to absorb costs to limit the increase to 8.5% for that academic year. Overall, this will mean we have phased in 17% of the 20% VAT cost over two years to avoid sudden increases for families and have not increased tuition fees.

King’s InterHigh is committed to offering competitive fees and accessible, high-quality independent education, along with the unique benefits of online learning. We are pleased that through careful cost control and the benefits of being part of Inspired, the leading global group of premium schools, we can significantly reduce the financial effect on families due to this change in UK VAT policy.

For a full breakdown of our fees, please use our fees calculator.

Technology integration fee

This fee contributes to the development of our Inspired Al tools and our investment in best-in-class technology to enhance online student learning.

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