First-term highlights from our exciting start at King’s InterHigh this year

From September to December, both our new and returning students have been thriving. They’ve connected with classmates around the world and in-person, achieved amazing progress in their online learning, and achieved remarkable successes both in and out of the classroom.

Here’s a look back at everything that made this term an unforgettable one!

A bright start to the new year

We were delighted to bring a warm welcome to every student who came through our virtual doors this September and beyond, whether they’ve returned for another year or joined us for the first time.

This year, we introduced our ‘staggered start’ to the school year, with each year group beginning on a different day so everyone could get the dedicated time and attention they needed to settle in.

Plus, we met each key stage with welcome events tailored to their unique priorities. In our senior school, for example, families got to explore our innovative Discovery learning model for IGCSE success. Primary school families, meanwhile, focused on building confidence and settling into online learning smoothly.

Lessons bursting with life

Once inductions wrapped up, this term’s lessons came to life with the kind of innovative teaching that gets students genuinely excited about learning. Engagement isn’t an afterthought at King’s InterHigh, and there are so many ways we make the online education experience both exciting and effective.

This term, for example…

• Virtual reality classrooms took students to places their textbooks never could. Our IB Diploma students got to wander the Palace of Versailles in History, join a simulated UN assembly for Politics, practise their German at a virtual Christmas market, and so much more.
• Learning got hands-on with practical activities, like our termly IB Spanish assignment where students were tasked with baking delicious Pan de Muerto to connect with Hispanic culture or our lively annual debate in A Level Classical Civilisation.
• Guest speakers brought real-world insights to our young learners, from an award winning author to professionals like a dentist and an IT specialist for our Future Skills programme.
• Competitions sparked energy, creativity, and a real sense of achievement. Students modelled brains for GCSE Psychology, cooked international dishes for our European Day of Languages house cooking contest, and rose to the challenge of our Inspired AI competition.
• Teachers reminded students that learning should be fun. Biology teacher Callum Robertson, for example, even threw a virtual end-of-half-term disco for his Year 10 class.

Successful futures taking shape

This term marked a significant milestone for our sixth form students, who began submitting their UCAS, Common App, and international university applications. Several are pursuing ambitious paths in medicine, others have already scored interview invitations from top institutions like Cambridge and Oxford, and many are also aiming for leading universities overseas.

We’re delighted to say that some of our young people have already received their university offers, including one Year 13 student who has been accepted to Ivy League university Harvard for 2026!

Through our Pathfinders programme, we make sure every student who aspires to university gets comprehensive guidance to choose their degree, craft a standout application, and secure places at their dream schools. This term, for example, students in our Middle East time zone got to tour the Dubai-based campuses of several UK universities, while Year 9 students got an early introduction to our careers and university platform, Unifrog.

Celebrating more academic achievements

Of course, university acceptances are just some of the many academic achievements across our year groups this term. One of our A Level students, for example, received the Cambridge Outstanding Learner Award for High Achievement in his AS Geography exam. We were also thrilled to see more than 140 King’s InterHigh students test their skills in the International Maths Challenge, 35 of whom achieved the highly coveted statuses of IMC Elitist and IMC Champion.

Meanwhile, our Year 11 IGCSE students and first-year IB Diploma Programme students took on their November mock examinations with impressive determination, gaining invaluable practice for their upcoming summer exams.

Clubs in full swing

Of course, there’s also more to life at King’s InterHigh than learning. Shortly after lessons began, we launched this year’s exciting roster of clubs, with returning favourites like Minecraft Club joining new additions like our primary school newspaper.

Our online clubs give students the freedom to explore passions beyond the curriculum and connect with others who share their interests. They’re a place for friendships to deepen, confidence to grow, and young people to discover new sides of themselves.

Spotlight: FutureTech Titans Club

This term, one club in particular stood out for its sheer ambition and creativity. In FutureTech Titans Club, nearly 50 students took on a project that would challenge even seasoned tech developers: building a virtual reality playground environment for our students to explore.

They began by designing logos: some digital, others sketched on paper, and one even constructed from LEGO. Then, they spent weeks crafting hide-and-seek challenges and mystery adventures, collaborating to bring their vision to life.

Watching our young learners finally step into the finished world in December was truly magical. While we host new VR playgrounds for our primary school students every week, watching them enjoy a space their own peers created took things to the next level.

Bonding over bowling

On top of our online clubs and events, there’s also something special about meeting face-to-face, which is why we run dozens of trips and meetups every year. This term, our popular Hollywood Bowl bonding days returned across the UK, bringing students together for afternoons filled with strikes, spares, and plenty of laughter.

We love these relaxed social events because they give students the chance to meet classmates in a stress-free setting and give parents the benefit of meeting local online school families. With more bowling days planned for later in the year, there’ll be plenty of opportunities for both new and returning families to join the fun.

Adventures at London Zoo

Our primary and middle school students also had their own adventure this term at London Zoo, with one dedicated student flying all the way from France to meet her friends in person.

Students explored the park in small groups with their tutors, shared lunch at the zoo’s restaurant, and marvelled at unusual animals, but the real magic came from watching on-screen friends finally connect face-to-face. The heartwarming joy on learners’ faces always reminds us why these moments matter so much.

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Reaching new heights at Go Ape

Senior school students, meanwhile, pushed themselves in new ways. More than 40 learners gathered at a Go Ape adventure park, where high ropes courses tested their courage and determination in equal measure.

More than the physical challenge, what stood out to our teachers was the way students supported each other through tricky moments, worked together in teams, and discovered a sense of resilience they didn’t know they had. We came away from the day feeling genuinely inspired, and students left feeling proud of themselves for conquering fears and finding new strengths.

Get-togethers in Dubai

Beyond the UK, our international students have the opportunity to meet up all around the world. This term, Dubai became a buzzing hub of activity.

One parent-led gathering at Dubai Mall brought students together for an afternoon that received brilliant feedback from everyone involved. Another trip saw learners creating intricate mosaics, taking home both masterpieces and memories they’ll treasure.

Later in the term, more than 30 families spent an afternoon at a board game café to meet their classmates and make new friends. Wherever you are in the world, joining King’s InterHigh means joining a vibrant global community.

Exploring the arts in-person

Alongside our more friendship-focused social events, students also have the opportunity to participate in a range of academic trips throughout the year, like our many art trips this term.

In November, more than 40 students from Years 7 to 11 gathered at the world-famous Pineapple Dance Studios for a drama and movement workshop led by the cast of My Neighbour Totoro.

After a festive picnic in Covent Garden, the group headed to the Gillian Lynne Theatre for the magical show itself.

On the fine arts side, students immersed themselves in an intensive three-day printmaking and photography workshop. The experienced was brilliant for all involved and students were fully engaged in their creativity, impressing the workshop staff with their enthusiasm, conduct, and quality of work.

Showcasing the arts online

Back online, our annual House Music Competition finals took place on 15th October, and this year’s entries raised the bar once again. Our students submitted musical pieces that were technically impressive as well as moving, with each performance serving as a testament to the hours of practice and dedication they put in. Several students even innovated beyond our original guidance, creating their own new category for Collaboration with duo pieces edited together with classmates around the world.

The last week of term then played host to our annual Winter Art Show, celebrating the creativity and talent of students from Year 3 to Year 13. Alongside a stunning selection of artworks from throughout the term, the evening also featured one of our young people’s favourite festive school traditions: the much-anticipated announcement of our Gingerbread Competition winners, this year themed around “Winter Wonders of the World.”

Staff take to the stage

On 10th December, it was our teachers’ turn to show their skills. Staff from across the school performed Cinderella for an audience of over 350 students as part of their annual Christmas performance, a beloved King’s InterHigh tradition that never fails to delight us.

More than a dozen teachers stepped into character and brought smiles and laughter to our children’s faces in a reminder of what makes our educators so special. They don’t just teach; they make real connections with our young people.

Making history in virtual reality

Beyond the arts, our middle school students made history this term with the very first Inspired interschools debate held entirely in virtual reality. Brilliant young minds from the UK, Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, and Mexico gathered in an immersive VR auditorium to tackle various thought-provoking topics around artificial intelligence. In avatar form, they showed off their critical thinking, sharp communication skills, and remarkable adaptability.

What set this event apart the most, however, was watching how technology can foster real community and engagement across continents, preparing our students for an increasingly interconnected world.

Leading the way

A new year also means a new Student Council, and this year’s newly elected representatives (like Ayesha) have wasted no time making their mark this term.

Council members across the key stages already coming up with initiatives to better serve their peers, starting with one of their first projects, ‘Ask Your Rep’: a platform where students across the school can pose their questions and share their ideas. It’s student voice in action, shaping the school experience for the whole community.

Achievements beyond the classroom

One of the most rewarding aspects of our flexible education is watching students excel in their passions alongside their academics. Once again, this term has been filled with extraordinary achievements across a huge array of fields.

In sports, our student Timo Jüngling became KZ2 World Vice Champion in November, while Kit Belofsky earned the title of 2025 Formula 4 Champion in December.

IGCSE students Annie Thompson and Poppy Roberts represented King’s InterHigh at the NSEA National Championships in equestrian sport, and Jake earned a gold medal in judo in September.

Aya became a double World Champion at the GKA Youth Kite World Championships, and Lukas won his first International Ski Federation race in New Zealand. With flexible schedules and unwavering support, our students can pursue the most ambitious goals without compromise.

Beyond sports, our A Level student Dan Hough was nominated for ‘Favourite Young Actor’ at this year’s TV Times Awards for his role as Arlo in Hollyoaks.

We also celebrated our new student Elizabeth Okogwu, who won the Young BAFTA Presenter Award at the age of 10 this July.

Successes like theirs show what becomes possible when education adapts to students, rather than the other way around.