The Week – Final 2025–2026 Academic Year Edition

Having served as Interim Head, Mr Stonier expressed his sincere gratitude to parents, staff and pupils for their support and commitment. He highlighted the energy, curiosity and spirit of the pupils as the qualities that make Junior King’s such a special place. He also offered warm wishes to the families and pupils whose Junior King’s journey comes to an end this summer, wishing them every success and happiness as they begin exciting new chapters. At the same time, he looked forward to welcoming returning pupils back in September, ready for another year of learning, growth and discovery.

Speech Day provided a fitting conclusion to the academic year and celebrated the many achievements of pupils across the school. Junior King’s welcomed Katy Granville-Chapman, Deputy Head at Wellington College, co-founder of Global Social Leaders and Associate Fellow of The Oxford Character Project, as its guest speaker. The occasion recognised the resilience, kindness, commitment and accomplishments of the pupils while also providing an opportunity to thank parents and families for their continued support throughout the year.

Creativity and imagination shone brightly during the Year 8 summer production, The Forgotten Village. Inspired by the pupils’ original ideas, the unique promenade performance transformed the Junior King’s campus into the fictional village of Justly-Kin-Scott, said to be the most haunted village in Britain. Audiences followed paranormal investigators across the school grounds as they encountered mysterious spirits, supernatural events and an assortment of memorable characters. The production celebrated the creativity, teamwork and individuality of the Year 8 pupils, creating a truly distinctive and memorable farewell as they prepare for the next stage of their educational journeys.

The Year 7 Excellence Group also impressed audiences with its Shakespeare Promenade performance. Families and friends enjoyed a sunny journey around the school’s beautiful grounds, where pupils brought Shakespeare’s characters to life in imaginative and unexpected settings. From Henry V rallying a hockey team to scenes from Romeo and Juliet taking place in the Adventure Playground, the performances demonstrated confidence, creativity and dramatic flair. The event built on an already outstanding year for the group, following their acclaimed performance of Non-Stop from Hamilton at the Night of the Musical.

As the school year draws to a close, Junior King’s celebrates the achievements of every pupil and the strength of its community. The year has created lasting memories, remarkable accomplishments and countless reasons for pride. The school now looks ahead to a well-deserved summer break before welcoming pupils back for another exciting year in September.