Prince’s Mead School and King Edward VI School Announce Exciting Merger
13th May 25
The Boards of Prince’s Mead School in Winchester and King Edward VI School in Southampton are delighted to announce that they will be merging, following a period of careful consideration and thorough due diligence.
This merger brings together two highly respected schools with a long-standing relationship built on shared values, a commitment to excellence, and providing an outstanding educational experience for pupils.
Both schools remain in a strong and stable financial position, consistently generating a surplus year on year. This proactive partnership aims to build on both schools’ strengths, reinforcing financial security and opening new opportunities for pupil progression, with Prince’s Mead pupils’ benefiting from a KES Head’s Recommendation pathway to KES senior school, providing a guaranteed place in Year 7 for pupils who achieve an appropriate academic standard and would thrive in the senior school more widely, without the uncertainty of passing the Entrance Exam.
Over the next two years, Prince’s Mead and King Edward’s will undertake an integration period, reviewing possibilities for collaboration while maintaining the distinct qualities of each school.
Adam King, Head at Prince’s Mead, said: “This merger strengthens our position for the future, allowing us to enhance everything we already do so well while staying true to our values. We are excited about the new opportunities this partnership will bring for our pupils, staff, and wider community.”
Neal Parker, Head at King Edward VI School, added: “This is a significant step forward, building on our long-standing relationship with Prince’s Mead. This merger builds on the many strengths of our schools and with the success of KES Prep in Romsey, we are proud to be growing our community and further strengthening our position as the leading provider of co-educational education in the region. This partnership enables us to offer even greater opportunities to our pupils while maintaining the outstanding education and experience families expect from our schools.”
Rebecca Smith, Head at King Edward VI Preparatory, added: “Through our experience at KES Prep, we’ve seen how shared expertise and strategic support can enhance the unique strengths of a preparatory school. We welcome Prince’s Mead and look forward to strengthening the network of outstanding preparatory schools across the region.”
Chris Lowe, Chair of Governors at Prince’s Mead, said: “Prince’s Mead is a school with ambition, strength, and a deeply rooted sense of purpose. This merger is not about necessity – it’s about vision. By merging with KES, we are choosing to merge with a school with cultural alignment, built on shared values and mutual respect to amplify what we already do so well and secure an even stronger future for our pupils, our fantastic staff and our community.”
Geraint Davies, Chair of Governors at King Edward VI School, added: “This merger represents a natural and positive evolution of our schools’ relationship. It reflects our strategic commitment to nurturing high-quality, co-educational pathways from the earliest years through to sixth form. We are proud to welcome Prince’s Mead into our KES family and look forward to what we will achieve together.”
Families across both schools have been informed and reassured that their children’s education will continue uninterrupted, with a focus on ensuring a seamless transition and clear communication throughout the process.
