BEYOND COMPARE
Welcome
Jude Lowson
Head, The King’s School
It is an enormous privilege and pleasure to lead this remarkable school, and I hope that this prospectus helps to give a flavour of what is distinctive and special about a King’s education.
Set in a breathtaking location, with the Senior School set amongst the Precincts of Canterbury Cathedral and our Junior School nestled alongside the banks of the river Stour, our school offers an environment and experience that is like no other.
Believed to be the first school in England and possibly the world, our school has a unique history and our community a special character, one that is spiritually aware, engaged, warmhearted and open-minded.
We are inspired, not constrained by tradition, and this is a school that has always looked to the future. Pupils today benefit from fantastic facilities, an uncommonly broad, wide-ranging, enlightening and inspiring curriculum and a phenomenal breadth of co-curricular activities.
This is a place that ignites passions and nurtures individual interests, no matter what they are, allowing pupils to forge their own unique path with us, and preparing them for fulfilling futures, regardless of the course that they follow beyond school.
Beyond Compare
This is a school beyond compare.
You can almost feel it in the stones at King’s –the enduring legacy of endless curiosity, searching questions, enlightened discoveries, and of countless minds enriched, and aspirations made real. A school before anywhere else in Europe, if not the world, it could be argued this is where education began. Today’s pupils cannot help but be inspired by all that is around them,
aware that they have the support and guidance they need to fulfil their own destiny and to illuminate their own path. They are equipped also with the knowledge that we never rest on reputation, but instead look to the future with a global perspective – alive and open to every opportunity.
The King’s Journey
King’s is a thriving co-educational school for over 1,300 pupils aged 3-18 across our three sites.
Junior School
Pupils aged 3-13 are based in our junior school, Junior King’s, which is located in an idyllic riverside site in the village of Sturry, just two miles from Canterbury.
The school is based around a wonderful 16th century manor house and tithe barn, and offers day, boarding and flexi-boarding. The rural, riverside setting and fantastic facilities provide the perfect backdrop for inspiring and exciting school days. For Junior King’s pupils, this is simply a magical place to learn and to grow, and provides the perfect stepping stone to the Senior School.
Senior School
Our Senior School, for pupils aged 13-18 can claim to be the longest continually operating school in the world.
It was established in AD 597 alongside Canterbury Cathedral; the UK’s first cathedral, and both remain intertwined spiritually and geographically. With thirteen boarding houses and three day houses, and catering for day pupils, weekly and full boarders, the school brings together pupils from the local area and across the world, all contributing to a uniquely diverse, open-minded, inspiring and engaging community and all connected to what is a unique legacy of learning.
International College
Our pioneering International College, for international pupils aged 13-16 provides the perfect soft landing for pupils seeking to develop their English language skills or to familiarise themselves with the British curriculum.
Based in our award-winning, purpose-built facilities, pupils benefit from a similarly tailored and specialist provision, with small class sizes and bespoke courses on offer, including our innovative 1-year fast-track GCSE programme. Pupils in the International College work together with those in the Senior School for sports, music and other co-curricular activities as well as enjoying their own vibrant co-curricular programme. Many pupils from the International College go on to join the Senior School for the Sixth Form.
Boarding & Day
The boarding communities in both our Junior and Senior Schools are large and diverse, and with a busy programme of evening and weekly activities in place, there is always something going on.
Boarders in the Junior School are housed in two houses; one for boys and one for girls, while in the Senior School there are six boys’ houses and seven girls’ houses. No matter which house a pupil calls home, they identify strongly with their house for competitions and activities, and come to form strong bonds with their fellow pupils, supported by a team of resident and non-resident staff in each house.
In the Junior School, many pupils start their journey as flexi-boarders, while in the Senior School the size of our boarding community means that we are able to make provision for both full and weekly boarding. Boarding life is busy, engaging, enriching and overall great fun. The day experience is intended to mirror this in each respect, except for the provision of beds! In the Senior School, day pupils join one of three co-educational day houses, and this provides for them a base, community and support network throughout their time in the school. All pupils in the International College board and benefit from superb, purpose-built facilities at our Malthouse Site.
History & Modernity
King’s may be steeped in history, but we also have a modern ethos and global outlook. This is not a school that stands still.
Situated as we are around a bustling medieval city, pupils are connected to the world beyond school and the international community. Pupils are surrounded by and learn in a uniquely beautiful setting, and they live and work amongst important historical sites, following in the footsteps of Thomas Becket, Elizabeth I, Rudyard Kipling and Christopher Marlowe, to name just a few.
Alongside this, they also benefit from outstanding modern facilities, such as the new Science Centre, the Malthouse Theatre, the Junior King’s Music School and our stateof-the-art International College. Pupils cannot help but be inspired by these incredible surroundings, this unique environment and these unparalleled experiences. While they play their part in time-honoured traditions, they also have the opportunity to make their own mark on the school and to make their own positive contribution to the school and the world beyond.
Dennis Gilbert/VIEW
Academic Fulfilment
King’s has a strong academic reputation. As the cradle of learning in this country, we are the original educational pioneers, with brilliant teaching and brilliant teachers at the heart of our provision.
No two King’s pupils share the same ambitions or the same talents and passions: our academic and co-curricular programmes allow for remarkable breadth and depth. In the Senior School, for example, over thirty subjects are on offer, including seven Modern Languages, Computer Science, Latin and Greek, Government and Politics and everything in between. Our sixth form curriculum is enriched through our innovative ‘Block E’ programme, offering a huge range of extension and enrichment opportunities from the Extended Project Qualification to AS Levels in Modern Languages and our own bespoke Leadership qualification.
At all levels, class sizes are small, and lessons are discursive, engaging and inspiring. We see academic excellence and strong outcomes as a by-product of genuine enjoyment and engagement with subjects and with learning.
We are proud of the academic achievements of our pupils, and these enable them to go onto a range of highly competitive and sought-after courses and destinations beyond King’s, but it is our goal to imbue in our pupils a lifelong love of learning and to help to spark in them passions and interests that will last for a lifetime.
Co-curricular Enrichment
There is something for everyone at King’s, with a vast array of clubs and activities, and King’s pupils are by their nature keen to engage with all that is on offer.
Departmental trips are a highlight of the academic programme. Recent excursions have included a Spanish cultural trip to Seville, an Economics trip to New York, a ski trip to Les Deux Alpes, a Geography and Geology trip to Iceland and an adventure trek through the Himalayas.
Meanwhile, our astonishingly broad programme of clubs, societies and activities allow pupils to cultivate and refine talents, pursue current interests or try something completely new. Pupils can involve themselves in activities as diverse as beekeeping, cryptic crosswords, debating and Young Enterprise club. The Senior School has a thriving Combined Cadet Force and Duke of Edinburgh programme, and there are also many opportunities for pupils to engage with charity work and outreach or partnership projects throughout the school. Pupils are encouraged and supported to take part and take advantage of what is on offer and to aim high, but equally to find joy and friendship in their pursuit of interests and activities beyond the classroom. Supported by expert teachers and coaches and enabled by fantastic facilities, there is a real sense that anything is possible.
Pastoral Support and Personalised Care
The school is a safe, happy and stimulating environment in which pupils can thrive academically and socially.
Pupils benefit from day-to-day support from their tutor, house parents or housemaster/ mistress and matrons and pastoral care assistants. With staff looking after just a small number of pupils, each individual is known, nurtured and supported, and while the overall school is large, each pupil will feel part of their own network within the school in their house or tutor group.
We recognise the importance of offering specialist support where needed, and we have a team of counsellors, a life coach and two wellequipped medical centres staffed by nursing and medical staff who are available 24/7.
Our chaplaincy team exercise a pastoral role in being available to pupils of all religions and none, offering guidance, support and a listening ear as well as leading assemblies, charity work and discussion groups.
Individual academic support is also provided by the Learning Enhancement and Learning Support department, staffed by a specialist team.
A Sense of Belonging and Spiritual Grounding
Drawn from diverse backgrounds, bringing unique talents and interests, no two pupils are alike, but each is at home here, and our connection to the Cathedral builds further the profound sense of community at King’s.
At King’s, our pupils forge strong friendships and develop deep bonds that often last a lifetime. True to our monastic origins, King’s has a very strong sense of community in which every individual is welcomed, valued and involved, while the House system engenders a strong sense of belonging. Our school community is diverse and inclusive, and pupils are notably supportive and encouraging of one another.
The Christian tradition is very much at the heart of King’s, especially as our origins date back to the birth of Christianity in England. Our connection to the Cathedral provides a unique spiritual core to our school – for pupils of all faiths, or none, helping them all to appreciate the non-material, to see beyond the mundane and the day-to-day. It offers many opportunities for the school to come together as one community. In a world that feels increasingly, relentlessly busy, ours is a school that values time for reflection and time to be together.
With pupils from all over the world, we are proud to teach about other cultures and religions, encouraging tolerance, respect and understanding.
A Global Outlook
We welcome pupils to King’s from across the globe and we nurture in our pupils a desire to make a positive impact on the world.
The diversity and vibrancy of our pupil body enables our pupils to be open-minded and globally minded, and to be connected to the world beyond school. Pupils are encouraged to engage with a range of perspectives and
to recognise their potential to make a positive impact, on their school community and to the communities beyond. Pupils from King’s emerge with self-awareness, self-confidence, selfknowledge, and with a deep sense of their place in the world and a desire to contribute to it.
The Creative Arts
King’s is proud of its exceptional reputation for the creative arts.
In addition to our programmes for music, dance and drama, all pupils are enabled to engage in creative projects, making use of our exceptional facilities for art and design, which include specialist workshops for design and wellequipped studios for photography and ceramics. There is a vibrant ‘artist in residence’ programme and our proximity to London means that pupils benefit from frequent visits to the London galleries and other art venues. Our overseas trips also provide a valuable source of inspiration and cultural learning.
Pupils’ work is on display throughout the year, with major exhibitions being held at the end-ofyear celebrations and during King’s Week.
Musical Excellence
Music is very much at the heart of King’s. As one of the leading schools for music, we attract some of the most talented musicians in the world, often providing them with a pathway to the top conservatoires.
The real mark of our strength and breadth in music is our orchestral output. In the Senior School, we have a Symphony and a Chamber orchestra, both of which play to the highest standards. Our nine choirs regularly perform in Canterbury Cathedral and the choral output is famously first-class. We also have jazz bands, rock bands and contemporary singing classes. Music is frequently heard from the halls and windows of the school Houses. The music scene in the Junior School and International College is equally vibrant, with no fewer than 360 musical instrument lessons taking place in any given week at Junior King’s.
Sporting Life
We have a dynamic and competitive sporting culture, with over twenty different sports on offer.
With our exceptional coaches, extensive playing fields and glorious facilities, our pupils have gone on to achieve international honours in sports such as hockey, rugby, fencing, rowing, athletics and Paralympic skiing, and to triumph in national and regional competitions in a range of sports.
Sports tours are a regular feature of the school holidays. Both girls’ and boys’ teams enjoy the opportunity to compete abroad, whether it be a junior school hockey and football tour to France and Holland, rugby in South Africa, cricket in Abu Dhabi, lacrosse in the USA or netball in Barbados.
While many pupils choose to compete in the core sports each term, there is a huge range of sports on offer, from fencing to rowing to swimming to basketball. There is a busy fixture list against strong local and regional competition, but equally an emphasis on participation and engagement at every level.
World Class Drama and Dance
King’s has its own award-winning theatre, converted from a beautiful Victorian building and equipped to West End standards.
This comprises a 334-seat state-of-the-art theatre, with an orchestra pit and specialist dance studios. The theatre was opened by Joanna Lumley in 2019 and is frequently used by professional theatre groups, including the National Youth Music Theatre company.
The ambitions and vision of our drama department and talents of our pupils are a fitting match for these fantastic facilities, and recent productions have included Little Shop of Horrors, Jesus Christ Superstar, Romeo and Juliet, Dr Faustus, Oliver Twist, The Government Inspector and Macbeth.
The school is also a centre for excellence in dance, with both classical and contemporary performances.
King’s Week
Everything stops for King’s Week, a celebration of music, drama and creativity.
The majority of the events are pupil-led, allowing them to develop their creative and organisational skills.
With over one hundred events, such as Jazz on a Summer Sunset, the Gala Symphony concert, theatre performances and rock concerts, Art & Photography exhibitions, KiDaCo dance performances, sports matches and much more, King’s Week provides a glorious conclusion to the academic year and is the envy of every school in the land.
King’s Week has been held in the final week of the Summer Term every year since its inception in 1952 and consistently attracts thousands of parents, friends, alumni and visitors.
Admissions, Scholarships and Bursaries
Full details of our admissions process, including information regarding scholarships and bursaries can be found on the school’s website. We welcome pupils into every year group, with the main entry points being Nursery, Reception, Year 3, Year 6 (Junior School) and 13+, 14+ and 16+ in the Senior School. Pupils in the International College join for Years 9, 10 or 11, leading up to their GCSEs.
Junior King’s:
Nursery - Children can join in the term of their third birthday.
Prep School - We welcome pupils in all year groups from Reception through to Year 8.
11+ Entry - We welcome pupils whose schools finish at Year 7. registrar@junior-kings.co.uk
The King’s School:
13+ Entry - Most pupils will enter the Senior School at 13+ (Year 9). Early registration is advised and entry is by competitive exam and interview in January.
14+ Entry - Entry is by competitive exam and interview in January.
Sixth Form Entry - Entry is by competitive exam and interview in November. admissions@kings-school.co.uk
The International College:
The College offers three programmes: Year 9 - a preparation course for entry into a British school in Year 10.
Years 10 & 11 - a two-year course encompassing GCSEs, preparing pupils for Sixth Form entry.
Year 11 - an intensive one-year GCSE course, preparing pupils for Sixth Form entry. jads@kings-school.co.uk
How to get to Canterbury
Canterbury is exceptionally well connected to London and to the South East, as well as to the transport networks beyond.
High Speed Direct Train
London St. Pancras to Canterbury in just 55 minutes.
Air
London Heathrow, Gatwick and City Airports are all within 90 minutes of Canterbury.
Eurostar
Paris to Canterbury from 2 hours 40 minutes.
Car from London follow the A2/M2, or the M25 to the A2 exit.
The King’s School Canterbury
The Precincts
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 2EZ
+44 (0)1227 595727
www.kings-school.co.uk
Junior King’s School Canterbury
Milner Court
Sturry
Canterbury
Kent
CT2 0AY
+44 (0)1227 714000 www.junior-kings.co.uk
The International College Malthouse Road
Canterbury
Kent
CT2 7JA
+44 (0)1227 287255
www.international.kings-school.co.uk
