Prospectus - The King's School, Canterbury

Our Heads

Liz Worthington Head, The King’s School

Emma Károlyi Head, Junior King’s School

Jude Lowson Incoming Head, The King’s School

Jo & Bill Prior Principals, The International College

An all-through

education

We educate children from aged 3 to 18, both day and boarding.

King’s Senior School is set in the historic surroundings of Canterbury Cathedral. We combine the very best of a traditional British education with a modern and global outlook.

Our Prep School, Junior King’s, enjoys a separate campus with 80-acres of beautiful grounds. With a culture based on kindness, Junior King’s offers a fabulous preparation for life in the senior school.

Our pioneering International College is perfectly suited to overseas pupils who may need to improve their English language skills or familiarise themselves with the British curriculum. They can attain their GCSEs in just one year, typically achieving excellent results.

History and modernity

King’s is the oldest school in the UK and its origins can be traced back to the year 597AD when St. Augustine was sent from Rome to evangelize England.

King’s may be steeped in history, yet we also have a modern ethos and global outlook. Pupils learn in beautiful medieval buildings as well as modern facilities such as the new Science Centre, the Malthouse Theatre, the Junior King’s Music School and our state-of-the-art International College.

Academic excellence

King’s has a strong academic reputation and our pupils go on to achieve places at prestigious universities, both in the UK and overseas. We always encourage our children to feel ‘stretched but not stressed’.

Over thirty subjects are on offer, including seven Modern Languages. Sixth Form subjects include Psychology, Philosophy, History of Art, Government & Politics and Computer Science. Our curriculum also embraces the digital world, innovation and technology. At the same time, we never lose sight of what we value from the past.

Wellbeing

King’s is an environment in which positive thinking, kindness and resilience are encouraged. We pride ourselves in creating a happy, stimulating environment in which pupils can thrive academically and socially.

We offer fantastic pastoral care and our pupils are always well supported. If needed, we have a team of counsellors available to pupils. We also have a modern and well-equipped Health Centre staffed by doctors and nursing staff.

Friendship & belonging

At King’s, the children make lasting friendships, developing deep bonds which often last a lifetime. It is wonderful to see how quickly the new pupils settle in.

Through their house and its culture, pupils develop a sense of belonging. Boys’ and Girls’ Houses are ‘twinned’ for social events, as well as for House plays and concerts. There are many inclusive activities such as concerts, plays, sports competitions and charity fundraising events that take place throughout the year.

Sport

We have a dynamic and competitive sporting culture, with over twenty different sports on offer.

With our exceptional coaches and glorious facilities, our pupils have gone on to achieve international honours in sports such as hockey, rugby, fencing, rowing, athletics and Paralympic skiing.

We encourage pupils to adopt a balanced approach towards winning and losing, both as an individual and as part of a team. Most importantly, pupils are encouraged to enjoy sport, whatever their capability.

Music

As one of the leading music schools in the country, King’s offers exceptional musicians a pathway to a career in music. We are proud to have so many talented musicians both in the junior and senior schools.

For those who are learning a new instrument, we have some incredible teachers on hand to help pupils perfect their skills. All pupils are encouraged to perform in recitals, performances and concerts.

Singing plays an important part at King’s. At the senior school there are nine choirs that perform regularly in the magnificent surroundings of Canterbury Cathedral.

Arts & culture

Our schools are well known for creativity and the arts. We have some exceptional artists within our pupil body. Outside of the normal curriculum, there are visits to the London galleries and other art venues. Our overseas trips provide a valuable source of inspiration and cultural learning.

The Art department also runs an artist-in-residence scheme, designed to give an insight into the methods of working practitioners.

The Malthouse Theatre

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.

There have been impressive past productions, including The Crucible, Cyrano de Bergerac, Dr Faustus, West Side Story, The Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

A Global Outlook

We have a diverse and vibrant pupil body enabling our children to develop a broad and global outlook. This helps our pupils prepare for the world of work, in which they need an understanding of different cultures and approaches.

Pupils of all nationalities, from Europe to the US, are integrated into both the junior and senior schools. For those that have selected the bespoke programme of the International College, they still integrate with King’s pupils in sport, drama and co-curricular activities. Many of the International College pupils transition into the senior school.

Co-curricular

There is something for everyone at King’s, with a vast array of clubs and activities. Departmental trips are a highlight of the academic programme. Recent excursions include a Mandarin trip to China, an Art History trip to Florence, an Economics visit to New York and a Geography expedition to Morocco.

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.

King’s Week

King’s Week is a celebration of music, drama and the arts. Many of the events are pupil-led allowing them to develop their creative and organisational skills.

It 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. With over one hundred events in more than thirty different locations, King’s Week provides a glorious conclusion to the academic year.

Admissions

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.

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

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 transfer to Canterbury.

Eurostar - Paris to Canterbury from 2 hours 40 minutes.

Car - from London follow the A2/M2, or the M25 to the A2 exit.