The King's School Canterbury

With origins dating back to 597AD, The King’s School is reputedly the oldest school in the world. It is also one of the country’s leading co-educational boarding schools located in the idyllic surroundings of the Precincts of Canterbury Cathedral, just one hour from Central London.
The School has a strongly academic curriculum that is continually adapting to encompass the ever changing demands of modern education. With almost all our pupils going on to further education at leading universities in the UK and abroad, there is an emphasis on scholarly excellence. Through regular monitoring of academic progress, the school’s aim is to enable every individual to make the most of their abilities and to fulfil their potential.

We believe that much of what is most valuable in education takes place outside the classroom. The wide-ranging co-curricular programme has been developed to provide opportunities for all pupils to discover their passions and encourage them to develop these talents as best as possible. Art, Drama, Music and Sport play a large role in school life, alongside the Combined Cadet Force, the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and numerous other activities to suit all tastes. King’s Week, the School’s own festival of arts at the end of the summer term, involves hundreds of pupils in a showcase of creativity ending each academic year on a fitting note of achievement and enjoyment. Music is a central part of life at the School with a range of disciplines flourishing, from a large Symphony Orchestra, to a 40-voice SATB choir of Cathedral Standard. There are some 60 Music Scholars in the school at any one time.

The main school site is situated in the precincts of Canterbury Cathedral, a UNESCO world heritage site, providing a beautiful and inspiring backdrop to what has been described as ‘a university for young people’. Further sites include the historic St Augustine’s Abbey, a 22 acre multi-purpose sports field with pavilion and a purpose built sports recreation centre owned and managed by the School.