WHAT? WHERE?

In terms of making a good first impression, you are off to a solid start with King’s as the main school site is situated within the Precincts of Canterbury Cathedral – a World Heritage Site. The oldest school in the UK accolade is dated back to 597 when it was founded by St. Augustine and was then re-founded as The King’s School during the reign of Henry VIII after the dissolution of the monasteries.

You have a beautiful juxtaposition with King’s School as many of these ancient buildings (complete with cloisters for that extra-traditional atmosphere) are mingled with the bustling city of Canterbury which is where you will find many of the boarding houses as well as sporting facilities.

Traditionally, King’s has always had a reputation as a high-achiever school but one of our stand-out points is the school’s focus to unearth the individual ‘gifts’ when it comes to each pupil’s hidden talents – even if it is not within the core subjects. The school invests much time and thought into their Admissions process as they recognize that if it all came down to pure Academics, they would miss stars within other fields. As the Head tells us, ‘There is not one type of King’s pupil as the curriculum is so broad. We want our students to know that the sky is their limit, whatever their passion or talent.’

Kings School, Walters and Cohen. Copyright Jim Stephenson 2023

Location wise, the school is sitting pretty as it is within walking distance of Canterbury West (fast train to London is just under an hour) and Canterbury East station so day pupils can easily independently travel to school and boarders can go to and fro from London, as well as the international links as you are 15 miles from Ashford International.

It has often been described as a ‘University for young people’ and you can see why as the stretched out facilities across the city means that students have to be independent and be responsible for getting themselves to lessons and helps to prepare them for life beyond school.

Starting from Shell (equivalent of Year 9), the school has approximately 835 pupils and half of those come from Junior King’s and the remaining intake come from a wide range of London, Kent, Sussex and southern prep schools and primary schools. Admission policy is Common Entrance exam and an interview with pupils from Junior King’s also taking the CE to define the right set. There is also another big surge of incoming students for the Sixth Form as about 50 join the year with entrance by competitive exam/interview and a minimum of seven 6s at GCSE.

FACILITIES

It should come as no surprise that the facilities match the school’s prestigious surroundings. They are rightly proud of the new Science block, housed within The Mint Yard, and boasts seven new Physics laboratories, dedicated Science research space, an auditorium alongside refurbished Biology and Chemistry laboratories. There is a big focus on encouraging attracting boys and girls to medicine at the school so these shiny facilities will help spread that word.

Acting talent will be able to tread the boards at the refurbished historic Malthouse which is a 334-seat theatre plus art, dance and photography studios. Music is a huge part of King’s rich history and performance spaces range from the magnificent Canterbury Cathedral to the school’s own 820 seat concert hall, and there are three recital rooms, all with Steinway pianos. You will also find two Mac based technology suites, as well as an industry standard recording studio.

The sporting facilities are also second to none with three sporting sites across the city plus a new fencing space within a an indoor sports facility at the School’s Malthouse site – this new installation is unique to any school in the UK and means that King’s is within the top three fencing venues in the UK.

A new day house also recently opened in a historic Grade II listed building and fun fact, it is where the original Chitty Chitty Bang Bang racing cars were built but is now a contemporary space for non-boarders to study and socialize in between classes. There’s a new Day house in the pipeline to accommodate the extra demand so watch this space…

SPORT

Fencing aside, students have the benefit of three sporting sites including 22 acres of multi-purpose sports fields plus rowing and sailing at Westbere Lakes, as well as partnerships with nearby clubs such as Canterbury Cricket and St. George’s Sandwich. There are over 100 sports to choose from so students have their pick of sports to excel at (from shooting at its own Shooting Range to Horse Riding at nearby Rooting Farm as well as Kite-Surfing) alongside the typical sporting staples.

The school has had national representatives within athletics, fencing, hockey, rugby, shooting, skiing and table tennis and Mark Ealham, former England international cricketer, is part of the Sports teaching team as well as Jon Williamson, England Rowing Team manager for 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, so you are in very safe hands. Impressive alumni include Millie Knight (Paralympic Downhill Skier) who carried the Team GB flag at 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympic Games and national sporting treasure, David Gower, was a former pupil at King’s.

Super Saturday is a regular fixture with local co-education schools and King’s is known for its ‘GREAT tea’ according to one parent so you can expect some good social interaction with fellow parents as well as some top sporting moments to watch from the sidelines.

MUSIC & DRAMA

Music and Performing Arts is a strong area at King’s with Canterbury Cathedral being a truly inspirational setting to hone that craft. The school is renowned worldwide for the quality of its Music and they have 52 academic, instrumental, and singing teachers who deliver 650 music lessons per week.

Reputation aside, the school stresses that they work cooperatively and collaboratively with their students and there are lots of different choral opportunities – from orchestral, rock and pop as well as jazz so something for everyone. We are also told that the most uplifting part of the week by staff and pupils alike is Congas which is officially hymn practise in Assembly which translates as all pupils singing with as much gusto as they can so the power of voice is celebrated in all forms here.

The school has 200-220 leavers each year and 10% of those go onto conservatory/music schools as well as drama school and dance school so creative professions are encouraged at King’s as much as the University route.

The Malthouse theatre is a fantastic addition to school life, opened by Joanna Lumley MBE, not only the 334-seat theatre but also the dance/drama studios and state of the art changing rooms. The Marlowe in Canterbury has also hosted King’s productions in recent years so drama kings and queens will thrive here.

ICT/DT/ART

There are extensive ICT/DT/Art Facilities at King’s – Blackfriars, an ancient Dominican refectory, is the home of the Art Department and a wealth of artistic disciplines such as painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, and textile design are on offer here. There are two multi-purpose studios and a textile studio, the ‘Cleary Gallery’ for hosting exhibitions, and a departmental library/tutorial room.

Many pupils go onto study Art Foundation and Fine Art at a later stage. Regular visits are also paid to London galleries and to other venues. Overseas trips are also arranged, a Biennial trip to Venice with another European city each year in between. We also like their Artist-in-Residence scheme, which gives an insight into the working methods of professional practitioners.

From an ICT point of view, there are three fully equipped computer rooms. All computers have a variety of programming IDE’s supporting a range of programming languages, with other software to support the computing courses. The department also makes use of programmable robots, and programmable electrical circuits to enhance pupils’ programming skills while also offering the satisfaction of seeing programs in operation.

The department also offers a range of extra-curricular activities, including robotics and cybernetics which involve pupils programming Raspberry Pi robots to complete set missions. The department is also supporting an exciting project in which pupils are programming a Raspberry Pi to control a Quadcopter using GPS technology. The department also offers programming support in which pupils can take on challenging Java/python projects to extend their knowledge beyond the curriculum.

You will also find a purpose-built Design and Technology Department on St Radigund’s Street, where there are two specialist workshops and two design studios, which embrace electronics, engineering, and the general working of metals, woods and plastics.

ACADEMIA

For the headline results, you need to know that out of approximately 200 leavers each year, 70% – 75% of students head off to either Oxbridge or Russell Group Universities and a handful go on to top US Universities. However, as we know King’s also focuses on the wider picture and alternative career paths some have gone on to learn the techie side of production at Malthouse theatre, others have gone direct into Arms Services, and some have gone straight into Computer Science related roles and we hear one ex-pupil is making a name for himself within the Bitcoin Industry so entrepreneurship is celebrated!

In 2023, 80% scored A*-B at A Level and 21% achieved a A*. 74% of the I/GCSE results were awarded as 9-7 grades in 2023 with 51.4% achieving grades 9 or 8.

There is a Learning Enhancing Department, known as The Hub, which helps students with their learning journey with the emphasis on EVERY pupil reaching their full potential. The Extended Project is also possible as an addition to A-Levels and is designed to support pupils with their research, analysis, evaluation, and presentation skills.

One student told us that what they love about the school most is that the teachers are so committed to their job and you can always ask them for extra help or support if needed, even out of lesson time. When we are normally told, it’s the school puddings in response to this question, this spoke volumes.

THE HEAD

Jude Lowson joined King’s School in September 2023 as the first female Head since the school was originally founded and brings exceptional credentials with her having worked in some of the UK’s top performing schools. Prior to this appointment, Lowson was acting Head of King’s College School, Wimbledon having come from Putney High as Deputy Head, Academic and started her teaching career at Whitgift School.

Lowson holds an MA in History from the University of Cambridge and originally started her career in the communication industry so brings both commercial and academic experience with her which is a refreshing change in this industry and it’s been noted by staff and parents alike that she is a refreshing change for the school too. There is a real can-do and positive attitude alongside her strong academic qualifications plus a twinkle in her eye too so that sense of a well-rounded spirit is fully embodied in the Head.

Since joining, Jude Lowson has been mindful to spend time listening to her staff, students and parents about what positive impacts they would like to make to the school before making any longstanding changes. Breakfast and lunch meetings are regularly held at her office with pupils across all age groups to share their thoughts as well as drop-in clinic during the week so there is a genuine ‘pupil voice’ throughout the school with one pupil telling me ‘you really feel that what you say matters ‘ and another teacher telling me, “I am the happiest I have ever been after 20 years of working here” so the listening is paying off it seems.

Lowson was attracted to King’s due to the diversity of the school’s offer, its global outlook and the rich heritage of the place recognizing that King’s has the same intellectual firepower as her previous schools in London but goes beyond with its well-rounded approach to education and the extensive co-curricular offering. It has been a move for the whole family as her wife is teaching Maths at the Senior school and their daughter has just joined Junior King’s so they are fully embracing Kent life including swimming in the sea on the weekends so the change has been a big hit all round.

BOARDING

Currently, 80% are boarders and 20% are day pupils and there are thirteen boarding Houses, with 659 boarders, which are dotted around the city of Canterbury. The Houses range from historic buildings full of character to more modern additions to accommodate the increasing demand to board!

Each boarding house has its turn to be fully renovated each year, from top to bottom, so there are no tired dorms here and in fact, one house kitchen was distinctly nicer than mine plus the newly ensconced Air Dryer has been a big hit with boarders so no creature comforts are lost here.

The common thread between all the Houses is the desire to ‘create a Home from Home’ and one parent tells us ‘The King’s School is a traditional boarding school and although our children are away from home, I do feel like we have a connection to the school and what is happening in their lives. The staff are always quick to respond and extremely supportive.”

It’s 50:50 in terms of boy:girl ratio when it comes to boarding so you know that your child won’t feel in a minority if they board, plus they twin boys and girls’ boarding Houses for plays, concerts and social events so the weekends are packed full of activities. One boarder tells us that ‘Sunday brunch is by far the best meal at King’s. The hash browns are unbeatable. It’s not at all a surprise that there is a whole school dash from the Cathedral to the dining room after Sunday Matins.”

Part of Lowson’s remit is to look at expanding the flexi-boarding approach as they want to ‘remove any hurdles from enriching your child’s education’ so plans are in place for a more formal offer in this department. But as it stands, all boarders are permitted weekly exeats and day pupils can be assigned to boarding Houses so it is more flexible than you think. Ms. Lowson is leading the charge to implement school buses on Sunday nights to help parents with the school run in London, Sussex and West Kent so pragmatic changes are constantly being evaluated and implemented.

QUIRKS

We have heard a lot of good things (parents and pupils alike) about the famous King’s Week at the end of the summer term which is a festival of music, drama and dance with events being staged in all corners of the school every day for a week. We are told that many parents put this festival at the top of their social agenda, and everyone brings picnics so they can enjoy these (mainly) alfresco performances across the school.

Every B&B and hotel in Canterbury is booked out for the duration and you can expect a HUGE range of cultural delights – from Shakespeare plays and jazz recitals right through to poetry slams. As one teacher tells us, “It is a FUN part of year and whilst you will be blown away by the talent, it is also not designed to be intimidating as everyone is encouraged to participate and perform.”

Prefects wear purple gowns which have been handed down from generation to generation evident by the number of different name tapes in each one. They are still very much a badge of honour amongst pupils and the King’s distinctive uniform with its old-fashioned winged collars is also well-liked by students with girls opting to wear trousers instead of skirts if they prefer but it is a smart and educated look.

ANYTHING ELSE?

They are rightly very proud of their Pastoral Care as they have outstanding Pastoral Networks where the focus is on Listening and Encouraging. The Mental Health team is impressive as they have four counsellors as well as a Life Support Coach and a Senior Chaplain on site to also help support the students. LGBT, diversity and equality issues are all subjects brought into an open and safe space with a focus on creating well-rounded and open-minded individuals.

The power of the Cathedral as a place of meditation and contemplation is not to be underestimated as a unique selling point for the School with one pupil telling me that her favourite part of the school is the morning light through the Cloisters on her way to breakfast each morning.

‘Community’ is a word that we often heard throughout our visit, and it is evident that they are looking to create students with successful careers in a huge range of careers but also with a big emphasis on being supportive and kind which is music to our ears.

Saturday Smarties is a prime example of the community messaging here as King’s open their Science facilities up to local primary schools (Year 5) to 25 schools in East Kent. Its music scheme, Sounding Out, also provides free instrumental lessons to children in primary schools in the city of Canterbury. Ms. Lowson wants to up the Community side of things at school so watch this space and knit together the link between the King’s Junior and Senior School so there is more unity on this front.

FEES

Day pupils (per term) – Shell: £9,275, Remove & Fifth: £9,780; Sixth Form: £10,300

Boarding (full time) – £14,830 per term

WORD ON THE GROUND

The proof of the pudding is obviously what the parents and pupils have to say so we did some digging. As we suspected, there is a recurrent theme as one pupil tell us, “One of the amazing things about King’s is that it has opened up my eyes to other activities that I can be good at as I have always loved Sport, but I can also get involved in the drama at King’s. We get to see amazing plays in London and have The Malthouse which is like a professional theatre for our own productions. But nothing makes me prouder than wearing the King’s badge when I am playing sport for my school. That is when I am at my happiest.”

The parents echo that thought too, “Our children left prep school thinking they were terrible at sport, having a love of the arts and feeling academically competent. King’s has nurtured and developed them in all these areas. They have discovered new sports, that they enjoy. Their artistic talents have been developed beyond our expectations and the excellent teaching supports them both when they are struggling as well as thriving.”

THE MUDDY VERDICT

GOOD FOR: It works for all-rounders as well as those who have not found their inner talent as the staff will ensure that each student feels individually important to the fabric of the school. It will also appeal to those who appreciate inspiring architecture and long-standing tradition alongside a 21^st Century approach to Education.

NOT FOR: The fees can alienate some parents from the get-go and if you are after a bespoke school with small year groups for your child, you may need to look elsewhere. As the school is not all one campus, it might not be right for those who need more hand-holding.

King’s School, Canterbury, CT1 2ES, Tel: 01227 595501, info@kings-school.co.uk, kings-school.co.uk

The King’s School, Canterbury

You may also like