Kent

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1001" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/mark-brotherton-junior-kings-school-1.jpg" alt="Mark Brotherton, head of Junior King's School Canterbury sat on a bench with young pupils, smiling and chatting" class="wp-image-113685" style="aspect-ratio:1.4992503748125936;width:640px;height:auto" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/mark-brotherton-junior-kings-school-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/mark-brotherton-junior-kings-school-1-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/mark-brotherton-junior-kings-school-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/mark-brotherton-junior-kings-school-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/mark-brotherton-junior-kings-school-1-768x513.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



We caught up with Mark Brotherton, head of The King’s School Canterbury, Junior King’s, to discover the five key areas he has been enhancing at the school, since he joined over a year ago.



The Junior offering of the oldest school in England,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.junior-kings.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Junior King’s</a>, is a day and boarding school for boys and girls aged 3 – 13. The immediate setting is rural, yet you’re near the vibrant city of Canterbury plus it’s an easy commute into London and you have the Kent coastline in the other direction.



Mr. Brotherton joined Junior King’s in May 2024, having worked in the education world for the past thirty years. He has been a popular choice with pupils, parents and teachers alike helped by the fact that he has a can-do attitude and is a known face on the sporting sidelines too.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-flexi-boarding">FLEXI-BOARDING</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Flexi-Boarding-Junior-Kings.jpg" alt="Junior King's School flexi-boarding facilites with a young girl sat on the edge of a bed" class="wp-image-113692" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Flexi-Boarding-Junior-Kings.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Flexi-Boarding-Junior-Kings-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Flexi-Boarding-Junior-Kings-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Flexi-Boarding-Junior-Kings-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Flexi-Boarding-Junior-Kings-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



With 26 nationalities of pupils, it’s little wonder that Junior King’s has such a strong boarding offering. Weekends for boarders are fun-packed with regular activities arranged – everything from an amazing local skate park to cultural trips to London.



Come Summer, the boarders can camp within the school’s stunning 80 acres of land, enjoy the outdoor pool or cycle around the campus on those long summery evenings. The school is doing a big push on flexi-boarding which is a great way to introduce pupils to boarding and help parents out if they must travel.



As Mr. Brotherton tell us, “We want to support our parents as much as possible as we know they lead busy lives, and our flexi-boarding arrangement is a welcome tonic for families who needed a more flexible approach in this area.”



“We pride ourselves on being flexible too so our flexi-boarding can accommodate pupils on a fixed day of the week each term or on an ad-hoc basis if last minute plans arise. It’s wonderful to see the boarding houses have a diverse mix of full-time and flexi-boarders and the independence and experiences they gain from spending more time at the school and with each other.”



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-outdoor-learning">OUTDOOR LEARNING</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/junior-kings-school-Outdoor-Learning.jpg" alt="Young pupils of Junior Kings School sat outside, chatting and laughing" class="wp-image-113688" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/junior-kings-school-Outdoor-Learning.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/junior-kings-school-Outdoor-Learning-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/junior-kings-school-Outdoor-Learning-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/junior-kings-school-Outdoor-Learning-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/junior-kings-school-Outdoor-Learning-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



When you have all those grounds at your disposal, it makes sense to make the most of it. Mr. Brotherton shares his vision for Junior King’s becoming more of an outdoor school with a focus on pupils learning by doing and embracing the great outdoors.



As he tells us, “We are so lucky as a school to have such amazing facilities with the countryside on our doorstep, and we want to take more advantage of these assets. By learning outside in the fresh air, we know that our pupils will gain a greater understanding and care of their local environment. This hands-on learning approach is deeply beneficial for our pupils too as it means that they are getting back to nature and still enjoying those pure and simple elements of their childhood.”



Plans are already in place at the school with plans for new forest trails within the grounds. Bees have been a new feature at the school since last Summer and there is a thriving bee-keeping club with the first pots of Junior King’s honey already on sale at the school fete this year.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-integrated-curriculum">INTEGRATED CURRICULUM</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Junior-Kings-school-Integrated-Curr-Yr-7-8.jpg" alt="Junior Kings School young pupils working at their desks in a classroom" class="wp-image-113687" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Junior-Kings-school-Integrated-Curr-Yr-7-8.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Junior-Kings-school-Integrated-Curr-Yr-7-8-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Junior-Kings-school-Integrated-Curr-Yr-7-8-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Junior-Kings-school-Integrated-Curr-Yr-7-8-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Junior-Kings-school-Integrated-Curr-Yr-7-8-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



One of the unique features of Junior King’s is that as many as 90 percent of pupils go up to the senior school at Year 9. There is a constant line of communication between Junior King’s and its Senior school, which includes progress reports on each child that is interested in moving onto the Senior school, so sending your child here is a huge advantage if the&nbsp;next level is the route you’d like to take.



Mr. Brotherton is keen to enhance this association even more as he recognizes that the journey to the Senior School starts in Year 7, with plans to offer more integration between the schools during those two school years. &nbsp;



He comments, “Our pupils have the best of both worlds as they can enjoy the privilege of being at the top of the school in Year 7 and 8, they but also have closer links with the Senior School. We are looking at how we can remodel our timetable for Key Stage 3 so they can access even more resources and specialist coaching from our staff at the Senior School to ensure they have a robust educational offering and feel fully prepared for their next stage in their educational journey.”



Experience Days have also been a new development at the Senior School with pupils from Junior King’s, and other schools, encountering many of the different facilities ranging from sport, music and drama.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-wellbeing-of-the-children">WELLBEING OF THE CHILDREN</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1001" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Junior-Kings-Wellbeing-Zen-Zone.jpg" alt="Two young pupils from Junior Kings school sat together on a blue sofa, smiling at each other" class="wp-image-113693" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Junior-Kings-Wellbeing-Zen-Zone.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Junior-Kings-Wellbeing-Zen-Zone-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Junior-Kings-Wellbeing-Zen-Zone-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Junior-Kings-Wellbeing-Zen-Zone-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/Junior-Kings-Wellbeing-Zen-Zone-768x513.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



The pastoral care at Junior King’s is a key focus for Mr. Brotherton and his team. “It is vital that our pupils have a healthy mind as well as a healthy body. We want to instil them with the appropriate coping strategies and feel allowed to have open dialogues with their peers and teachers. Our mission is to identify any niggles before they turn into major issues and ensure our pupils are increasingly aware of who they can talk to at school and know the many helpful outlets that are available to them,” states Mr. Brotherton.



The school regularly sets wellbeing surveys throughout the year, for all age groups, so staff can act quickly should a situation need to be addressed. The Life Skills programme is also a fundamental part of the school’s curriculum for Year 3 upwards giving the pupils the ability to navigate everyday life including personal well-being and social interactions.



“By giving our pupils, a broad range of skills that enable them to adapt to challenges, make informed choices and become active, productive members of their community, we know that they are becoming more equipped to cope with the pressures of life beyond Junior King’s and be happier and healthier humans too,” states Mr. Brotherton.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-looking-after-the-parents">LOOKING AFTER THE PARENTS</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/After-School-Clubs-Young-Engineers-Junior-Kings-1.jpg" alt="Young pupils from Junior Kings School playing with LEGO together on a table" class="wp-image-113691" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/After-School-Clubs-Young-Engineers-Junior-Kings-1.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/After-School-Clubs-Young-Engineers-Junior-Kings-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/After-School-Clubs-Young-Engineers-Junior-Kings-1-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/After-School-Clubs-Young-Engineers-Junior-Kings-1-400x267.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/kent/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/06/After-School-Clubs-Young-Engineers-Junior-Kings-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



Wrap-around care is an area that Mr. Brotherton has addressed since he joined the school. A new Breakfast Club was launched in January 2025, designed to support parents as children can now be dropped off from 7:30am joining the boarders for breakfast in the dining room.



It has been a welcome relief to many parents, especially those who travel to London for the day as children can stay until 6pm. Pupils don’t feel that they are the last ones to be picked up as it is a boarding school, boosted by the fact that there are extensive after-school clubs so there are plenty of activities or Prep time for them to take part in too.



Mr. Brotherton tells us, “It has been fantastic to hear the positive feedback from our parents about the new Breakfast Club, and we are looking at more initiatives that can help our families. School bus routes have been widened to enable more children to travel to and from school. In September 2025, we will be announcing more bus circuits linking in with The King’s School as we recognise that many parents have children across both schools, so we want to make life that little bit easier for them.”



See for yourself:&nbsp;Open Mornings are usually held in May and October, the <a href="https://www.kings-school.co.uk/admissions/junior-kings/register-for-an-open-morning/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nursery Open Day</a> is on Fri 10 Oct and the <a href="https://www.kings-school.co.uk/admissions/junior-kings/register-for-an-open-morning/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Junior School Open Day</a> is on Sat 11 Oct. Can&#8217;t make it? You&#8217;re welcome to request a personal tour. Held at 9am, 10:30am or 1:30pm, Mon-Fri throughout the year. <a href="https://www.kings-school.co.uk/admissions/visit-kings/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Request a visit here</a>.



<a href="https://www.junior-kings.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Junior Kings Canterbury</a>, Milner Court, Sturry, Canterbury CT2 0AY, Tel: 01227 714000,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.junior-kings.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">junior-kings.co.uk</a>

Talking Heads: Mark Brotherton, Junior King’s School Canterbury

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