The King's School, Canterbury
The King's School, Canterbury is a girls boarding and day school in Canterbury, Kent, educating pupils aged 3 - 18. Boarding fees are £12,210 - £18,234 per term. Our advice on this school is independent and free.
- Type
- Girls boarding & day
- Boarders from
- 7 - 18
- Ethos
- Church of England
- Guardian required
- Yes
About The King's School, Canterbury
The story, ethos and character of The King's School, Canterbury.
- Setting
- City
- Ethos
- Church of England
- Head
- Ms Jude Lowson
The King's School, Canterbury is the oldest school in the United Kingdom, with a history stretching back over 1,400 years to the time of St Augustine in 597 AD. Situated in the heart of the historic city of Canterbury, and nestled within the grounds of the magnificent Canterbury Cathedral, the school is steeped in tradition yet firmly committed to preparing young people for the challenges of the modern world.
The Cathedral itself remains central to life at King's, providing a unique spiritual and cultural setting for our daily routines, services, and performances. Over the centuries, King's has nurtured generations of pupils who have gone on to make their mark in every field of life.
Today, the school continues this legacy of excellence with a strong record of academic achievement, a broad and enriching curriculum, and an ethos that encourages every pupil to fulfil their potential.
Alongside academic success, King's is renowned for its excellence in music, drama, sport, and the creative arts, with traditions such as our world-famous King's Week festival celebrating talent across every discipline. At the heart of the school's identity is its strong sense of community and its values of kindness, integrity, and curiosity.
Pupils are encouraged not only to strive for personal success but also to contribute positively to the lives of others, both within the school and in the wider world. Blending ancient tradition with modern innovation, The King's School, Canterbury offers a truly unique education.
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Academics at The King's School, Canterbury
What pupils study at The King's School, Canterbury — and where it takes them.
at GCSE and A level, taught by highly dedicated and talented teachers who inspire curiosity, independence, and intellectual confidence. From the sciences and mathematics to the arts, humanities, and languages, pupils are challenged to explore their interests in depth while gaining the breadth of knowledge that forms a strong academic foundation.
Our academic results consistently us among the leading schools in the UK, with pupils progressing to prestigious universities both at home and abroad, including Oxford, Cambridge, the Ivy League, and other world-class institutions. Yet at King's, we believe education is more than examinations alone.
Programmes offered
Subjects offered
Where our leavers go
A remarkable 44 pupils have secured straight A* or A grades, with 16 achieving at least 3 A*s. Three quarters of pupils are heading to Russell Group universities, 11 to Oxbridge, and at least 5 to music conservatoires.
We also have pupils heading to world-class universities around the world including 13 to the US and many to Europe, testament to the truly international reach of a King's education.
Figures are indicative — contact us for the latest results.
Boarding at The King's School, Canterbury
Day-to-day boarding life and pastoral care at The King's School, Canterbury.
- Boarding houses
- Girls 6, Boys 6, Mixed 0
- Exeat weekends
- Yes
- Guardian required
- Yes
- Saturday lessons
- Yes
All pupils are members of a House. There are seven girls' boarding Houses, six boys' boarding Houses and three day Houses. Each House is in the care of a resident Housemaster or Housemistress, who is likely to be one of the most influential people in a pupil's school career, assisted by a Matron and a team of five or more tutors.
Pupils identify strongly with their House and there are many inclusive activities such as concerts, plays and charity fundraising with boys and girls houses 'twinned' for many events. The Day House is intended to mirror the Boarding House in every respect - except for the provision of beds!
A genuine home away from home
All pupils are members of a House. There are seven girls' boarding Houses, six boys' boarding Houses and three day Houses. Each House is in the care of a resident Housemaster or Housemistress, who is likely to be one of the most influential people in a pupil's school career, assisted by a Matron and a team of five or more tutors.
Pupils identify strongly with their House and there are many inclusive activities such as concerts, plays and charity fundraising with boys and girls houses 'twinned' for many events. The Day House is intended to mirror the Boarding House in every respect - except for the provision of beds!
We can arrange trusted UK guardianship for international families.
The King's School, Canterbury admissions
How children join The King's School, Canterbury, and how we make it simple.
Tell us about your child
Share their age, interests and what you're looking for. Our advice is completely free.
We shortlist & introduce
We match you to the right schools and make the introductions to their admissions teams.
Assessment, offer & enrolment
We guide you through entrance assessments and interviews, and handle visas and guardianship if needed.
What you'll typically need
- Recent school reports or transcript
- Passport copy
- English-language evidence (if applicable)
- Completed registration form
- A reference from the current school
Special notes to agents about entry to the school Application procedure and entrance tests Candidates sit the King's Entrance Exams (KEE) either at King's (for those based in the UK), at their current school, an approved education agency or at a British Council office in their home country (for those based overseas).
Assessments will take on 4 October 2025 in . Candidates taking the assessments overseas, can sit between 4 and 8 October 2025. Offers are made on the basis of performance in the KEE, an interview and a Confidential Report from the candidate's current school.
As your advisors we manage the application end-to-end at no cost.
The King's School, Canterbury fees & funding
What The King's School, Canterbury costs, what's included, and how we help with funding.
What termly boarding fees include
- Tuition
- Boarding accommodation
- All meals
- Pastoral & house care
- Most academic materials
Funding & scholarships
Registration deposits, EAL tuition, uniform and trips are usually charged separately. Many schools offer academic, sport, music and art scholarships plus means-tested bursaries — ask us and we'll send a full, current breakdown for The King's School, Canterbury.
Fees change year to year and by entry point. As your independent advisors we hold up-to-date figures and can compare The King's School, Canterbury against similar schools so you know exactly what to budget.
Figures shown are the latest we hold — we'll confirm current fees on enquiry.
The King's School, Canterbury location & travel
Where The King's School, Canterbury is, and how to get there.
Travel details Address 25 The Precincts, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2ES, England Airport transfer King's can offer Airport transfers to both Heathrow and Gatwick at a cost of between £100 - £150. The journey time is between 75 and 120 minutes depending on time of arrival and traffic.
Students can also take the train which is a little cheaper, and will take similar time. Travel time to London by train Less than 1 hour Telephone +44 (0)1227 595 501 Website https://www. kings-school. co. uk/ Most convenient airports Airport Distance (miles) Drive time (minutes) 1.
The King's School, Canterbury — frequently asked questions
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