- Reputed to be the oldest school in England – more than 1,400 years old – The King’s School is situated in the precincts of Canterbury Cathedral, a Unesco world heritage site.
- Standing still, the school says, is not among its traditions, however. A new science centre opened in 2023 and the Malthouse theatre has been built to West End standards.
- As one of the country’s leading schools for music, the school has a symphony and chamber orchestra and nine choirs. The Crypt Choir records and tours regularly. An annual arts festival, King’s Week, marks the end of the academic year.
- Co-curricular activities are timetabled into the day for senior students: with more than 200 choices, they can experiment with video game development or learn a language.
- About 80 per cent of senior girls and boys are boarders. Scholarships are awarded for academic, music, sport, drama and design and technology. There is generous provision for bursaries, which can cover up to 100 per cent of boarding fees.
- Former pupils include the chef Antony Worrall Thompson and the actor Orlando Bloom.
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