Private school Kings Canterbury School

'A 21st Century Education' - The King's School, Canterbury

King’s School Canterbury is the oldest school in the UK and the world, founded in 597 CE. The school is located in Canterbury, Kent, in south-eastern England, a 1.5-hour drive from London. It is located in the vicinity of Canterbury Cathedral and the Abbey of St. Augustine and is protected by UNESCO.

The King’s School originated in the Middle Ages as a school at Canterbury Cathedral, and the legend relates its foundation tSt. Augustine, who, indeed, founded the abbey in which the school is still located.

King's School is a large campus in the beautiful surroundings of Canterbury Cathedral. Majestic buildings of the 13th century organically coexist with modern buildings, creating an atmosphere of comfort and cosiness, without violating historical value.

The UK's Best Schools Guide, The Good Schools Guide, writes of the school: “A thriving academic school in a sophisticated setting, saturated with history, with highly motivated students whare eager tlearn.”

DIRECTOR (stand 2026)

Jude Lowson, Education - Sevenoaks School; University of Cambridge, Master of Arts - MA, History; University of Cambridge, Management Studies.

FAMOUS SCHOOL GRADUATES

• Somerset Maugham, writer
• Tom Word, actor (films "The Lost World", "Hawking", the series "Pride and Prejudice")
• Katherine Conibir, philologist
• Sir Tony Hoar, Computer Scientist
• Jeremy Lawrence, linguist and historian
• William Weiss, Scientist, Patron, University of Cambridge
• Ian Cheshire, businessman, chairman of Barclays Bank
• Gregory Blacksland, pioneer in Australia's study
• John Blackland, pioneer settler and explorer of Australia
• Michael Foal, astrophysicist and former NASA astronaut
• Michael Powell, film director (films "Stairway tHeaven", "Peeping")
• Sir Patrick Walker, former CEof British Secret Service MI5
• Sir Anthony Parsons, diplomat
• Natasha Engel, politician
• Charles Powell, diplomat, politician and businessman
• Hugh Robertson, Chairman of the British Olympic Association
• Stephen Barlow, conductor
• Simon Carrington, conductor and singer
• Harry Christopher, conductor
• George Miles, organist musician
• Stephen Varco, singer
• Roger Field, inventor
• William Harvey, physiologist
• Harry Gardner, athlete (cricket)
• David Gover, athlete (cricket)
• Francine Houghton, Thrice Olympic Rowing Champion
• Tom Ransley, Olympic rowing champion
• Miles Jackman, lawyer
• Sebastian Barker, writer
• John Lloyd, TV producer and writer

KEY FACTORS

• A huge selection of subjects tstudy - 32 on the A-level program.
• Excellent academic results.
• Much attention is paid tchoosing a future profession. Students are tested, talk with consultants. High school students attend open days at universities.
• 80% of leavers head to Russell Group universities. The most popular among students are Oxford, Cambridge, and US universities.
• The school has great opportunities and excellent equipment for sports, music, theatre and art.

EQUIPMENT

The school has excellent sports equipment: a huge playing field measuring 9 hectares, which is used for playing rugby, football, hockey, lacrosse and cricket. There are tennis and netball courts with hard surface, hockey field, grass athletic track.

In addition tits own sports equipment, the school cooperates with local clubs and centres in which children can practice. A 15-minute walk from the school there is a modern sports centre with a swimming pool, tennis courts, a climbing wall, a gym, a dance and fitness studio, squash and tennis courts, a shooting range, a hockey field, netball courts and a cafe. Children are rowing and sailing in a boat club near the school.

The school has a gorgeous library with 30,000 printed books, many magazines both in print and in electronic form. Children have access telectronic resources and databases. The library is open 7 days a week.

Kings Canterbury has a magnificent theatre with 334 seats. The music school was opened in 2009. Here are rooms for rehearsals and practical exercises, a recording studio, a library and a hall for rehearsal of the choir.

PROGRAM

GCSE

A two-year program for obtaining a certificate of general secondary education. Required tstudy 6 subjects, 4 subjects are studied by choice.
What is the difference between IGCSE and GCSE programmes?

A-level

A two-year university preparatory program. Students choose 3 or 4 subjects for in-depth study.
Find out more about A-level program

Cambridge Pre-U

The program of preparation for admission to the university. Created by the Cambridge Center for International Examinations (CIE) as an alternative to the A-Level program. The course is continuous, the subjects do not change and the exams are held only at the end of the second year of study. They study 3, maximum 4 subjects. Much attention is paid to independent learning, which makes it possible to better prepare students for successful studies at the university. Students also perform an "Independent Research Project" and prepare a portfolio for the course "Global Perspectives and Research".

ACCOMMODATION AND FOOD

Living in a residence in one of 13 houses. The school has both historical buildings of the 13th century and modern residences, the latter was built in 2015. The child’s life is closely connected with the house in which he lives. Children take an active part in the life of their homes, where concerts, plays, charity events are held. The school has a well-equipped medical centre with qualified staff that works around the clock.

SPORT

The school offers over 20 sports: athletics, cricket, running, horse riding, fencing, soccer, golf, hockey, lacrosse, netball, rowing, rugby, sailing, shooting, squash, swimming, tennis and others. Students represent the school at the national level in fencing, hockey, rugby, shooting, skiing and table tennis. Many professional athletes, winners of the Olympic Games, left the school. The best coaches teach at the school, many of whom are former professional athletes and Olympic champions themselves.

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES

Students develop their talents by working in clubs and communities of interest: you can choose from more than thirty types of activities: photography, the Young Entrepreneurs club, ceramics, creating crosswords, debates, mountain biking and much more. Pupils study in the United Cadet Corps, participate in competitions for the prize of the Duke of Edinburgh.

In college, you can dart and photography, regularly conduct educational trips tLondon galleries. Trips tother countries are organized, for example, at the Venice Biennale. The college offers dancing and ballet classes, every year the school organizes a grand dance show.

Classes in theatrical art are held at the highest level. At least 4 large-scale productions take place annually within the walls of the school and beyond. Not far from the college is ‘’The Marlowe Theatre,’’ which has already hosted performances staged and played by King's students twice: Les Misérables and West Side Story. Each performance was attended by 6,000 people.

King’s Canterbury is known for its high level of teaching music. Children take part in the college’s busy music life. The school has 6 permanent music teachers. 44 teachers come tschool as invited, many of them professional musicians from leading symphony orchestras, whalsteach at leading music academies. Master classes are organized with famous musicians. The school has 6 choirs, 3 orchestras, many chamber groups, a brass band, rock and jazz groups. Many concerts are held throughout the year.

A long-awaited event for all students - The King’s week - the annual festival of music, theatre and dance. It takes place at the end of the summer semester and takes place in the open. During the week, parents, friends and guests of the festival can enjoy musical numbers, theatre performances, presentations and creative projects of schoolchildren and teachers.

COST, 2026-2027

£19,326 per semester.
There are 3 semesters in the school year.

Included in cost

• Teaching
• Accommodation and meals

Extra paid

• Deposit - £2,400 + cost of 1 semester
• Flights
• Transfers t/ from the airport
• Visa
• Services of the company "Paradise"
• Guardianship (as required by British law)

Our services and fees

Our expert's impressions from visiting the schools

My introduction to The King's Schools family of schools culminated in a visit to the main one, The King's School Canterbury High School This is one of the most impressive schools in the UK with its beauty and antiquity

You feel as if you are in the Middle Ages when you find yourself on the territory of the OLDEST SCHOOL IN THE WORLD, which was founded in 597. The school is located on the territory of the largest cathedral in England - the magnificent Canterbury Cathedral It is breathtaking to realise that the children are learning and living in a World Heritage Site

Just imagine: in order to build a new building on the school grounds, you must first obtain UN authorisation. And wait for the results of the work of archaeologists, who must ensure that no artefact is buried forever in the foundations of the future science department

However, it was even more breathtaking when I observed how COMFORTABLE it was for the children to be in this large (the school has about 860 students) and seemingly PRIVILEGED community

Alina, who only started school in September (she spent the previous year at International College Preparatory School) was very relaxed, content and happy "Initially I was scared to be in such a large and dynamic school after International College where there were 40 of us However, I got involved very quickly It's very cool, fun and the teachers are VERY kind. I really like it here." And that's what absolutely every kid I met at the school said to me

A sense of humour and kindness are another companion of both teachers and children No ceremonies and English snobbery (which, frankly speaking, I was afraid of in a school of such rank). The director of the admission committee, meeting the children, was never extremely serious So much attention is paid to the sense of humour here, and it's so great - the kids are VERY lively, funny, with sparkling eyes Apparently, along with Christian and spiritual values they are taught love of life, joy and a sense of humour as an integral part of high intelligence

I am absolutely delighted with the children who, brought up in such an academically strong school, remain cheerful, open-minded and confident young people

Despite the seemingly inaccessible and completely justified high entrance requirements, your child too has a chance to attend this amazing school You just need to set the right educational trajectory. And we will help you with that

Natalia Strein
Founder of Paradise

There are a number of Harry Potter-style schools This one was supposed to be a Harry Potter school. It was chosen for filming But the Archbishop of Canterbury wouldn't give his holy permission. He said no devilry should be on the walls of my cathedral.

Kings School Canterbury is the oldest school in the world. It was founded in 597 A.D. It's the perfect school You can trust me: I've been looking round schools for 23 years and have seen over a hundred Walking around the campus has absolutely no association with an educational institution You feel like you're on a tour of an ancient castle and the surrounding buildings, dining halls, chapels.... All this huge economy is nestled under the wing of the famous Canterbury Cathedral, and a part of the ancient city wall is now a school ‘fence’

Everything here is beautiful, I give it a rating of 10 out of 10 The reception staff, along with the director of admissions, are childishly shrieking with joy I thought they would nod politely: the splendour of the school is surely obvious to them The beauty of the architecture is matched by the neat insides of the houses for accommodation Everything is simple, rooms without amenities, but very cosy, good repairs, it's nice to be here In the house that Tilly, a student from England, shows me, there is even a small gym, a room for music lessons and its own spacious and bright room for lessons, equipped with computers This is where lessons are done.

Tilly takes me to the library, which I initially mistook for a chapel She says that once a term the librarian brings in a whole box of little puppies People leave their books and play with the cute creatures I guess that's how you build empathy in kids. And the kids are happy to take a break and have some fun ‘A wonderful, wonderful custom,’ Tilly smiles.

And the teachers what Oh, she says, some are strict, some are not so strict, but none are nasty I prefer the strict ones, she says. I want to go to Durham University, I need to be chased. How long do the teachers work here? Yeah Some have been here 39 years, some 18. There's some young blood, too.

Tilly's studying geology, politics, biology and photography. Only four subjects Next year is her senior year, so she'll drop photography, it's for the soul, Durham-level universities don't take that sort of thing Tilly's thinking about whether anthropology or politics will be her speciality.

Kings has everything for sport, and it's of the highest quality There's a swimming pool, a dance studio, gymnasiums and fields Fencing and rowing are very strong The young and handsome Director of Admissions, James, combines this position with teaching the history of religions "We are a school for all-round development We have posh theatre arts, iso, technology design We're good at sports, but we can't compete with the strongest schools Our greatest passion and strength is music. We have six choirs alone, and they sing in Canterbury Cathedral all the time."

The ringing of the bells accompanies our conversation I savour their tinkling as much as James's perfect Oxford pronunciation, a sign of background and education 'Is it difficult to get in to you? "Within reason. A score of 60 per cent or above on the entrance exam." The average bar in England is 50-55% 70% is considered very high Foreigners have to come in with fluent English. Examinations for them are held in January Maths, science, English. Plus an interview All of which can be written at the British Council office in their home country.

‘Of course,’ says James, ‘a child has to be able to keep up the fairly fast academic pace that is characteristic of our school, and it's higher than many schools However, we are incomparable to some day schools in London like Westminster, where the pressure is many times greater Hallelujah! - exclaims James He is glad that their school is not fixated on grades alone Children should have a childhood.

In general, schools of this rank are the coolest, the academic Olympus They're the Rolls-Royce of schools And their staff are often arrogant, self-important. They're very English. They are graciously hurried, showing the school around at a brisk pace, making it clear from the get-go how insanely busy and in demand they are No heart-to-heart conversations or ‘tea, coffee, dance’, you should be glad they let you in at all (And sometimes it's not so easy to get through.

The Kings turn it all upside down They're the kindest. All three aunts in the beautiful old office (imagine a cathedral, but with low ceilings and carpeted floors) smile from the bottom of their hearts and try to make me as comfortable as possible I am informed that ‘coffee is about to brew!’ and offered treats of fruit These can be popped in and taken by any child.

Places for next year are long gone, so don't think this is marketing Kings doesn't need advertising at all It's just the way people are.

Super news for dessert: Kings has an 80-bed international centre that prepares foreign children with insufficient English to enter their school Now that's lucky.

P.S. We too have the rare good schools and excellent teachers But we don't have, and don't yet foresee, a tradition and architecture that goes back centuries And such a power of equipment and investment But the main thing that is missing in Russian educational institutions is a system of instilling true values in children So far, any gathering of children from families with wealth turns into a vanity fair, talk of clubs, demonstration of telephones, business-class aeroplanes and other masquerade rags Not into a discussion of French poetry, the genius ideas of medieval architecture or the role of the Allies in World War II And here it's being discussed over a school dinner (Yeah, I didn't believe it before either!