The King's School Canterbury is an international school in Canterbury, United Kingdom. Founded in 1908. It serves 958 students for students aged 13–19.
Location & getting here
Historic cathedral city with compact city-centre character; 1.5 hours from London, close to Continental Europe via ferry; familiar to families from European cities.
Nearest airports
Framed for international families — drive times are from the school, not the city centre.
| Airport | Distance | Drive from school | International note |
|---|---|---|---|
| London City | 76 km | ~109 min | — |
| Gatwick | 89 km | ~126 min | LGW — good for SE Asia, Middle East via BA/EK/QR |
| Stansted | 89 km | ~126 min | STN — European and budget carriers |
NanaSays Scorecard
Scholarships Available
Key facts
Fees & the true cost of attendance
Published fees · inclusive of VAT
| Phase | Per term | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Day - Shell (Year 9) | £11,976 | £35,928 |
| Day - Remove & Fifth (Years 10-11) | £12,630 | £37,890 |
| Day - Sixth Form (Years 12-13) | £13,302 | £39,906 |
| Boarding | £19,326 | £57,978 |
Compulsory extras (on top of tuition)
| Item | Frequency | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| School Fees Protection Scheme | Per term | — |
| Personal Effects Insurance | Per year | £24.93 |
| AXA PPP Healthcare | Per year | £474 |
Budget beyond the sticker price. Assume the real annual spend is 5–15% higher than the headline fee. Hidden costs typically include: registration fee, acceptance deposit (usually one term's fees, refundable at the end of schooling), uniform + sports kit, trips and expeditions, individual music tuition, exam entry fees, travel to/from home.
Ask the Bursar for a sample "all-in" first-year invoice before committing.
Merit-based scholarships (8 types)
ℹ️ This school has not published the exact % fee remission for each award. Ask the admissions team directly — typical independent school scholarships range from 5% to 50% of fees.
About
The King's School is a public school in Canterbury, Kent, England for pupils aged 13-18. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and the Eton Group. It is Britain's oldest public school and is considered to be the oldest continuously operating school in the world, as education on the Abbey and Cathedral grounds has been uninterrupted since AD 597.
School data verified by NanaSays. Last updated: April 2026.
What Makes This School Different
Academic Results
Admissions
| Entry point | Assessment | Assessment date | Registration deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11+ (Junior King's) | Extension tests in English, Maths, Thinking Skills; interview with senior staff | Scholarship Day (date varies) | Early registration recommended |
| 13+ (Year 9, from Prep Schools) | ISEB Pre-Test (English, Maths, Verbal Reasoning, Non-Verbal Reasoning, adaptive); Experience Day with activities and interviews | ISEB Pre-Test: Autumn of Year 6; Experience Day: February of Year 6 | August of year before entry |
| 13+ (Year 9, from Non-Prep & International) | King's Entrance Exams (KEE): Spatial (30 min), Verbal (40 min), Numerical (40 min), Mathematics written (40 min), English written (40 min); interview | October of Year 8; rolling basis for overseas candidates | August of year before entry |
| 14+ (Year 10) | King's Entrance Exams (KEE); school reference; interview | October of Year 9 | August of year before entry |
| 16+ (Year 12, Sixth Form) | King's Entrance Exams (KEE): Spatial, Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal, Non-Verbal (2 hours) plus General Paper assessing comprehension, writing, logic (1 hour); interview; school reference | November of Year 11 | Early October of year before entry |
How to apply
- Register child and pay registration fee (£200 + VAT Senior School, £120 Junior King's, £240 International College)
- Sit admissions assessments per entry point
- Attend experience day, interview, and/or taster day
- Receive offer following review of assessment, interview, and school reference
- Pay acceptance deposit (£2,000 + VAT) to confirm place
- Overseas applicants: complete AML checks and pay additional deposit (one term's fees)
- For Year 8 entrants to Year 9: attend taster day in Spring to meet peers and staff
What you'll need to submit
- Online registration form
- School reference from current school
- Personal statement (Sixth Form and International College candidates)
- Passport and birth certificate (overseas/International College)
- Recent school report (International College)
- UKiset certificate (alternative to Password test for International College candidates)
Open events
- Open Morning — May (Saturday, 10:00-13:00, separate sessions for Junior, 13+/14+, Sixth Form)
- Open Morning — September/October (Saturday, 10:00-13:00)
- International College Virtual Event — May (Thursday)
- Individual visits available Monday-Friday by appointment (tours at 9:00, 10:30, 13:30 at Junior King's)
Scholarships: Full range of scholarships available with exams during year before entry. Music, Art, Sports scholarships for Sixth Form also available. Bursaries by individual application; deadline 31 October of year before entry.
Admissions contact: [email protected] | 01227 595727 (Senior School); [email protected] | 01227 714000 (Junior King's); [email protected] | 01227 287255 (International College)
Approximate intakes: Year 9 ~150 pupils; Year 10 50-60 pupils; Year 12 ~70 pupils. Candidates must be correct age on 1 September of entry year (flexibility if slightly outside). Overseas candidates can sit exams at British Council or approved centre. A few places typically still available for late applications.
Why Families Choose
- Sport
- Academic
Student Demographics
School Background
Church of England