Considering moving to a new city when your children are in school can seem daunting, but Kieran Orwin from The King’s School, Canterbury, shares why he thinks it could be the best thing for your family

Lead image courtesy The King’s School, Canterbury

Why choose Canterbury for your child’s education? Attractions like Canterbury Cathedral, St Augustine’s Abbey and St Martin’s church form the city’s three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, making it a dynamic and inspiring place to learn.

Canterbury boasts stunning countryside, picturesque villages, and is just a few miles from the coast. Children will be encouraged to explore, try new activities and your family can enjoy escaping hectic city life, to spend more quality time together.

Junior King’s, our prep school, is set in 80 acres of exquisite landscape, and the senior school is located in the Precincts of Canterbury Cathedral.

The King’s School, Canterbury is reputedly the oldest school in England, associated with the origins of Christian education in England, following St Augustine’s arrival in Canterbury in 579 AD.

Why choose King’s? For children that leave a school at age 11, there is a well-established route of entry at age 13 to the senior school via two years at Junior King’s.

We strive for academic excellence, providing pupils with a 21st-century education while maintaining the traditional values and ethos our school was founded on. Our academic results speak for themselves, with the majority of our pupils going on to study at leading UK and overseas universities.

Pastoral care is considered an essential part of our teaching. We understand that for children to achieve their potential they must feel safe, secure and happy. All boarding and day pupils are under the care of a houseparent, receive weekly work reviews, and counsellors and school chaplains are always on hand to offer support and guidance.

‘As an independent school, we’re able to dedicate our full focus, attention and time to every pupil’

How can you help the children unlock their full potential? We offer a wide range of co-curricular activities from Zumba, to codebreaking, learning French, practising sports and performing arts. This helps pupils to nurture their unique talents, express themselves as individuals, and try new experiences. Excellent on-site facilities offer pupils the chance to learn in the best environments.

Our Malthouse theatre has a 334-person seating capacity and is equipped with state-of-the-art dance and drama studios. Actress Joanna Lumley OBE, FRGS opened the building in 2019, praising the facilities highly. We host an annual arts festival and put on outdoor plays, shows and exhibitions that attracts thousands of visitors every year.

King’s is also renowned for its participation in music. Most of our pupils play at least one instrument, are taught by professional musicians, and are given the chance to perform in Canterbury Cathedral and major venues in London.

What are the benefits of attending an independent school? As an independent school, we’re able to dedicate our full focus, attention and time to every pupil. Smaller class sizes enable us to get to know each child individually and provide the specific support and guidance they need to achieve their very best.

How can parents get involved in pupils’ learning? There are always events and performances happening at the school for parents to attend. It’s a great way for parents to spend more time with children and play an active role in their education.

Canterbury’s excellent transport links make it easy for busy families to combine living in Canterbury while continuing to work in London. It’s only a short drive to London Gatwick and London Heathrow airport. The HS1 high-speed railway makes commuting to London quick and simple.

How can you apply? Open Mornings are held at both schools each term offering an opportunity to find out more about a King’s education for your son or daughter. You can book a place on our websites. Open events are the best way to get a sense of the school and ensure it’s the best fit for your child.

The King’s School, Canterbury is a 13-18 mixed, independent boarding and day school in Canterbury. Pupils aged between 3-13 can apply to attend Junior King’s prep school.

Visit junior-kings.co.uk and kings-school.co.uk to apply or find out more. Call 01227 595 501 or email admissions@kings-school.co.uk