Age range. 3–13.
Number of pupils. 359 (67 Boarders; 292 Day Pupils, including 77 Pre-Prep).
Fees per term (from January 2025). Boarders: £11,856; Day Pupils: £6,870–£8,430; Pre-Prep: £5,040 (including meals). All fees inclusive of VAT.
Junior King’s was founded in 1879 as the preparatory school to The King’s School Canterbury, which can trace its roots back to the sixth century when St Augustine established a monastery in Kent.
Set in 80 acres of attractive countryside, just two miles from Canterbury city centre, Junior King’s pupils enjoy a calm, happy and purposeful atmosphere drawing upon a rich Christian heritage. Girls and boys from the ages of three to 13 years achieve their potential, both inside and beyond the classroom, whatever their ability.
The school has an outstanding reputation for academic excellence and scholarship due to a varied and stimulating curriculum. This is supported by first-class teaching and opportunities to enjoy a wide range of sports, music, drama and extracurricular activities.
The school is in the grounds of Milner Court, a 16th-century Manor House. This historic building, along with a Kentish Oast House used by the Pre-Prep, a newly refurbished Tithe Barn used for theatre and musical productions, and a flint-stoned church for services and assemblies, has been sensitively augmented over the years. Other impressive facilities include specialist art, science, ICT and design suites.
Spacious and comfortable boarding accommodation for around 80 boarders with social rooms, kitchens and games rooms are at the heart of the school in the main building.
The school has a fine reputation for music, both instrumental and choral, as well as for art, design and drama. The school year includes a programme of concerts, recitals and exhibitions involving children of all ages.
In 2013, Mr Hugh Robertson, MP and Minister of State for Sport, Olympic Legacy and Tourism opened a stunning new all-weather sports pitch and tennis courts. In 2016, a magnificent new music school was officially opened by Dr Harry Christophers, CBE, OKS.
A large and modern sports hall is used for PE lessons, basketball, volleyball, badminton, and netball, as well as indoor hockey, soccer and tennis. Rowing and sailing take place on nearby lakes. Pupils make use of the large indoor swimming pool at the senior school.
For boys, cricket, soccer hockey and rugby are the main team games, while girls play netball, hockey and rounders. Athletics, tennis and fencing are joint pursuits.
Children can join the Nursery from the age of three in our impressive purpose-built ‘Little Barn’. In its delightful Kentish Oast House setting, the Pre-Prep has its own spacious hall, library and seven bright classrooms complete with the latest ICT facilities. Outside, pupils have their own extensive adventure playground as well as sharing the main school facilities such as the sports hall, tithe barn, sports fields and dining hall.
Junior King’s pupils progress at 13+ to The King’s School Canterbury and other leading public schools, with a sense of achievement, maturity and self-confidence. Academic standards are high and the record of success in Scholarships and Common Entrance is outstanding.
(See entry for The King’s School Canterbury in the HMC section.)
Charitable status. The King’s School of the Cathedral Church of Canterbury is a Registered Charity, number 307942. It exists to provide education for boys and girls.