Introduction
King's School in Canterbury, Kent is a co-educational boarding school in England. Great facilities and historic location in Canterbury! The curriculum at this top UK boarding School is based upon strong academic roots. It emphasises and relies upon what is best in traditional independent school education: scholarly excellence supported by a caring pastoral and tutorial system, and a wide-ranging co-curricular programme. However, it is continually adapting and reacting to the changing demands of modern education: new subjects are added, new teaching techniques adopted, and there is an increasing awareness of the need to provide programmes of study that match individual needs and skills.
The curriculum of this famous boarding school is divided into three units: the Lower School (Shells, Year 9), an introductory year; the Middle School (Removes and Fifths, Years 10 and 11), working to GCSEs and IGCSEs; and the Sixth Form (6b and 6a, Years 12 and 13), taking AS and A levels.
Formal and structured educational support, for those who need it, is available at all levels. The well-stocked Library is open 7 days and 6 evenings per week. ICT facilities (including the Internet) are available for all and the whole school (studies within the Houses as well as classrooms) is extensively networked.
Pupils are offered extensive careers advice throughout their time at King’s. Almost all go to university, either immediately or following a GAP year. The most popular university destinations are Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Edinburgh, King's College London, Newcastle, Nottingham, Exeter, University College, London and Oxford.
Number of students
| |
Girls |
Boys |
Total |
| Boarding School: |
320 |
334 |
654 |
| Day School: |
67 |
98 |
165 |
About the school
Long description:
Lower School
The specific aims of the Shell curriculum are to give pupils an academic introduction to a large number of subjects, together with their associate skills, and to help them acquire the personal proficiency needed for a successful career at the King’s School and beyond. This is, therefore, a preparatory year prior to the public examination years in which pupils begin to find their own levels of achievement at a higher level than hitherto reached. They also begin to discern their academic preferences and towards the end of the year, they are asked to make choices for GCSE. Shell pupils take a large number of individual subjects. However, we are keen to help them to understand that these subjects do not exist in isolation. Thus, the Shells will be introduced to some cross-curricular themes. There will be days or longer periods when the majority of the subjects (both curricular and co-curricular) will be working towards a common goal on a common theme.
Middle School
In the Middle School our aim is to present a wide-ranging curriculum that stretches our pupils intellectually, challenges them creatively, develops individuals personally and provides them with a good basis in knowledge and skills for the Sixth Form and adult life. Pupils in the Removes and the Fifths work towards GCSE courses. Most take between 9 and 11 GCSEs. All pupils take the core subjects of English Language and Literature (2 GCSEs), Mathematics, and Science (2 or 3 GCSEs), and four optional subjects of which one is expected to be a Modern Foreign Language. We encourage pupils, wherever possible, to choose at least one creative subject (from Art, Design & Technology, Drama and Music) and at least one humanity (from Geography, History and Religious Studies). At the same time, we try to provide flexibility within the programme, and, wherever possible, to respond to individual needs.Pupils should certainly be stretched and working hard, but this is also an essential stage for the development of their individuality and creative talents. The opportunities for music, drama, sport and other ‘after hours’ activities are essential aspects of the Middle School co-curricular programme. Through enlisting in the CCF or taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, there are also many opportunities for service, skills, recreation and expeditions.
Sixth Form Boarding School
In order to enter the Sixth Form, pupils should have at least seven GCSEs at grade B or above and should have at least grade B in the subjects to be studied at A Level. (For Mathematics, the Sciences and Modern Languages, A grades are almost essential if a pupil wishes to achieve a C grade, or better, at A Level.) Sixth Formers normally study at least 4 AS level subjects in 6b (Year 12) and at least 3 A2s in 6a (Year 13). AS and A2 marks each contribute 50% to the final A level grade. Candidates can choose to ‘drop’ one of their AS subjects and continue with three A2s. We generally advise pupils who intend to apply for highly competitive undergraduate courses seriously to consider taking four A2s.
