King’s School Rochester, Rochester, Kent, UK

King’s is the oldest choir school and the second oldest school in the world. he name of 'King’s School’ dates from the Reformation, when, in 1541, King Henry VIII reconstituted the Cathedral Foundation after the dissolution of the Monastery, although there has been a school on the Cathedral Foundation since 604 AD.

A turning point in the later history of the School occurred in 1842, with the appointment of the Reverend Robert Whiston as Headmaster. At the beginning of his term of office, a new School Room was built which still survives as part of Main School. Whiston was a man of strong convictions and his campaign for the rights of King’s Scholars led him into conflict with the Dean and Chapter of his day. The whole story formed the plot for Trollope’s novel 'The Warden’.

King’s has two boarding houses, School House and St. Margaret’s House. School House can cater for up to 43 boys, whilst St Margaret’s House caters for 25 girls, usually aged between 11 and 18 years.

The boys’ boarding house, School House, was built around 1870 for the then “Headmaster and his Boarders”. School House has recently undergone major refurbishment and now provides comfortable accommodation in single and double rooms for our 43 boy boarders . As well as site-wide wifi, there are internet points in all bedrooms. Two common rooms provide great spaces for socialising, playing games and watching films and TV and well-equipped kitchens are on hand for making snacks and hot drinks. School House also has its own dining room and computer room. In the grounds of the House there is a tennis court for the boarders’ use. 

The girls’ boarding house, St. Margaret’s House, dates back to Tudor times. It too has recently undergone total refurbishment and pupils are accommodated mainly in double or single rooms . All Sixth Form study-bedrooms in St Margaret’s House are en-suite and most Fifth Form rooms also have private facilities.  There are ample modern bath and shower rooms on each floor for younger pupils. St Margaret’s dining room is also adjacent to the House.