The King's School is a British co-educational independent school for both day and boarding pupils in the English city of Canterbury in Kent. It is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference and the Eton Group. It is held to be the oldest continuously operating school in the world, having been founded in 597 AD.
The school originated as a medieval cathedral school said to have been founded during the Late Antiquity in 597 AD a century after the Fall of the Roman Empire by Augustine of Canterbury considered the "Apostle to the English" and a founder of the English Church, therefore making it the world's oldest extant school. This is based on the fact that St Augustine founded an abbey (within the current school's grounds) where it is known that teaching took place. When the dissolution of the monasteries occurred in the reign of King Henry VIII, the school was refounded as The King's School, Canterbury under the ownership and stewardship of the Dean and Chapter of the cathedral church.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the school remained a grammar school. During the Victorian era the school began to establish itself as a "public school". The school evacuated to Cornwall following the outbreak of World War II and received a new Royal Charter at the end of the war. Girls were admitted for the first time when the sixth form became coeducational during the 1970s. In 1990, the school became fully coeducational. The school is also the oldest charity in the UK.
In 2011, the school was subject to its latest regular, independent inspection. In summary, the inspection team praised the pastoral care system, the high academic achievements of all its pupils — irrespective of their age, aptitude or ability — and the happiness of the pupils. According to the Good Schools Guide the school is "Highly successful, producing excellent results." The Guide also stated that "You need to be creative, academically able and hard-working, as everything moves fast here."
There are 16 houses at King's, 13 boarding and 3 day. Most are named after past headmasters or people of interest in the school's history, with the exception of School House, The Grange and Carlyon. The Houses of the School are:
School House: founded 1860 (boys boarding)The Grange: founded 1928, reopened 2007 (boys boarding)Walpole: founded 1935, (girls boarding). Named after the novelist Sir Hugh Walpole (KS 1896-98)Meister Omers: founded 1936, (boys boarding).Marlowe: founded 1936, (mixed day). Named after the poet and dramatist Christopher Marlowe (KS 1579-81)Luxmoore: founded 1945, (girls boarding). Named after Sir Arthur Fairfax Coryndon Luxmoore (KS 1889-93), Lord Justice of AppealGalpin's: founded 1952, (boys boarding). Named after The Reverend Arthur Galpin, Headmaster from 1897-1910.Linacre: founded 1953, (boys boarding). Named after Thomas Linacre, founder of the Royal College of PhysiciansBroughton: founded 1976, (girls boarding). Named after William Broughton (KS 1797-1804), the first Bishop of AustraliaTradescant: founded 1976, (boys boarding). Named after John Tradescant (KS 1619-23), the distinguished gardener and collectorMitchinson's: founded 1982, (mixed day). Named after John Mitchinson, Headmaster 1859-73 and co-founder of the Headmasters' ConferenceJervis: founded 1992, (girls boarding). Named after Douglas Jervis OKSHarvey: founded 1996, (girls boarding). Named after William Harvey (KS 1588-92)Bailey: first founded 1990, (sixth form girls boarding). Named after Henry Bailey, second warden of St Augustine's College between 1850 and 1875 and an honorary Canon of the CathedralCarlyon: founded 2005, (mixed day). Named after evacuation of the School to Carlyon Bay in Cornwall during the Second World WarLady Kingsdown House: founded 2015, (girls boarding). Named after Lady Kingsdown, Governor EmeritaThe Beerling Hall Music and Drama Facility, endowed by the late Donald Beerling and the Cantiacorum TrustBirleys Playing Fields The School's sport grounds, located near the main site. A new pavilion was opened by David Gower on 17 September 2005Blackfriars The Cleary Foundation donated the refectory of the 13th-century friary by the Marlowe Theatre as an art school and gallery.CDT Centre CDTEdred Wright Music School MusicField Classrooms English and MathematicsGrange Classrooms Mathematics, Religious StudiesHarvey Science Block Biology, ChemistryJ Block GeographyLardergate History and OKS FoundationLattergate Religious Studies and Headmaster's officeMaurice Milner Memorial Hall Fencing, Drama and Examination HallMint Yard Classrooms Mathematics, ICTThe Old Synagogue at Canterbury Music, Jewish Prayers. Built as a synagogue in 1847–8 by architect Hezekiah Marshall, the "Old Synagogue" is used as a recital hall by the music department. It is considered one of the finest buildings of the 19th century Egyptian Revival style.Palace Block a medieval building containing the Modern Languages DepartmentPhysics Block PhysicsPottery Room PotteryPriory Block Classics, English, Politics, EconomicsThe Pupils' Social Centre Tuckshop, Stationers, Junior Common Room and billiards tablesThe Recreation Centre Gym, Hockey Pitches, Swimming Pool, etc. It is open to the general public on a membership basis.The School Library (contains approximately 25,000 volumes and offers access to the School Intranet)Shirley Hall School Assemblies and Examination Hall; formerly known as the Great Hall, renamed after the former headmaster, Fred ShirleySt. Mary's Hall Drama, Theatre StudiesThe Westbere Lakes Sailing and RowingKing's has many traditions including:
Full Canterbury Dress: The name given to the school uniform, which consists of white shirt with wing collar, pinstripe trousers, black jacket, black socks, black tie and black shoes for the boys. Girls wear a white blouse, brooch, pinstripe skirt, black jacket, black tights and black shoes. When he came to the School, Fred Shirley, Headmaster (1935–1962), updated the school uniform to sports jackets. But within a year, the boys had asked to revert to their traditional garb. He tried again after the War when the School returned to Canterbury, this time taking a vote on the matter. But despite the difficulty in finding outmoded clothing in a time of clothes rationing, the boys once again decided to revert to tradition. The girls' version was introduced by Anthony Phillips, Headmaster.Colours Jumpers: Students who have been awarded full school colours in any sport are entitled to wear a white and blue cricket jumper instead of a regulation school black jumper. Those who receive 1st team colours are entitled to wear a special tie.Purples: Until recently called 'monitors', these are the school prefects, who are marked out by their distinctive purple gowns. Only those in the highest year at the school may be a purple. Each house generally has one purple (the Head of House). The purples are headed by the Captain of School and a Vice-Captain. A head scholar, and two Vice-head scholars are also invited to become purples.The Goat on the Green Court: Something of a legend among pupils, the Captain of School is allegedly allowed to keep a goat on the large lawn in the centre of the school. This particular tradition is no longer practised. The Captain of School is also allowed to grow a beard and take his wife to lessons.King's Scholars: An academically-select group, marked by black jumpers with white trimmings that have recently replaced their distinctive black gowns, they process wearing surplices during school services in the Cathedral. To become a scholar, a pupil must take the Scholarship examinations prior to entry (Exhibitioners may also be elected) or, in the case of honorary scholars, achieve exceptional GCSE results (9 A*s is usually the minimum) or AS Level results. King's Scholars are part of the Canterbury Cathedral Foundation and have a role in the Enthronement of the Archbishop of Canterbury.Gatings: Uniform Gating: A form of punishment that requires pupils to wear Canterbury Dress all day every day, while getting a form signed by someone in a position of authority (usually a teacher or a purple) at 15 minute intervals during their free time. This can prevent them leaving the school at all for up to a week.Breakfast Gating: A form of punishment by which the pupil must report to breakfast and get a special slip signed at 7:30.Supper Leave/Pub Leave: A recent privilege extended to Sixth Formers, whereby pre-approved groups of people may go into town for supper or visit a pub for one night.The House Shout: Two shouting competitions. One takes place between The Grange and School House which, until the building of Mitchinson's House, were opposite each other. Held on the last day of each term. Members of the Grange would assemble outside Lattergate House (later renamed Algy's) from where School House is visible and call out the House Shout from that vantage point. School House would then come out and the Purple of Galpin's would adjudicate the victor on wittiness, clarity, volume and house spirit.[5] This tradition has not been held in recent years, although every year after the inter house song competition, Galpin's House and School House have a similar, non adjudicated shouting match, with more emphasis on volume than anything else, often including the chant "you're not singing any more". The second House Shout takes place between Linacre and Meister Omers, and is an annual tradition that is not adjudicated.Good Morning Assembly Calls: A tradition whereby if two people were considered in a relationship with each other, the respective boy's house would call out at the end of assembly 'good morning' to both partners in the relationship, by their surnames. For example 'Good morning smith, good morning jones'. It has since been discouraged by senior staff.Monitors' Canes: A privilege given to School Monitors (Purples) and House Monitors. Purples are allowed black canes and House monitors are allowed wood coloured canes. The Head of the CCF is also allowed to carry a pace stick.Younger Purples: A tradition in which a certain member of each house (traditionally the shortest person is chosen) are given the purple gown on days when it is a charity non uniform day. This allows the designated person to exercise the rights of the Purples.Green Court Privilege: Only those in 6a (the final year) are allowed to walk across Green Court; everyone else must walk around it.Walpole Carnations: The Valentine's Day celebrations, organized by the girls of Walpole house. Pupils send a carnation with an anonymous message to a friend or lover.A festival of arts, held during the last week of the summer term, introduced by Fred Shirley. The week culminates in Commemoration day (known as "commem day") on the last day of the school year when the school leavers in 6a wear court dress and the whole school attends a service to commemorate the school benefactors.
In 2005, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) provisionally found that the school exchanged detailed information about prospective fee increases with approximately 50 other prominent UK independent schools, including Eton and Sevenoaks. The OFT stated that "regular and systematic exchange of confidential information as to intended fee increases was anti-competitive and resulted in parents being charged higher fees than would otherwise have been the case."
The King's School also has a feeder preparatory school, the Junior King's School (JKS), previously Milner Court Preparatory School. The school, is a coeducational boarding and day establishment, and currently has around 425 pupils, ages 3 to 13. Whilst there are boarding facilities available, the number of day pupils greatly outweighs the number of boarding pupils. JKS is now located at Milner Court in Sturry, having been originally based in the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral. The current site was donated by Lady Milner following the death of Lord (Alfred) Milner in 1925. The buildings on site were opened by Rudyard Kipling in 1929, in his capacity as a great friend of Lord (Alfred) Milner. Further extensions include a sports hall (1999), a CDT block (1991) and a music hall (2016).
