The Worthgate School
Same Kent area with a comparable local commute
School profile
Verified 18 August 2026
The King's School Canterbury is a private secondary-stage school in Canterbury, Kent, with a published age range of 13-19.
Private school Co-ed Ages 13-19 Sixth form Boarding school
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 13-19
- ISI ?
- Likely to meet standards
- Boarding ?
- Boarding school
The King's School Canterbury
1
On this page
At a glance
Key facts
- Sector
- Private school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Application ?
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 13-19
- Boarding ?
- Boarding school
- Route check
- Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
- ISI ?
- Likely to meet standards
Overview
Overview
The King's School Canterbury's Senior School sits within Canterbury Cathedral's precincts. Its history traces education on the site to Augustine's arrival in 597 and the Royal Charter of 1541; today it is a co-educational day and boarding school for ages 13 to 18. Houses, classrooms and music spaces sit among the cathedral buildings, making the setting part of everyday life.
King's describes an active academic experience with breadth, depth and enquiry. Middle School and Sixth Form curriculum booklets support increasing specialisation. Music is a signature, from cathedral singing and the Chapel Choir to orchestras and King's Week, alongside rugby, hockey, fencing, creative writing, trips, CCF and Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
Senior entry is centred on Year 9, with further places at Years 10 and 12. Visits, references, interviews and assessment form part of the process. Scholarships are available at Year 9 in academic, music, art, sport, design and technology, drama and dance; Year 12 awards cover the first four categories. Seven girls' boarding houses, six boys' houses and four day houses connect pupils to concerts, plays, charity work and weekend activities.
Key points
Key points
- Assessment route
- Applications are made directly to the school. Check the school's own admissions pages for registration dates, entrance assessment stages, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
- Places and demand
- Published Year 7 place numbers and applicant-per-place data are not included in GIAS for this private-school seed profile.
- Catchment
- Private-school eligibility is not controlled by the local-authority grammar catchment model; check boarding, day-pupil, transport and any sibling or faith rules on the school site.
- Results
- 0% grade 5+ in English and maths and 17.6 Attainment 8
- Sixth form
- Sixth form available with 37.2% AAB or better.
GCSE benchmark
Latest 2024/25 KS4 measures compared with Kent and England.
School Local authority England
- Attainment 8
- 17.6
- Grade 5+ English and maths
- 0%
- EBacc APS
- 1.16
- EBacc entry
- 0%
Attainment 8 trend
Recent published Attainment 8 scores compared with Kent and England.
School Local authority England
School details
School details
- Sector
- Private school
- School type
- Other independent school
- Funding
- Independent fee-paying
- Application
- Apply direct to school
- Gender
- Mixed
- Age range
- 13-19
- Headmaster
- Ms Jude Lowson
- Pupil roll
- 985 pupils
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Boarding
- Boarding school
Location and contact
Location and contact
Address
- Address
- 25 The Precincts, Canterbury, Kent
- Postcode
- CT1 2ES
- Area
- Kent
School leadership
- Headmaster
- Ms Jude Lowson
School contact
- School phone
- 01227595501
Admissions contact
- Admissions team
- Admissions
- Admissions phone
- 01227595501
Admissions
Admissions
- Application route
- Apply direct to school
- Age range
- 13-19
- Gender
- Mixed
- Boarding
- Boarding school
- Day fees
- £11,976-£13,302 per term for Senior School day pupils, including VAT, in 2026/27
- Boarding fees
- £19,326 per term for Senior School boarding, including VAT, in 2026/27
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Scholarships and bursaries
- Entrance details
- Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Admissions note
- GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
GIAS confirms the school type and age range; fees, scholarships, bursaries and entrance assessments should be checked on the school's own website.
Independent schools do not use the local-authority grammar-school catchment model; check the school site for boarding, transport and eligibility rules.
Oversubscription and eligibility
Use the official admissions policy for the current priority order and eligibility rules.
Exam and test format
Exam and test format
Entrance route and assessment
Entrance assessment details are not part of the GIAS open data extract.
- Assessment route
- Apply direct to school
Application
Application
How to apply
- 1
Apply direct to the school
Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
Check school admissions
Results
Results
Attainment snapshot
- Attainment 8 ?
- 17.6 Attainment 8
- GCSE results
- 0% grade 4+ in English and maths
- Grade 5+ English and maths ?
- 0% grade 5+ in English and maths
- EBacc average point score ?
- 1.16 EBacc APS
- A-level results
- 37.2% AAB or better
- A-level average points
- 44.99 A-level points per entry
Inspection
Inspection
Likely to meet standards
Latest inspection: 20 June 2025
Use the latest ISI report for inspection detail.
Quick summary
- Latest ISI report: Non-Routine Inspections 2025 records an inspection beginning 20 June 2025. The report says the school was likely to meet the relevant standards for the proposed material change.
Similar schools and comparisons
Similar schools and comparisons
Nearby schools families also consider
Local rivals appear first, followed by nearby alternatives where the journey and admissions route are still comparable.
St Edmund's School Canterbury
Same Kent area with a comparable local commute
Kent College (Canterbury)
Same Kent area with a comparable local commute
Kent College International Study Centre
Same Kent area with a comparable local commute
Nearby schools with similar results
Closest comparable alternatives with a similar academic profile, so parents can weigh local fit and results together.
Beech Grove School
Nearby option with a similar Ofsted and sixth-form picture
The New School
Nearby option with a similar Ofsted and sixth-form picture
OMG Education
Nearby option with a similar Ofsted and sixth-form picture
Shortlist comparisons
Explore this school in context
Private schools near Kent
Independent secondary-stage school profiles with direct-application, age range and boarding context.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Related pages and guides
Related pages and guides
Area and ranking pages
Private schools near Kent
Independent secondary-stage school profiles with direct-application, age range and boarding context.
Best Grammar Schools by A-level Results
Explore the best grammar schools by A-level results in the UK, ranked by the published share of students achieving AAB or better at A level.
Guides and related reading
Related guides are still being added.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How does King's School Canterbury handle admissions?
King's School Canterbury handles applications directly. Check the school website for registration dates, entrance assessments, interviews, fees, scholarships and bursaries.
How do I apply to King's School Canterbury?
1. Apply direct to the school: Independent-school admissions are handled by the school rather than the local authority CAF.
When are the key dates for King's School Canterbury?
Use the school admissions page to confirm registration, assessment, interview and offer dates.
What does the latest inspection picture look like for King's School Canterbury?
King's School Canterbury is currently rated Likely to meet standards following the latest published inspection dated 20 June 2025.