Kent College Canterbury

Kent College, where excellence is a habit.

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

A quote attributed to Aristotle which accurately describes the work of Kent College, an outstanding boarding and day school for boys and girls situated in the south east of England on the outskirts of the city of Canterbury. Canterbury is just one hour from the centre of London by train and very close to all of the London airports. We can offer places for boarding students between the ages of 8 - 18.

Many schools may be pleased to be recognised as excellent (or as the top grade used to be, ‘outstanding’) in one or two areas of an inspection report but Kent College is delighted that the ISI inspection team of 18 which visited in January 2015 judged the school to be excellent in every aspect.

This is what they said:

"Pupils are equally successful in achieving high levels in a wide range of co-curricular activities with notable successes in national science and mathematics competitions. Many pupils learn a musical instrument; participation in concerts and dramatic performances is high, with individual and group success at national level."

In games, pupils represent county and national teams in hockey, which is a particular strength. County and national recognition has also been achieved in a range of individual pursuits, including cross-country, skiing, riding and tennis. The pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development is excellent. 

Students benefit from the structure of pastoral support, ensuring that boarders and day pupils mix naturally and to good effect. The social development of pupils is excellent. Pupils learn to live alongside each other in supportive boarding house communities. Day pupils are fully integrated with boarders through the four competitive houses and international pupils value this interaction with day pupils.

The use of the digital communication system, the parents' portal on the school website and a range of digital and social media ensures that college information is passed to parents quickly and effectively. Lines of communication with overseas parents, agents and guardians are excellent.

Kent College boarders are polite, confident and tolerant, behaving with integrity and demonstrating high standards of conduct. Built on mutual trust, boarders enjoy relaxed and positive relationships with all their highly committed boarding staff.

The standard of accommodation is excellent: predominantly in double rooms, with single rooms for older pupils. Rooms provide excellent space for study, relaxation and personal privacy. Social areas are attractively decorated and furnished.

Boarders have no difficulties in contacting their parents, and houseparents maintain regular links with parents, both individually and in house newsletters.

In the sixth form we offer A-Levels, or the International Baccalaureate Diploma.

A-Levels are best for those students who wish to specialise and the IB is very good for those who want a broad range of study and who may wish to go to university outside the UK.

Since 2012 a cohort of pupils has taken IB examinations. Their results have been exceptional in relation to the worldwide average and have regularly placed Kent College in the top ten schools in the UK.

Most of our students move on to study at Russell Group Universities (the top UK universities - including Oxford and Cambridge), with many international students choosing London colleges such as Imperial, King's or LSE.