King’s School Rochester
With a history dating back to 604AD, King’s School Rochester is the second oldest school in the UK and the oldest cathedral choir school in the world –and located in the shadow of Rochester Cathedral (which doubles up as the school chapel), you’d be hard-pushed to find a more awe-inspiring setting for pupils to live and learn in. Unsurprisingly, musical excellence ripples through the school’s veins, but this is no one-trick-pony; sport is impressive (there’s a dedicated scholars’ programme and facilities include an indoor swimming pool and boat house), and academics are consistently strong. Pupils flock here from all over Kent and beyond, thanks to the high-speed train service connecting the school to London in just 30 minutes.
Category: Nursery, Pre-Preparatory, Preparatory, Senior, Sixth Form
Pupils: Co-Education
Type: Boarding and Day
Religious Affiliation: Church of England
Roll: 364 Boys / / 247 Girls
Age Range: 3-18 Years
Founded: 604 AD
Location Description
King’s School Rochester is located in the historic town of Rochester, amidst cobbled medieval streets near the Cathedral. Just over half an hour by train from St Pancras International, it offers easy access to London while providing a serene, picturesque setting.
School Contact Details
Headteacher: Mr Ben Charles
Satis House, Boley Hill, Rochester, Kent, ME1 1TE
Tel: 01634 888555
Email: admissions@kings-rochester.co.uk
Facilities
King’s is a remarkable school with a rich and diverse heritage, where pupils have been educated for over 1,400 years under the watchful gaze of Rochester Cathedral and Rochester Castle.
While a sense of place is bound to have an impact on the development of the children learning here, it is the skills, experiences and opportunities provided to them, both within and outside the classroom, that will enable them to thrive in an uncertain and fast-changing world.
The school is an exceptionally happy and friendly place, underpinned by a strong sense of care, kindness, moral values and emotional intelligence.
We believe in giving pupils the courage and confidence to be their best. We nurture the individual and celebrate diversity – there truly is no typical King’s pupil. Each and every one is unique and treated as such and our values of Work Hard, Play Hard and Look After Each Other are encouraged and practised throughout the school.
Just over half an hour from London, we empower our pupils to explore their passions with a huge range of co-curricular opportunities, to ignite and nurture their interests, and to provide experiences which will develop confidence in them for life.
Music is a cornerstone of our School, with countless opportunities for pupils of all abilities. With a dedicated drama studio, King’s has a reputation for exceptional drama, from musicals through to Shakespeare. Our Art & Design department is a hub of creativity and imagination, where we never underestimate the creative potential of our children and have high expectations for all. We believe Sport is for everyone and with a large gymnasium, LTA tennis courts, fitness suite, heated indoor pool, boat house and our Paddock, regarded as one of the finest cricket fields in the county, we provide our pupils with extensive training facilities.
In addition to our comprehensive sport, music, drama and arts programmes, we offer an impressive range of activities centring around personal development, culminating in timetabled co-curricular activities every Friday afternoon for our Senior School pupils. These include CCF, the Theatre Production Company, the Charities Committee, volunteering, The Duke of Edinburgh and an Enrichment Programme.
With over a thousand years of heritage and a world of potential ahead, King’s School Rochester is truly a community which enables individuals to flourish. Come and experience our school for yourself. Meet our pupils, talk to our staff, and feel the welcoming and inspiring atmosphere that makes King’s School so unique.
Scholarships
At King’s School Rochester, we believe that being talented and motivated is something to be proud of. As a result, scholarships for pupils with a proven talent in sport, music, drama, art or academic attainment are available to internal and external pupils entering Year 7, Year 9 and Year 12.
We offer the following Scholarships:
- Academic Scholarships
- Music Scholarships
- Sport Scholarships
- Drama Scholarships
- Art Scholarships
- Cathedral Scholarships (Prep only)
- Organ Scholarships (Senior only)
Entrance Requirements
Step 1: Complete the registration form and pay the deposit
Step 2: Current school reference request will be made
Step 3: Assessment and interviews
Step 4: Places offered
Step 5: Complete acceptance form and pay deposit
Fees
2024/2025
Day fees.
Nursery: from £1,990 per term (3 days). Reception – Year 3: £4,240 – £4,635 per term. Years 4 – 8: £5,550 – £6,210 per term. Years 9 – 13: £8,070- £8,155 per term.
Boarding fees. Years 7 – 13: £9,315- £13,505 per term.
Downloadable Resources
OPEN DAYS
All visits are welcome, please contact the school
Nursery and Pre-Preparatory Open Morning: Saturday 21 Sep 2024 - Time: 9:30 am - 12:30 am
Preparatory and Senior Open Morning: Saturday 28 Sep 2024 - Time: 9:30 am - 12:30 am
The best way to get a real sense of King’s School Rochester and all that it offers is to visit us. Meet our pupils, talk to our staff and feel the welcoming and inspiring atmosphere that makes us so unique.
Open Events: book a place and find out more
If any of these dates are not convenient, you are also welcome to book a personal tour by contacting Sue Webb, Head of Admissions, on 01634 888590 or by emailing admissions@kings-rochester.co.uk
As the second-oldest School in the world, King’s enjoys a truly unique and beautiful location, nestled amongst cobbled medieval streets in the heart of the Cathedral Precinct in historic Rochester. You can also take a Virtual Tour of our School and envision life on campus.
For more information, you can check out our virtual prospectuses: https://kings-rochester.co.uk/admissions/prospectuses/