The OKS Association
A Guide to The King’s School Canterbury Alumni Association
Welcome to the OKS Association
The OKS Association is your community of fellow former King’s pupils - a place to stay connected, find support, and make the most of life after school. You’re off to do great things, but if you’re looking for guidance, want to expand your network, or just want to catch up with friends, the OKS community is here for you.
From social events and professional networking opportunities to casual meet-ups, there are plenty of ways to stay involved and reconnect throughout the year. You’ll also get regular updates through our monthly newsletter and biannual OKS Magazine, keeping you in the loop with all things King’s.
The Development Office is your go-to. Whether you need an exam transcript, new connections or want to share a great memory from your time at King’s, we’d love to hear from you.
Your Online Community
Introduced in September 2024, the King’s Association website is an interactive portal for the whole King’s community, past and present, including OKS, parents, staff and supporters.
Features include:
• News and blog articles
• Easy event booking
• Merchandise shop
• Ways to network and message other users
• Online mentoring
• The Cantuarian archive - dating back to 1882
Register or sign in today to unlock the full features.
www.kings-association.co.uk
2,000 + Members in the first
9 months
The OKS Magazine
Produced twice a year, the OKS Magazine showcases OKS achievements and stories, as well as sharing the latest news from the School.
Feature articles have covered a variety of topics including photography, conservation, geoscience, art, activism, sports and more. Each issue also contains news updates submitted by OKS, organised by decade.
Share your news and achievements
Whether you’d like to write a feature article, share a career update or have personal news - we want to hear from you!
To submit your news, please contact the OKS Team by email: community@kings-school.co.uk
OKS Events
Together Then, Together Now
Throughout the year, we hold a variety of events to help you stay connected with each other and the School.
OKS events include:
• House reunions
• Drinks reunions
• Year group anniversary reunions
• Sports fixtures against current pupils and other alumni associations
• Opportunities to return to King’s for special events such as the Carol Service, the Commemoration Service, School plays and music performances
We can also support OKS in organising their own reunions by sharing the event on our website, sending email invitations and promoting on our social media pages.
King’s Association Events
OKS also receive invitations to events with the wider King’s community, including:
• Annual Quiz Night with a prize raffle
• Wine tasting
• Christmas wreath making
• Sector-specific events
• Overseas drinks events
“What I loved about the night was that I was transported back to King’s. Not from the building, but how I felt. I can’t describe it but it’s just a feeling of being - community. Despite not knowing a lot of the people who were there that evening!”
- Harvey House 2017 Leaver
Sports Clubs
There are a number of OKS sports clubs for members to get involved in. These include:
Pilgrims Boat Club
Annual events include the Boat Club Dinner, Henley Lunch, and Pilgrims Sportive bike ride. The Pilgrims also often meet and row together at Westbere lake.
OKS Golf Society
OKSGS enjoys a full calendar of golf fixtures, including entry to Halford Hewitt, and the popular OKS v. School match.
OKS Sailing Club
OKS sailors of all abilities can join the club and enter the Arrow Trophy competition.
OKS Cricket
An OKS team is entered into the Cricketer Trophy competition against other school alumni associations.
OKS Fencing
In Spring, the OKS Fencing Challenge takes place at the Malthouse Fencing Hall. The annual OKS v. School fencing match during King’s Week always attracts a strong crowd!
Other OKS sports activities include football, hockey, rugby, netball, and more. Matches are often played against current pupils at the School, or against other alumni association teams.
Visit the ‘clubs’ page on our website for more information.
If you’re interested in creating your own club, or starting a new team, the Development Office can help you set up.
Networking & Careers
A Mutually Supportive Network
Networking
Our networking events are each focused on a specific industry and include a panel discussion with OKS and parent experts in the field. Afterwards, there is a Q&A and plenty of opportunity to network with other guests.
Free to attend - snacks and refreshments included.
Online Mentoring
Our King’s Association website has an online mentoring function, so you can search for OKS and parent mentors. Mentors can help with CV reviews, interview practice, and general advice. All messages and requests can be sent privately via our website.
Mentor Matching
If you are unable to find a mentor on our website, you can get in touch with the Development Office who can find the perfect OKS to help you.
Our OKS LinkedIn group is a great place to find and connect with other OKS. Whether you’re looking for a new experience, or would like to share your career news, the group is a great place to network!
= OKS around the globe, based on the OKS Magazine mailing list
Supporting King’s
The Charter Awards
Generous donations have helped support King’s for many years, providing pupils with fee assistance and contributing to the development of state-of-the-art facilities, including the Malthouse Theatre and Rausing Science Centre. Many OKS have made a contribution to shape the future of King’s.
Our current focus is our transformational bursary campaign: The Charter Awards.
Education can change lives. Bursaries can open doors to new experiences and put young people on different paths, helping them to achieve more than they ever thought possible.
Through the Charter Awards, King’s aims to build on our proud tradition of supporting bursaries, providing 50 full means-tested places, 500 years after our first 50 scholars.
“King’s
is one of those places that is just magic. I’m so grateful for the donations that enabled me to come here, and for the life that it has given me.”
Annabel Steadman (MR 2005-10)
Bursary Recipient and Award Winning Children’s Author
How you can support King’s:
Regular Giving - The 1541 Society
The 1541 Society is our regular giving club for OKS, parents and friends who support King’s with an annual, quarterly, or monthly gift.
One-Off Gift
Every contribution makes a difference, and we welcome gifts of every size including one-off gifts.
Legacies - The Robert Rose Society
We are so grateful to everyone who shares their love for King’s through a gift in their will. This remarkable generosity sustains our school, inspiring and securing the futures of generations of pupils to come.
How to Donate
Scan the QR code or visit: tinyurl.com/KSC-Support-Us
Thank you for your support.
The Development Team
The Development Team are responsible for all matters relating to OKS and fundraising. They organise events, manage the King’s Association website, produce the OKS Magazine, email newsletters and secure philanthropic and voluntary support from within the OKS, parent and wider King’s community.
The Development Office is located in the Old Grange, overlooking the Cathedral and Shirley Hall.
The Development Team work closely with:
The OKS Committee
The Committee serve as ambassadors for the OKS Association and School by sharing the updates, attending events, and gathering feedback from other OKS.
The Committee is made up of 12 members, including King’s staff.
The
OKS Trust
The OKS Educational and Benevolent Trust helps pupils at King’s who, without the charity’s support, would be unable to attend or continue their education at the school.
The trust also supports OKS through the OKS Postgraduate Awards.
Stay in Touch
It’s easy to get involved with OKS activities and stay in touch.
Update your details
The best way to update your details is through the King’s Association website. www.kings-association.co.uk
You’ll be added to the OKS monthly e-newsletter and OKS Magazine mailing list, and also have full access to the website and its features.
Attend an event
From reunions to networking - our events are attended by OKS of all ages. You can see what’s on and book tickets on our website.
Email us
The OKS team are always happy to hear your ideas, updates and memories. Send us an email: community@kings-school.co.uk
