It is a great pleasure to welcome you and your family to The King’s School Canterbury.
As one of the oldest schools in the world, King’s combines a rich tradition of academic excellence and character formation with a forward-looking approach to education. Our historic setting, within the precincts of Canterbury Cathedral, provides a truly inspiring environment, but it is the warmth, energy, and ambition of our pupils and staff that truly define our community.
This handbook is designed to provide you with essential information about life at King’s, from daily routines to pastoral care, academic expectations, and co-curricular opportunities. We hope it will help you and your child to feel confident and well-supported as you embark on your journey with us.
Along the way, you will also find that there is a wide network of dedicated staff on hand to offer help, advice, and support whenever it is needed — whether that’s a Housemaster or Housemistress, Tutor, Matron, member of the pastoral team, or any of our teaching and support staff. No question is too small, and we warmly encourage you to get in touch at any time.
Our partnership with you, as parents, is central to your child’s success and wellbeing. We value open communication and collaboration, and we are always here to answer questions, listen to concerns, and celebrate achievements with you.
Thank you for choosing King’s. We look forward to sharing in the exciting years ahead!
Jude Lowson, Head
The King’s School Values and Ethos
The original and oldest school, defined by its iconic location and foundation with Canterbury Cathedral, The King’ School has a unique history and heritage. Today’s pupils are inspired by the awe-inspiring beauty of their surroundings and the exhilarating experiences on offer within and beyond the classroom. They feel they are playing their part in longstanding traditions and know they have the support and guidance to fulfil their own destiny.
Our connection to the Cathedral is a tangible reminder of the powerful spiritual core of our school. Linked to the world beyond by our city location and global outlook, our community has a special character: engaged, ambitious, warmhearted and open-minded.
King’s is diverse in the truest sense of the word. Co-education has been firmly established over several decades, and our pupils are drawn from across the UK and around the world. The School offers a broad, innovative and challenging curriculum and co-curriculum. Our boarding and house model enables pupils, both day and boarding, to feel a profound sense of belonging and to access a complete education.
There is no one ‘type’ of King’s pupil. What they do all have in common is their eagerness to engage energetically with what the School and life have to offer, their sense of curiosity and aspiration and their desire to contribute positively to our community.
We are enormously ambitious for our pupils. We are committed to the development of every individual in the School, and with us they are empowered to find their own version of success and fulfilment.
• Our pastoral provision supports each pupil to feel that they truly belong.
• Our inspiring curriculum challenges them to engage: with ideas, with activities and with opportunities.
• Our pupils are offered opportunities to connect with the world beyond King’s.
• Our education provides every pupil with all they will need to thrive, both at King’s and throughout their life.
Boarding Principles & Practice
Boarding at The King’s School, Canterbury is an integral part of a rich and holistic educational experience. Rooted in a tradition of academic excellence, the school’s curriculum is continually refined to meet the evolving demands of modern education. Central to its ethos is the belief that education extends beyond the classroom, and boarding plays a vital role in nurturing the intellectual, emotional, and social development of each pupil.
Our Statement of Boarding Principles and Practice can be found along with other key policies here: School Policies
The School Year
The school year (dates can be found here) is divided into three terms, each with a half-term break. Here are also four fixed exeats which are extended weekends when all pupils return to their homes, or that of a guardian or other pupil. During these weekends pupils leave school on Friday afternoon, and return on Sunday evening or Monday morning. For both exeats and half term holidays, the houses are closed, other than the flexi-boarding house which provided a further accommodation option over these weekends.
Approximate
- June/July
Term Dates and Calendar
We publish our term dates and holidays on the school website at least a year in advance along with the term’s calendar and timings. Parents will be emailed a reminder of Exeat Weekends and timings by the House teams.
Throughout the year, we welcome parents to many events, including sporting fixtures, music and drama performances. The School Calendar can be viewed on the Parents section of the School website.
Pupils have access to a wide range of weekend activities and events, details of which can be found by clicking the image opposite.
Early and Late Arrivals
If for any reason a pupil needs to return either early or late to School, please discuss this as far as possible in advance with their House team.
Department for Education Attendance policy requires that every pupil attends school for the published term dates. Therefore, if there is significant reason to require your child to either leave school earlier than the end of term, or to arrive later than the start of term, application must be made well in advance to the school’s
Senior Attendance Champion on attendance@ kings-school.co.uk Please copy the relevant Housemaster/mistress into this email, and please ensure that you provide as much detail as possible as to the reasons for not being able to attend school for all of the dates provided. It must be noted that it is highly likely that the majority of these requests will result in a recording of unauthorised absence which can have a significant impact for child student visa holders.
Year group structure
The school is subdivided into the Middle School and Sixth Form; each year group has its own unique name.
Arrival at School in September
New Pupils
We look forward to welcoming pupils back to School in September.
Further details will follow about specific arrival times for new pupils but the Shells (Year 9) will be the only year group in residence for the first day of the Autumn term so the focus will be inducting them into school life (issuing 1 to 1 devices and familiarising them with the school site and routine) and for the boarders getting them used to a new living routine and environment. Induction for Shells will continue in that first week with a rotation of activities that will include introductions to the Wellbeing services, School tours, scavenger hunts, quizzes and diagnostic SEN screening.
For those new pupils joining the Remove year or the 6b year the Autumn term starts half a day earlier than returning pupils. Like the new Shells, they will follow a programme of induction in that first week of term to settle pupils into school and house routines.
For returning pupils, please consult the Term Dates published on the School website for arrival times.
What to bring to School and Uniform lists
You can find this list as part of the joining pack and on the Parent Portal:
Bedding and Laundry Bedding
All boarders are required to bring their own duvet and pillows which can stay at school and be dry cleaned during the holidays. It is advised that each boarder brings 2-3 sets of labelled bed linen. Bedding is washed weekly in House.
All items marked with an asterix * are King’s School branded items which are only available in the King’s School shop. All other items can be purchased elsewhere.
Laundry is done in Houses according to a clearly displayed rota. Home clothes, as well as uniform, are washed in house; to avoid any confusion or small items going missing, please ensure that all clothes are named.
For those joining boarding houses please bear in mind that pupils will be asked to take the majority
of their belongings home at the end of each term. International pupils will be able to store a few possessions over the holidays but the message here is very much to limit the amount that pupils travel with. Boarding areas provide limited space so for international pupils 2 suitcases should provide a useful guide to the ideal volume of possessions.
Laundry
School Shop
Purchasing Uniform
King’s School uniform is purchased by attending a fitting appointment at The King’s School Shop. Please call 01227 595551 or email Shop1@kingsschool.co.uk at your earliest convenience to book an appointment for your child(ren) to be fitted out with all their school attire. Please note, there is no online ordering facility for King’s School uniform.
Fitting appointments are allocated for 1 hour per child and scheduled every hour from 9:30am, with the last appointment of the day starting promptly at 15:30pm. The school shop gets extremely busy therefore, if you are more than 15 minutes late for your appointment without notice, your appointment will be given to another pupil, and you will be asked to re-arrange for another date/time.
Payment for uniform should be cleared by debit or credit card on the day of the appointment, the school shop does not accept American Express. Pupil accounts are closed for the summer bill run and not accessible until the start of the academic year.
Name Labels
All uniform and home clothes (for boarders) must have sewn-in name labels. The school shop offers a sewing service for name labels at a fixed price of £50. The charge for this will be added to the school bill in the first term. Uniform left at the shop for the sewing service can be delivered to house for boarding pupils only and will be there ready for arrivals days. Day pupils will need to arrange to collect uniform from the school shop once sewing is complete. Sew-in name labels can be ordered through the school shop (before July) to ensure they arrive with enough time to be sewn into uniform before the start of term. Should you wish to order name labels through the school shop please request this when booking a uniform fitting appointment.
If you wish to provide you own name labels, please ensure they include your child’s first and last name and their house initials. The School Shop recommend Cash’s UK | Woven Name Tapes (cashsnametapes.co.uk).
The last opportunity for uniform fitting if you wish to have the sewing service through the school shop is early August. For all appointments after this date there will be no sewing service offered.
Please note the shop is closed during periods of the school holidays and for regular stocktakes. Closures are listed on the School website
The King’s School Shop
Mint Yard Gate
Canterbury Cathedral
How to contact us
Throughout your time at King’s, Housemasters/Housemistresses, Matrons and Mentors will normally be your first port of call for queries on your son/daughter. However, on occasion there may be a need to contact other senior members of staff, some of whom are listed below.
General enquiries
The King’s School 25 The Precincts, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2ES
T: 01227 595501
E: info@kings-school.co.uk
Senior King’s Leadership
Head
Ms Jude Lowson head@kings-school.co.uk
PA to the Head
Ms Lucy Hutchinson 01227 595527 lmh@kings-school.co.uk
Senior Deputy Head
Mr Alex Patton 01227 595507 atp@kings-school.co.uk
Deputy Head (Academic)
Mr Matthew Key 01227 595510 or 595771 mek@kings-school.co.uk
Deputy Head (Pastoral)
Miss Tanya Lee 01227 595536 pastoral@kings-school.co.uk
The School’s secure Parent Portal, My School Portal, is a convenient online portal that allows you to see information about your child throughout their time at School (reports, grades, timetables, exam timetables, instrument lessons) as well as giving you access to forms and other documents. Set up your account by clicking on the below link:
Parent Portal setup
Mentor communication
A revised structure will be in place for September 2025 and separate communications will be sent from the school at a later date.
Pupils will have a Mentor (previously knows as Tutor) for their entire Shell year, a new one to see them through Remove and Fifths and another specialist Sixth Form Mentor for their final two years. They will meet with their Mentors twice a week.
You, as parents, will hear directly from Mentors early in the Autumn term.
Academic Reports, Grades and Parents’ meetings
In addition to informal contact with House staff and Mentors there is a programme of parent teacher consultations and reports. The schedule is summarised below:
Start of Year HoY+HsM and Tutor Briefing Introduction
Grades (QoW or FTG and AtL + Comment if a concern)
Report (As above + written report) Exam Grades
Grades will assess the Quality of Work and an Attitude to Learning.
Trials are exams to for 6b year group to assess progress in chosen A level courses.
FTG stands for Fine Trajectory Grades. We have devised this system in order to provide, at each reporting point, an idea of the trajectory that each pupil is on. It’s a ‘holistic professional judgement’ as to the most likely grade outcome, taking everything into account that may affect the result.
No Written Reports will be provided in the term when a Parent/ Guardian Consultation is scheduled.
Links to end of term reports will be sent directly to parents and are always available on the parent portal.
The King’s Association
Bringing together the whole King’s community, past and present.
The King’s Association was established in 2024 to bring together all members of the wider King’s community; current and former pupils (OKS), current and former parents, and current and former staff members. It exists to strengthen these connections through events, by sharing news and updates and by helping our community to link up with one another via the King’s Association website.
The King’s Association website has over 2,000 members online and provides a hub of School and community news and events. Members can also connect with each other, request or give mentoring and career advice, join clubs and build a global network.
Annual events include: sector specific breakfast networking, quiz night, wine tasting, overseas drinks receptions and more.
All King’s Association members receive a monthly e-newsletter, containing news and event invitations. The King’s Association is run and overseen by the Development Office (in close collaboration with parent ambassadors, staff and the OKS).
For more information, and to sign up, visit www.kings-association.co.uk
Shape of the school week
The timetable is summarised in the diagram below:
Boarding Routine
The boarding daily structure is designed to facilitate effective support and consistency whilst gradually building independence over time.
Pupils eat all meals, including breakfast, in school dining rooms, and leave the House to attend lessons and activities. However, they may return at any point during the day to collect possessions, change for sports/activities, or for refreshments. Snacks are provided in all boarding Houses, and pupils have access to kitchens should they wish to prepare their own food.
The post-5pm routine is detailed below:
5.30 - 6.30pm Optional early supervised prep
5.45 - 6.45pm Supper
7.00 - 8.30pm all pupils return to Houses and prep time begins 8.30pm Prep time ends with some Houses having a House meeting at this point
Prep time is ‘quiet time’ for completing work across the school, with the youngest pupils often being supervised during this time. Pupils can also attend an earlier supervised prep session, and they may be referred to this by a member of the academic or pastoral team. This may be particularly beneficial for those pupils who might have other evening commitments during ‘normal’ prep time.
Staggered bedtimes between 9:45pm and 10:30pm depending on age group.
Many of the practical arrangements in the Houses are overseen by the matrons/pastoral care assistants who often become key figures in the pupils’ journeys through the school. In particular they often assist in collecting and making travel arrangements for holidays, exeats and any other off-site commitments. For those pupils on sponsored visas these are particularly important and further details are available in our overseas pupil guide.
Day Pupil Routine
Day Houses are typically open at the following times:
Monday to Friday - 7:30am until 7:30pm
Saturday – 7:30am until 5pm (except for pupils returning late from matches)
Sunday - the houses are closed
Access outside of these times can be requested from the relevant Housemaster or Housemistress but cannot be guaranteed.
The school day finishes at 16:55, Monday to Friday, however some sport, music and activity commitments can continue afterwards. This is in plenty of time for those choosing to use the King’s bus services on the way home.
On Saturdays, pupils may leave after the end of their scheduled games commitment.
From late September 2025 Flexi-Boarding will be on offer for all day pupils to stay overnight in a boarding facility set aside just for day pupils. It will be overseen by a separate team of Pastoral staff and will allow pupils to benefit from supervised prep in the evening before bed. Pupils would then return to their day house after breakfast the next day.
Further details on our new Flexi Boarding provision can be found by clicking the image below:
Assemblies
The whole School meets and worships together in the Shirley Hall, or the Cathedral, on Mondays and on some Wednesdays and Thursdays. Fridays are designated as a time for Congregational Practice (known as ‘Congers’) for the whole school. House Assemblies take place at various times in the week, usually Wednesday mornings, for all pupils. Assemblies are not just Christian occasions they include celebrations of other religions which are represented at school and many secular topics as well.
There is a weekly service of Compline in either the Lower Chapel at St Augustine’s or the Memorial Chapel. There are informal praise and worship meetings and Bible study in The Chaplaincy.
Sunday Cathedral Services
We are privileged to be able to celebrate services nearly every Sunday in term time in the Cathedral, either Matins or Evensong. Every member of the school who is present on Sunday is expected to attend these services as we come together as a community. Parents are always welcome to attend these services, and they provide a great opportunity to perhaps take pupils out after Matins for Brunch or perhaps have a family Lunch or Afternoon Tea in Canterbury prior to Evensong.
In addition, there are special Cathedral services at particular times of the year, e.g. Admission of Scholars, Advent, Lent, Confirmation, Carol Service and Commemoration.
A Remembrance Sunday service takes place outside at the War Memorial and there is often a summer service in the ruins of St Augustine’s Abbey for Whitsun. Details of these services are found in the termly calendar.
Roman Catholic students are able to attend Mass at St Thomas’ Canterbury and there is a monthly Orthodox service in the Memorial Chapel, but pupils will still be expected to attend the whole school Cathedral Services as well as these.
Spiritual Life
• TOAST: these are regular Bible study groups which meet weekly for pupils to develop a deeper understanding of Scripture, usually held in the mornings with Toast and hot drinks.
• The Cranmer Society (Christian Union) meets weekly enabling pupils who wish to go along a chance to explore various questions to do with their faith in a relaxed environment.
• Every year there are Confirmation classes (Roman Catholic as well as Church of England) where pupils can explore their Christian faith.
• There are regular Jewish Society, Muslim Society and Hindu meetings, as well termly multifaith meetings which facilitate the discussion of issues shared by other faiths.
• The School works actively with those whose faith means specific dietary practices have to be followed e.g. providing Halal meat and supporting those fasting during Ramadan.
• There are pupil leaders who apply to be Chapel Wardens who help to support, lead, encourage and develop the spiritual opportunities for all pupils. They have been trained in listening skills along with the school peer listeners. They meet regularly with the Chaplains for prayer, discussion and planning.
Community Life
• In addition to school prayers, services and special events, the whole School meets as a community each term for a Congratulations Assembly (‘Congrats’) and annually for the House Song competition, which is a real highlight of the year and shows the strength of singing in the School.
• The House communities are, however, central to School life. Within the Houses, both day and boarding, pupils learn the rights and responsibilities of living with each other. They have opportunities to perform together at House concerts, to play together in a plethora of House competitive events (ranging from chess to rugby, from drama to sailing, from debating to tennis) and to celebrate together at times like the approach to Christmas when all houses have a dinner. They also celebrate the diversity in the school and the houses.
Within these communities, there are many opportunities for leadership, from leading House teams and organising events to being a House monitor or Head / Deputy Head of House.
Weekends
The vast majority of our boarding pupils stay at school each weekend, although there is flexibility to go home for those who can and wish to. So-called ‘weekend leave’ can be taken on any weekend starting from the time pupils have fulfilled all their school commitments (matches etc.) on a Saturday until Sunday, 9.30pm – please do let us know if returners are to arrive later than this. It is important to note that all school rules apply during any exeat weekend and that requests for exeat weekends should be received in time for them to be approved, allowing a minimum of 24 hours wherever possible. Housemasters and Housemistresses will send a link to an exeat request form.
We ask that all pupils avoid taking exeats, where possible, on the first weekend of every term. Specifically for new pupils we would advise not taking an exeat over the first two weekends of the Autumn term when special activities are arranged as part of the ‘induction period’.
Weekends at King’s offer plenty of opportunities to get involved in various activities and events beyond the classroom. Alongside the usual sporting fixtures there are often concerts, talks, trips, rehearsals, recitals, and community initiatives to ensure that pupils are kept occupied. An example Weekends and Events booklet is below.
In addition, there are four ‘Fixed’ exeats (two in the Autumn term and two in the Lent term) where the school closes completely after Friday morning lessons until Sunday evening at 9:30pm where ALL pupils must either go home or to guardians. From September 2025 we will be offering weekend accommodation to some of our Overseas Boarders during these fixed exeats. Further details can be found by clicking the image below:
Of course, if pupils are free during the week, or on Sundays (before or after Cathedral services), they may meet up with parents and relations as long as parents let the House staff know the specific details beforehand.
We would ask you to avoid organising parties during term-time as it is very difficult to safeguard boarders travel to and from such events. Any questions about smaller events please direct to the Assistant Head, Head of Boarding (mjt2@kings-school.co.uk) well in advance of the potential event.
Transport for Day Pupils and Boarders
The King’s School operates a fleet of branded minibuses, enabling local pupils to travel safely to and from our Schools. All our minibus drivers are King’s School employees with advanced DBS checks, offering parents peace of mind knowing that their children will arrive at school safely and on time.
To support our boarding pupils who wish to return home for the occasional weekend, From September 2025, King’s will run two in-house Sunday return to School only services. The School also operates an end of Term/Half term airport service to Heathrow.
Details of the transport options are available in the booklet below.
Food
King’s is rightly proud of its food, provided by our in-house catering service. Breakfast, lunch and supper are all served in either the Precincts Main Dining Hall, St Augustine’s Refectory, or Undercroft. Pupils can have morning break and tea in their boarding houses or in specific allocated areas where they are unable to return to their boarding houses. Supplies of fresh fruit, bread, fruit juice, together with tea and coffee making facilities are always available in every boarding house.
Serving times:
Breakfast 7.30am – 8.10am
Lunch 12.30pm – 1.45pm
Supper 5.45pm – 6.45pm
Drinking water is widely available throughout the school. All boarding houses have supplies of mains drinking water on every floor. Bottled water may be purchased from the Pupil Social Centre and brought into school. It is allowed to be brought into classrooms and exam rooms but not science laboratories.
We offer a wide choice between hot and cold food, with plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables and salads. Weekly menus are put onto our website. We offer our pupils a widely varied, healthy, and tasty diet. We also cater for all tastes and preferences, including vegan, vegetarian. However, we do not operate either Kosher or Halal kitchens but are able to source Halal meat products from our suppliers.
Any parent who is worried about the quality of the food is always welcome to come and sample lunch or any other meal. Please contact the Assistant Head, Boarding to arrange.
Where every reasonable care is taken to identify food allergens on our menus, we cannot guarantee an allergen free working environment in our catering facilities due to airborne particle disturbance during the production processes. We identify allergens included in our menu items by the relevant letter coding for example D-Dairy. A list of letter coding is on display and available to view at each dining facility.
The Letter coding system is also written on our counter displays and clearly included on any items prepared by the kitchen for internal consumption and packed meals produced by our catering team.
Parents of children who have allergies to any food product, or who have special dietary requirements, are asked to make this clear in the medical questionnaire, which they complete when their child enters the school. They should inform the school at once if their child subsequently develops an intolerance of any food. The Senior Nurse and the Catering Manager are happy to see any parent who has concerns about their child’s medical condition, and to devise a special menu, where possible.
Pupils are permitted to have takeaway food delivered to the school on Saturday evenings and during the day on Sunday.
Mobile Phone Policy
The school is adapting a revised policy for smartphone use for pupils. In doing so it seeks to:
a) Support mental Health and wellbeing. Research has linked high levels of screen time with increased anxiety, depression, and sleep disturbances in young people. Reducing phone use during the school day can contribute to better mental health by encouraging more balanced, mindful habits and reducing exposure to harmful online content.
b) Encourage responsible technology use. Implementing stricter policies provides an opportunity for pupils to better understand how they respond to screen time, and ultimately generate better self-awareness and more responsible and purposeful use of technology. It can aid the understanding of the importance of boundaries and self- regulation, skills that are increasingly important in the digital age.
c) Promote positive social interactions. Excessive phone use during school hours can hinder faceto-face communication and social development. It is easier when phones are prevalent for pupils to become isolated or overly reliant on digital interactions. Stricter policies encourage pupils to engage more with peers and teachers, building stronger interpersonal skills and a more inclusive school community.
d) Reduce online harm, including online abuse and harassment. These issues, although not widespread at King’s, can have serious emotional and psychological effects. By restricting phone access, the school can help mitigate these risks and create a safer environment for all pupils.
For the Sixth Form, we believe in the importance of encouraging self-regulation with regard to smartphones as they prepare to enter the adult world. Pupils will continue to be able to carry smartphones with them but will have their
phones confiscated if they are seen using them for no good reason outside of their Houses. There will be tighter restrictions on using phones in social spaces, such as the pupil social centre and the dining hall.
However, for Shells, Removes and Fifths, any smartphones that they bring to school need to be handed in at morning registration. They will be held in secure boxes in the House Matron/ PCA’s office, and will be available for retrieval from 4:50pm. Exceptions will be made for things like trips, away fixtures, and on Saturdays when sport makes the logistics of handing in phones impractical. For boarders, phones will also continue to be handed in during prep time, and overnight. Messages for pupils (e.g. room changes, last-minute sport logistics etc.) will be communicated via a daily bulletin, sent to everyone’s email addresses at 8am. This will then be reinforced verbally and on-screen at 8am each morning.
The school will be encouraging pupils and their parents to consider purchasing a Non-Smart Phone (abbreviated to NSP, a.k.a. ‘brick phone’) where this is useful to them, but this is neither essential nor required by the school.
Policy Summary: Sixth Form
Smartphones can be kept on their person but must not be seen or used around the school site. Devices can be used in House according to the individual House rules.
Policy Summary: Shell, Remove & Fifth
Monday - Friday
Pupils can have their smartphones between:
Boarders may retrieve their smartphone following breakfast and completion of any House duties
7:30am - 8:15am
4:50pm - 7:00pm
8:30pm - Bedtime
All pupils hand their smartphone in at morning registration & notices
All pupils may retrieve their smartphone
Boarders hand in their smartphone for House or Supervised Prep at 7:00pm
Boarders hand their smartphone in at the following times: 9:30pm – Shell / 9:45pm – Remove / 10:00pm – Fifth
Saturday & Sunday
Phones may be retrieved following breakfast (Saturday) or morning roll call (Sunday) and after the completion of House duties. As with Monday – Friday routine, phones must be handed in 15 minutes before bedtime.
During the times above, pupils can use their smartphones in House according to the individual House rules and when outside of House, smartphones can be kept on their person but must not be seen.
More detailed information is contained in the FAQ document sent to all parents in June, and available on the parent portal.
Social Events, Co-curricular activities and Trips
Pupils at King’s are offered a huge variety of co-curricular and super-curricular opportunities to augment and supplement their time at school. Whilst there are scheduled times across the week for clinics, talks, and rehearsals, the King’s Activities Programme runs each Wednesday afternoon.
Those joining the school in Year 9 experience the Shell Rotation for the first two terms. In small, mixed groups, they get a taster of approximately sixteen different activities, including an introduction to rowing, fencing, rocket building, mocktail making, careers and Pupil Futures advice, and formal etiquette.
From the summer term, they then choose one of three pathways: CCF, Running Wild, or the King’s Personal Development Programme. All three pathways include elements of service, challenge, and community engagement, with pupils also participating in outdoor activities, many of whom go on to complete a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Pupils in the Fifth and Sixth Form have a wider range of activities available to them, including Model United Nations, Young Enterprise, CANSAT (National Rocket Competition), Law Society, debating, and voluntary service in local schools and charities.
The school looks to provide two Sunday trips per term. Pupils will be emailed about these trips by the Assistant Head, Head of Boarding, and any cost incurred will be added to the school bill.
The school also offers a wide range of Overseas trips. Further details of these can be found by clicking the booklet opposite.
At the weekends pupils have a range of activities organised in Houses and have access to a wide range of school facilities to use in their own time. Year groups social events are also scheduled during the term, usually on Saturday evenings.
School Bounds
It is wonderful to have a vibrant city on our doorstep but below is a diagram of what areas pupils are allowed to access at certain times of the school week.
Green line: possible routes to and from games and the Malthouse in daylight hours
Blue line: possible routes to and from games and the Malthouse in hours of darkness
Red line: school bounds
Yellow line: acceptable route to venue
Waitrose
Pupil access to the city:
The city is out of bounds
• Before 1:10pm on all weekdays (12:10pm on Saturdays, 10:15am on Sundays)
• During afternoon lesson time (Periods 7 & 8) on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons
• After the following times in the early evening, unless specific permission has been given to the contrary:
Shells 4:30pm (6:00pm in the Summer Term)
Removes 5:00pm (6:00pm in the Summer Term)
Fifths 6:00pm
Sixth Form 6:00pm
Members of 6b and 6a are allowed to ask permission to go into town on a Saturday evening –this is called Supper Leave.
Members of 6a may take Supper Leaves on any Saturday subject to the Housemaster or Housemistress permission. Those who are under 18 may only consume alcohol if having a table meal in accordance with the Licencing law and if in the company of someone who is 18. 6a pupils going into town on Saturday evenings do not need to apply for a formal Supper Leave) but must still collect gate passes and sign in and out of house, as well as check in and out in person with the tutor on duty. They must return by 10:00pm at the latest.
Members of 6b may only take Supper Leaves on Saturdays and only from a point in the school year agreed between Housemasters and Housemistresses and the Senior Deputy Head. Alcohol can only be consumed if served at the meal and purchased by someone over 18 who is also at the same meal in accordance with the Licencing law. Pupils must contact the Assistant Head, Head of Boarding, to book a table at an approved restaurant.
Health,
The Health Centre
We have a comprehensive, friendly and expert service on hand around the clock. Further details are given below:
The Health Centre is located at:
Almonry House, Monastery Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1NW.
Contact details: Tel: 01227 595574 or email health@kings-school.co.uk
The Health Centre is a School Nurse led, 24-hour service (during term-time) with a multidisciplinary team comprising of paediatric and adult registered nurses, health care assistants/ housekeepers and an administrator. The Centre is equipped with two consulting rooms and four beds for inpatient care. School pupils have access to the wellness room, an oasis of calm equipped with sensory resources to promote emotional regulation and mental wellbeing.
The school has an agreement for the provision of GP services with the University Medical Practice (NHS) where all boarding pupils are registered as patients. Surgeries are held at the School’s Health Centre twice weekly, and further appointments can be accessed when needed outside of school surgery time.
The University Medical Centre is located at:
Giles Lane, Canterbury, Kent. CT2 7PB
School Medical Officer is Dr Emma Munn
Because boarding pupils are resident at their school address for more weeks of the year than they reside at their home address, they are required to be registered with the NHS practice where the school holds an agreement for the provision of primary care services. All new boarding pupils are required to undergo a routine health screening with the Health Centre nurses that assesses each pupil’s general health and well-being. This is undertaken during their first term at school. All boarding pupils will be seen as NHS patients.
The Health Centre
Canterbury Cathedral
St Augustine’s
If a specialist referral/treatment should be necessary, you will be contacted by the Health Centre team to ascertain your preference to the referral being NHS or privately funded. Please note the Health Centre is unable to process insurance authorisations on your behalf.
Emergency medical problems will usually be treated under the NHS as there are certain rules governing the treatment of children in private hospitals.
Health and Wellbeing
Pupils are invited to attend the Health Centre for emotional support, to discuss any health concerns, for individualised health education, support with understanding and managing their long-term condition, assessment and treatment of minor illness, referral to specialist services or treatment of injuries sustained whilst at school. Pupils have open access to the Health Centre directly or they may be referred by their Houseparent, Matron or another member of staff.
In addition to these services provided in the Health Centre, designated non-medical staff within the school are appointed and trained to provide first aid treatment to pupils in their care.
Parents are welcome to visit the Health Centre and can telephone to discuss any health concerns they may have about their son or daughter. Should a parent wish to contact the Doctor who has been treating their child, this can be arranged by the Nurse on duty in the Health Centre.
It should be noted that all pupils are treated in line with Fraser guidelines and that therefore, on occasions, medical confidentiality may be maintained.
When a pupil is admitted to the Health Centre for an overnight stay (boarders only) the parents or guardians will be informed. Please note that pupils with infectious illness including diarrhoea and vomiting MUST be sent home or to their guardian to recover from their illness. There is not the capacity to keep pupils in the Health Centre on an extended basis, extended meaning more than a 24-hour period.
Should a pupil need to be taken away from School until they have recovered from an illness, or if, for infection control reasons, it becomes necessary for the Health Centre to send pupils home to recover from their illness, then parents or guardians will be contacted directly by the nurse on duty or their Matron to arrange collection. Please note that pupils will need to be collected as they will not be sent home from School unaccompanied if they are unwell.
If there is a serious illness, or an emergency, parents will be contacted by the fastest means available. It is therefore essential that the school has up to date and accurate contact details at all times to assist us in this. All appointed guardians are made aware of their responsibilities in the case of illness.
Holiday Illness
Please do not send your son or daughter back to School after the holidays if they are unwell, as not only will they not recover any faster at School, but they will likely infect their peers. If you are in any doubt about them returning to School, please consult with their Houseparent before their return to School. The Health Centre team can give advice thereafter.
If, during the school holidays, your son or daughter is exposed to an infectious disease such as measles, chickenpox, rubella, mumps, whooping cough or scarlet fever; they may return to school when school begins, provided that they have been kept away from the source of infection and are not showing signs of the illness. If in doubt, please consult the University Medical Centre direct for advice.
If your son or daughter has been in the company of anyone who subsequently develops meningitis or any tropical disease such as Lassa fever or Ebola virus he or she should only return to school after consulting with the University Medical Centre. If a serious infectious illness breaks out at home shortly after your son or daughter has returned to School, we ask that you contact the Health Centre as a matter of urgency so that appropriate actions might be taken.
For all boarding pupils – if your son or daughter has been ill during the holidays please ensure that all the relevant information is forwarded to the Health Centre team and the GP in time for their return to school. This should include details of any illness, injury or surgical procedures. Please ensure that any doctor treating your son or daughter in the holidays has the contact details for the Health Centre and University Medical Centre to enable this to happen.
Day Pupils
If the pupil is too unwell to resume lessons the Health Centre or Matron will make the necessary arrangements for the pupil to be collected by a parent or guardian.
Medication
All medication administered to any pupil in School or under School care, is managed under the School’s Medication Policy.
While the School is sympathetic to the wishes of families who practice homeopathic medicine; such medicines cannot be administered by staff at the school. This is due to these products not having clear legal identification. It is recommended that parents or guardians who do not wish their child to receive conventional NHS treatment for illness, inform the Health Centre of their wishes and if their child becomes ill, it may be necessary to take them home for homeopathic treatment.
When pupils start or return to school, all medication (prescribed or otherwise) must be given to the House Matron who will dispense the medication as directed on the packaging. If the medication is not in English a translation must be provided, and the medication will be reviewed for authorisation by the University Medical Centre before it can be administered. If assessed as responsible and fit to do so, pupils who are over 16 years of age may be allowed to hold and administer their own medication (except for controlled drugs), but there are clear self-medication guidelines within the medication policy that must be followed, otherwise this privilege is withdrawn as a matter of safety.
Dental Care
Routine dental checks and treatments should be arranged during the school holidays by the parent or guardian. If a pupil requires urgent dental treatment during term time, this can be arranged by the Health Centre or the Matron. The pupil can be referred for assessment and treatment to one of the private dentists locally. Parents will be notified if this service is required, as there is a charge incurred for this provision.
Ophthalmic Care
Routine ophthalmic checks should be arranged during the school holidays by the parent or guardian. If a pupil requires urgent ophthalmic assessment during term time, this can be arranged by the Health Centre or the Matron. The pupil can be referred for assessment to a local optician. Parents will be notified if this service is required, as there may be a charge for glasses or lenses if indicated.
Vaccinations
It is preferred that all new pupils are compliant with the UK’s National Vaccine programme prior to starting school. This is for the protection of your child’s health and the health of the wider School community. Vaccinations are the most effective measure in preventing outbreaks of contagious disease which can be very disruptive to schooling. Your GP (practice nurse) or Physician will be able to advise you further. Information on the UK’s National Vaccine programme can be found by following the hyperlink https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ vaccinations/nhs-vaccinations-and-when-to-havethem/
When completing the School’s Health information form please ensure that accurate records of all previous vaccinations along with the relevant dates are entered, where possible.
If a Boarder at King’s receives any vaccination from any provider other than the School’s Health Centre, it is important that the Health Centre is informed in order that the vaccination is not repeated inappropriately, and medical records can be updated accordingly.
Boarding Pupils
The Health Centre will aim to keep all boarding pupils up to date with age-appropriate vaccinations following the UK’s National Childhood Immunisation Schedule.
• A booster dose of Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (DTP) vaccination is offered to all Boarders at the age of 13-14 years by the NHS Community Immunisation Team.
• Meningitis ACWY vaccine is offered to all Boarders at the age of 13-14 years by the NHS Community Immunisation Team
• Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination may be offered by the NHS Community Immunisation team if clinically indicated.
Day pupils
A booster dose of Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (DTP) vaccination is offered to all Day Pupils at the age of 13-14 years by the NHS Community Immunisation Team.
• Meningitis ACWY vaccination is offered to all Day Pupils at the age of 13-14 years by the NHS Community Immunisation Team.
• Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccination may be offered by the NHS Community Immunisation team if clinically indicated.
For all other vaccinations required the Day Pupils will need to access their own family GP practice.
Please note the BCG vaccination to protect against Tuberculosis is not currently being offered routinely in the UK.
Travel Health
Travel health advice is available for all pupils participating in school organised trips, in partnership with travel health clinics and the GP practice. A travel health risk assessment may need to be completed for more exotic trips where treatment may be needed for malaria protection or vaccination for rabies, hepatitis B, yellow fever (to name a few). Parents will be kept informed of the cost of any vaccines or treatments.
Day pupils will need to access their own GP practice for any travel vaccinations, unless they are registered with the University Medical Centre.
For each vaccination given, written consent is required by the parents or the legal guardian of pupils under the age of sixteen years. Information regarding the specific vaccine will accompany the consent form when it is forwarded to the parent or legal guardian. Pupils over the age of sixteen are legally covered to consent to their own treatment. Therefore, unless told otherwise, the Health Centre will not be seeking consent from the parents or legal guardian. Please highlight on your son or daughter’s Health Form if you wish to be contacted before vaccines are given when they are over sixteen years of age.
Vaccinations will not be given if the pupil does not give their consent and any failure to attend for their appointment will be recorded. Any pupil who has a genuine reason for non-attendance (e.g. illness or school trip) will be recalled later.
Any Sixth Form pupil planning to undertake medical training or any training/university course involving laboratory work is advised to have a
course of Hepatitis B vaccine. This is now an entry requirement for most institutes. This course of immunisation can take up to six months to complete, therefore, it is essential to inform the Health Centre of such plans at the end of the first year in the Sixth Form. Please note that Hepatitis B vaccinations required for ‘occupational reasons’ will need to be organised at an external travel/ immunisation clinic. These vaccinations are always chargeable. Some Medical Schools are also asking for proof of immunity to rubella; therefore, vaccination records are necessary.
Please contact the Health Centre if there are any queries regarding the administration of vaccinations. We will endeavour to provide each pupil with a full record of vaccinations received when the pupil leaves the school.
Wellbeing
Chaplaincy
From the earliest days of Canterbury Cathedral, a school has been part of its Benedictine monastic life. The Chaplaincy team at The King’s School Canterbury is built on St Benedict’s concern about meeting the needs of people living in a community environment: namely, to establish a sense of belonging and security, to foster an understanding of the relational nature of human beings, and to provide a spiritual rhythm of prayer and study to help develop each individual’s spiritual growth.
The Chaplaincy team provides a vital role in nurturing the spiritual development of all pupils; offering pastoral care that supports their emotional and mental wellbeing. By fostering a sense of community and belonging, the Chaplaincy helps pupils feel rooted and connected within the school environment. Through inclusive assemblies and services, and a range of teaching and discussion groups they celebrate diverse beliefs and encourage an openminded outlook, ensuring every pupil feels valued and respected. Our Chaplaincy is dedicated to creating a supportive atmosphere where pupils can grow, reflect, and thrive.
The Chaplaincy team includes two ordained Chaplains and a graduate assistant who work across the Junior and Senior Schools and are available for any pupils at the International College. Whilst clearly being in the Anglican tradition, respect for the beliefs of every individual, openness and inclusiveness are fundamental to the work of the Chaplaincy which supports pupils from all faiths and none. The Chaplaincy organises a Parents’ Prayer Group known as ‘Pause’ who meet regularly to pray for the needs of the school and of the world. If you would like to find out more about this, please get in touch via chaplaincy@kings-school.co.uk
Counselling
The Counselling & Psychotherapy Service offers a confidential setting within the school to talk about personal matters and difficult situations. The King’s School has for many years respected the need for this and makes counselling and psychotherapy available free of charge to all pupils. The school has a team of four very experienced and highly qualified counsellors and psychotherapists with a wide range of specialisms who are available term time, Monday to Saturday. Pupils can self-refer, or referrals might be made through any member of the pastoral team or by parents - counselling@kings-school.co.uk
Life Coach
Our school Life Coach is dedicated to supporting pupils in their personal and academic growth. They work closely with pupils to help them set and achieve goals, develop essential life skills, and navigate challenges both inside and outside the classroom.
Pastoral Care
Pastoral care is an essential part of the school’s ethos and is central to the success of the pupils in the school. It is very hard for pupils to thrive academically if they are unhappy in another aspect of their lives. Similarly, it is difficult for pupils to be happy if they are not able to cope academically. The two areas of school life are tightly woven together. A carefully integrated (and constantly revised) system of pastoral care provides a strong team of staff, each with specific responsibility for looking after the welfare of particular groups of pupils. The pastoral staff are able to look at the progress of the pupils in a broad sense, ensuring that any problems that arise are dealt with quickly and efficiently.
All pupils are members of a House. A pupil’s House is the centre of their school life. It is not only a physical base but also, ideally, a community small enough to accord to each of its members the regard and attention of a family. Housemasters and Housemistresses (HSMs) have primary responsibility for the care of those in their houses. King’s School pupils are organised into sixteen Houses. Of these, six are for boy boarders, seven for girl boarders and four are mixed Day Houses. There are key staff members in the House teams which include the Deputy HSMs and the Matrons/Pastoral Care Assistants (PCAs who are available in the houses throughout the day and pupils can access them as they need to. Pupils build strong and supportive relationships with all members of their House teams.
Pupils are also supported through the Tutor/ Mentor System, which has existed at King’s since 1886, but is constantly evolving. All academic staff are attached to a house and have a tutor/ mentor group, consisting of approximately twelve to fifteen pupils. The tutor/mentors meet their groups formally in twice a week and at other times informally, in the house or in various social contexts. Tutor/mentors are trained to use coach like language in the work with pupils in order to encourage every young person to achieve their best and to take every advantage of the many and varied opportunities available to them throughout their time at King’s. The tutor/mentor will get to know their tutee/mentees well and will encourage their wider interests and participation in co-curricular activities, and the cultural and sporting life of the school. The tutor/mentor will be in regular contact with parents of their tutee/ mentees.
In addition to the House-based pastoral system, the Head, the Senior Deputy Head, the Deputy Head (Pastoral), the Assistant Head (Boarding), the Head of Safeguarding and other members of the Senior Management Team (SMT), the Chaplains, the School Psychotherapists and Counsellors, the Head of Boarding, our Life Coach and the nurses at the Health Centre are available to all pupils, operating an ‘open door’ policy for all.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is the golden thread that weaves through every aspect of life at King’s. Safeguarding at King’s is not just the responsibility of the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), but rather safeguarding has a stake in every area of school life. To allow pupils to flourish pastorally, academically, and emotionally, every member of school staff has a responsibility to ensure children are protected from harm.
The school is not only compliant with local and national standards but also works hard to ensure the culture of safeguarding is constantly improving. As such, staff and pupils have platforms to report anything that may cause concern, and the safeguarding team follow up on these concerns sensitively and efficiently.
A member of the safeguarding team will always be available 24/7 in case of an emergency. Please also utilise the safeguarding@kings-school.co.uk to contact a member of the safeguarding team.
Safeguarding Team
Mr Illsley – Head of Safeguarding (DSL)
Miss Lee – Deputy Head, Pastoral (DDSL)
Mr Hunter – Deputy Head, Co-curricular (DDSL)
Mr Thornby – Assistant Head, Boarding (DDSL)
Sister Conlan – Health Centre Manager (DDSL)
Any concern, no matter how big or small, can be discussed with a member of the safeguarding team.
Independent Listeners
At King’s there are many different people available and willing to help with any worries or difficulties you may be experiencing such as:
• Struggling to cope with the academic workload, commitments, or adjusting to the busy life of King’s.
• Feeling homesick or missing family/friends
• Experiencing harassmanet, bullying or discrimination
• Experiencing a bereavement
Our independent listeners are friends to the whole school community and offer a supportive and independent ear for those who want to discusss and concerns or worries with. Our independent listeners are not members of school staff and can act as an advocate if you need it.
Lindsay Yates - ly@kings-school.co.uk
David Hamilton - dh@kings-school.co.uk
Purples
Purples are perhaps the most visible pupil leaders in the school - they have very obvious gowns, meet regularly with senior members of the school’s leadership team, and have particular privileges and duties.
Purple
• Heads of House (1 chosen for each house) these are chosen by the relevant Housemaster or Housemistress following extensive consultation with House staff and pupils. Usually a letter of application and an interview are required.
• School Monitors (a number of additional purples drawn from any house who are not Heads of House and therefore tend to have a particular area of whole-school responsibility e.g. cocurricular, charities, wellbeing, sustainability, admissions, chaplaincy)
• School Captains (a Head of School, a number of vice-captains and a Head Scholar who is drawn from those who are scholars or honorary scholars).
It is important to emphasize that the above positions are just one way in which pupil leadership takes place and is recognised at King’s. There are many other leadership roles - captains of sports teams, leaders of co-curricular clubs and societies, representatives on committees and councils, and monitors within houses.
Anonymous reporting for Pupils and Pupil Voice
At King’s we have a pupil platform to report anything concerning directly to Mr Illsley (Head of Safeguarding). By using their King’s email address, pupils can complete the Microsoft Form which remains confidential. This form allows pupils to report anything in real time and without necessarily speaking to a member of staff directly although a follow up from a member of staff is offered to the pupil after the form is submitted. Pupils can access the Microsoft Form by scanning the QR Code which is found in the back of the school calendar as well as on posters around the school. A link to the Microsoft Form is also found on the pupil intranet.
We have a King’s Council, chaired by the Captain of School, which meets 4 times a year to concentrate pupil voice from all areas of school
life. Every House year group has an elected representative who canvases the views of their constituents which feeds into a whole school meeting. The school communicates the actions taken as a result of these meetings in a ‘You said, we did’ document.
Pupils also meet Senior members of staff as part of a ‘House Forum’ system. Pupils will discuss all aspects of school and house life in small groups and are encouraged to be open and honest in their feedback.
The Head also meets informally with year groups over lunch throughout the year where pupils have the opportunity to discuss anything and everything.
Learning Enhancement
The Learning Enhancement Department is a warm and supportive place where additional learning support can be accessed. You can find the Department in The Hub, which provides teaching spaces of varying sizes and a small study library.
As well as the SENDCo and the EAL Co-ordinator, we have a team of skilled and experienced specialist teachers.
We work closely with our teaching staff, who are able to meet most needs in the classroom. We also offer small group work for those pupils who may need it, such as Metacognition or Maths skills. Some pupils may require some individual sessions, either in a mentoring capacity to support with organisation, for example, or perhaps some specialist dyslexia support. Our aim is for our pupils to become confident and independent learners.
We work closely with other teams in the school, such as Health, Pastoral and Counselling, providing support that goes above and beyond. Most pupils who come to the Hub may receive a half hour slot weekly, outside lesson time, for as long or as little as they need it.
Moving to a new school is always exciting but can be daunting; we try to help make sure that the transition is as smooth as possible, particularly for our neurodiverse pupils, some of whom may need additional reassurance and understanding.
Please feel free to contact Emma McCoubrieejm@kings-school.co.uk Head of Learning Enhancement and SENDCo, if you have any questions at all.
Diversity, Equality and Inclusion
We strongly value everybody at King’s feeling connected, engaged and that they belong – so that they are more likely to thrive with us and beyond. Each pupil and staff member is expected and supported to connect with care, to be open to multiple perspectives and to acknowledge any harm they may cause. We are committed to addressing any conduct that is prohibited by or under the Equality Act 2010, not least through our pursuit of the school’s equity objectives:
• parallel narratives are embedded for each subject
• our anti-discrimination framework is trusted
• protected characteristics ≠ negative outcomes
We employ a full time, dedicated DEI lead to provide proactive direction, co-ordination and support for developing, embedding and enriching our DEI strategy across the three school sites.
FREDIE (Fairness, Respect, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Engagement) is also vital to the impact and potency of this strategy. These pupil-led groups help to advocate, agitate, collaborate and educate for gender equity, LGBTQIA+, neurodiversity and race and culture across our school community.
The listening and learning the FREDIE groups open space for consistently enhance the DEI threads of school life –including within curriculum, pastoral care, whole school events and career trajectories – and, ultimately, how effectively and sustainably we ensure equity and inclusion for each pupil and member of staff at King’s.
Pupil views are regularly secured by the use of pupil surveys. We carry out three annual surveys on House and School life, Pupil attitudes and Pupil Wellbeing. Responses to these surveys are discussed at SMT and Governor level and shape House development plans.
The school council, known as the King’s Council, hears views from all areas of School life with every year group in every House having an elected representative. The Council meets four times a year to discuss pupil views.
In the House
House contacts
There are 17 houses at King’s which form the centrepiece of the School’s pastoral care, ethos and organisation. Key contacts for each house are listed below.
Bailey (Girls Boarding 16-18)
Bailey House, The Porters’ Lodge, King’s School (St. Augustine’s Abbey), Monastery Street, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1PB
Housemistress – Mrs Emma Bell erb@kings-school.co.uk 01227 595649
Matrons / Pastoral Care Assistants –bypca@kings-school.co.uk 01227 595603
Broughton (Girls Boarding 13-18)
Broughton House, Monastery St, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1PB
Housemistress – Dr Doreen McVeigh dmam@kings-school.co.uk 01227 595583
Matrons / Pastoral Care Assistants brpca@kings-school.co.uk 01227 595614
Carlyon (Mixed Day 13-18)
Carlyon House, The Precincts, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2ES
Housemaster – Mr Mark Smiley mjws@kings-school.co.uk 01227 595729
Matrons / Pastoral Care Assistants cypca@kings-school.co.uk 01227 595546
Galpin’s (Boys Boarding 13-18)
Galpin’s House, The Precincts, Canterbury, Kent CT1 2ES
Housemaster – Mr Robert Sanderson rps@kings-school.co.uk 01227 595539
Matrons / Pastoral Care Assistants –glpca@kings-school.co.uk 01227 595541
Harvey (Girls Boarding 13-18)
Harvey House, Monastery St, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1NN
Matrons / Pastoral Care Assistants –wlpca@kings-school.co.uk 01227 595791
School Map
Electronics
To comply with UK health and safety regulations, we will arrange for the electrical testing of items your child brings to school. For the safety of all, students may not use travel adapters, which pose a fire risk. Finally, hairdryers without a UK plug will not pass the electrical test, so we recommend that any student who wishes to use a hairdryer buy one on arrival in Canterbury. There is a shop very close to the school that sells most electrical items that a student may wish to buy, so these items can be bought locally and inexpensively. Wi-Fi is available in all buildings during the day and switches off at night-time. If you are concerned about your child’s use of electronic devices, please let us know.
Please only bring British standard or ‘CE’ marked electrical adapters for your devices.
Parents visiting the Houses
Families of current pupils will have increased access to certain areas of the school however, this does not grant them unrestricted access to all parts of the school. Due to the nature of the boarding and day houses, families are permitted to assist with the arrival and departure of their children. This may include helping them collect belongings from their rooms or communal spaces however family members are not permitted to spend prolonged periods of time in their child’s room. To ensure this important aspect of arrival and departure is safe for all attached to the respective houses, families must ensure they conduct themselves in a way which uphold the standards of the school in relation to their engagement with their own children, other pupils, and staff who may also live and work in the boarding/day house.
After the sign-in procedure has been completed, access to your child(ren)’s boarding/day house must be granted by a member of the house team (housemaster/mistress, deputy housemaster/ mistress, or matron/PCA). Families must ensure
the appropriate safeguards are implemented within the boarding/ day houses to ensure every member of the school community is safe. Families should employ due diligence in circumstances where they enter an area of the school in which other pupils may also be present (such as knocking on the door of a house room, and waiting for a response, before entering)
Other informal visits to the school will also occur throughout the academic year such as sporting fixtures at Birley’s sports pavilion, watching a performance in the Malthouse, or attending Cathedral services. Families are encouraged to employ the same safeguards in all areas of the school to ensure every member of the King’s community is safe and feels welcome.
Families are reminded that any engagement with other members of the school community (especially pupils) should be appropriate and age specific. If families witness any concerning behaviour, they should report this to a member of staff immediately.
Security around school
Staying safe in the city and around the Cathedral Precincts is discussed on day 1 as part of new pupil induction, in Houses and updates given, when necessary, through assemblies.
We use Life Matters lessons (PSHE), school and house assemblies and house/tutor discussions to promote awareness of safety amongst all age groups. These cover, for example, travelling on foot, using public transport and safeguarding mobile phones and other personal possessions.
This programme continues in higher years and is linked with our programmes on anti-bullying and the safe use of ICT, mobile phones and other electronic devices.
All pupils are expected to return to their boarding houses by p.m. for prep. The King’s security staff and the Cathedral Constables carry out regular patrols of the school 24 hours per day during term time.
From September 2025 the School will be using a new electronic system for monitoring pupil whereabouts during non-teaching times.
CCTV
The King’s School and Junior King’s School has installed an overt CCTV system providing general surveillance both internal and external. The purpose of this is to aid in the detection and prevention of crime and aid in safeguarding. The system is predominantly a HD networked system, linked to internal central monitoring facilities at the St Augustine’s Porters’ Lodge and the Security Ops Room.
Personal Property
The school does not insure or take responsibility for the personal property or possession of any member of staff, pupil or visitor. Individuals are responsible for arranging their own cover.
Pupils’ property and possessions are covered by the individual personal effects scheme policy (where parents have elected to affect such cover).
The claims process for this scheme involves the completion of a claim form in the presence of the House Master/Mistress: claim forms are held in the finance office.
Educational guardians
If you live abroad, it is essential that you arrange with a responsible adult in the UK to act as guardian. There are also organisations that will arrange a Guardian for you. Please refer to the Aegis website(www.aegisuk.net) for assistance if required. Do make sure that the House has all of the details. In addition, please bear in mind that guardians should be able to look after pupils at short notice in case of illness and emergency and should be able to assist when travel arrangements cannot fit with school requirements. They must therefore live within a reasonable distance of school and be readily available.
Our Guardianship Policy can be found, along with other key policies using the link below: Policies • The King’s School Canterbury
When arrangements change it is important that parents make the House and School aware of the nominated adult taking over Guardianship responsibilities. Examples include when UK parents or nominated Guardians travel abroad during term time or when Parents elect to change Guardians.
Useful information for Overseas parents
The school employs an Overseas Coordinator who will be in contact during the VISA application process. We have collated some useful information for international families in a booklet which can be found on the Parent Portal in the ‘Overseas Students & Parents section’. Also available using this link:
Useful Information for International Families
Complaints
Our Complaints procedures can be found along with other key policies using the link below:
Policies • The King’s School, Canterbury
Photography of pupils
In the Joining pack from our Admissions team, you will have been asked to give consent for the use of your child’s image in school publications.
