The King's School, Canterbury

Establishment The school started as an Abbey, said to have been founded during late antiquity in AD 597, when Augustine of Canterbury was sent by Pope Gregory the Great in the Gregorian Mission to re-establish Christianity in Britain. This led to the creation of two monastic institutions which the school traces its history to: • St. Augustine’s Abbey: Originally founded as the monastery of SS. Peter and Paul in AD 597, it was built outside city walls as to be close to St Martin's Church, where the queen, Bertha of Kent, worshipped. It educated men and clergy to spread Christianity, and became a centre of learning in England. • Christ Church Priory: Known now as Canterbury Cathedral, it was founded as a cathedral in AD 597, but only became a Benedictine priory in AD 998, which was later re-founded into The King's School in the 16th Century. The school still uses monastic buildings such as the old brewery and bakehouse as part of the Priory Block. It also operates in the grounds of Canterbury Cathedral and St. Augustine’s Abbey. In the school's memorial chapel, the stained glass windows show Aldhelm, who was educated at St Augustine's Abbey, now a part of the school grounds. 16th century to present day File:Green Court Gate, Canterbury Cathedral.jpg|Green Court Gate (c.1160) with the former almonry building on the left File: William Harvey, General view of King's School Canterbury. Wellcome M0016089.jpg| Map of The King's School (c.1960) During the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the school was re-founded by Royal Charter in 1541. A Headmaster, a Lower Master, and fifty King's Scholars were established and the name "King's School" was used for the first time, referring to King Henry VIII. Cardinal Pole moved the school to the Mint Yard and acquired the Almonry building, which was in use for over 300 years. Throughout the next 100 years, several former pupils achieved national recognition helping the school establish its reputation; these include the first headmaster, John Twyne, and Christopher Marlowe, William Harvey and John Tradescant the Younger. Under the leadership of John Mitchinson, the buildings and academic standards were improved. Around this time the school became a "public school" with a national reputation. ==Coat of Arms==

The King's School's coat of arms is based on that of the Chapter of Canterbury Cathedral. It features a blue field with a white cross bearing the letters I and X (Iota, Chi). It is often interpreted as a christogram composed of the first letters for the Greek words Jesus (Iesous) and Christ (Christos). According to Thomas Willement however, it is instead an abbreviation of 'Christi' as the lower case iota is used in certain versions of the arms. It was first documented by the College of Arms in 1619 during a visit to Kent under the heading "Canterbury: Dean & Chapter". The school probably adopted the arms during the 1840s. The blazon is as follows: Azure, on a cross argent the letters I and X in pale sable. ==Academic results==

In 2019, 54% of pupils scored A*-A for their A-Levels examination, and in 2022, 72% scored A*-A for their GCSEs. ==Houses==

There are 17 houses at King's, 13 boarding and 4 day. Most are named after past headmasters or people of interest in the school's history, with the exception of School House, The Grange, Carlyon and New House. The houses are listed below with founding dates: Boarding Houses (boys) • School House - 1860 • The Grange - 1928: Moved to a new building in 2007 • Meister Omers -1936: The building dates to the 15th century, built as a cathedral guest house • Galpin's - 1952: Named after The Reverend Arthur Galpin, Headmaster from 1897 to 1910 • Linacre - 1953: Named after Thomas Linacre, founder of the Royal College of Physicians • Tradescant - 1976: Named after John Tradescant (KS 1619–23), the distinguished gardener and collector Boarding Houses (girls) • Walpole - 1935: Named after the novelist Sir Hugh Walpole (KS 1896–98) • Luxmoore - 1945: Named after Sir Arthur Fairfax Coryndon Luxmoore (KS 1889–93), Lord Justice of Appeal • Broughton - 1976: Named after William Broughton (KS 1797–1804), the first Bishop of Australia • Jervis - 1992: Named after Douglas Jervis OKS • Harvey - 1996: Named after William Harvey physician, who first determined the systemic circulation of the blood (KS 1588–92) • Bailey - 1990: (sixth form girls boarding) Named after Henry Bailey, second warden of St Augustine's College between 1850 and 1875 and an honorary Canon of the Cathedral • Kingsdown - 2015: Named after Lady Kingsdown, Governor Emerita Day Houses (mixed) • Marlowe - 1936: Named after the poet and dramatist Christopher Marlowe (KS 1579–81) • Mitchinson's - 1982: Named after John Mitchinson, Headmaster 1859–73 and co-founder of the Headmasters' Conference • Carlyon - 2005: Named after evacuation of the School to Carlyon Bay in Cornwall during the Second World War • New House - 2025: The building dates to the 16th century, originally serving as a dining hall to the (now ruined) cathedral infirmary. ==Facilities==

buildings, especially the brewery and bakehouse. It was taken over by the King's School in 1936. • The Beerling Hall: Music and Drama Facility, part of the 13th-century friary, endowed by the late Donald Beerling and the Cantiacorum Trust • Birleys Playing Fields: The School's sports grounds, located near the main site. A new pavilion was opened by David Gower on 17 September 2005 • Blackfriars: The Cleary Foundation donated the refectory of the 13th-century friary by the Marlowe Theatre as an art school and gallery. • DT Centre: Design Technology & Engineering • Edred Wright Music School: Music • Field Classrooms: English and Mathematics • Grange Classrooms: Mathematics, Religious Studies • Harvey Science Block or Parry Hall: Biology, Chemistry • J Block: Geography • Lardergate: History and OKS Foundation • Lattergate: Religious Studies and Headmaster's office • The Malthouse: Victorian malthouse building now converted into a theatre, dance studio, dining hall, classrooms and rehearsal spaces • Maugham Library: Named in honour of dramatist W. Somerset Maugham (OKS), whose ashes were scattered on the lawn nearby. • Maurice Milner Memorial Hall: Fencing, Drama and Examination Hall • Mint Yard Classrooms: Mathematics, ICT • The Grange Yard Classrooms: three new classrooms built in 2017 in front of Shirley Hall. They are temporary buildings situated in a previously open space. • The Old Synagogue at Canterbury: Music, Jewish Prayers. Built as a synagogue in 1847–8 by architect Hezekiah Marshall, the "Old Synagogue" is used as a recital hall by the music department and also used to host "Jewish Society". It is considered one of the finest buildings of the 19th century Egyptian Revival style. • Palace Block: a medieval building containing the Modern Languages Department • Physics Block: Physics, Geology • Pottery Room: Pottery • Priory Block: Classics, English, Politics, Economics • The Pupils' Social Centre: under Shirley Hall with a tuckshop, cafe, stationery Shop and Careers Centre • The Recreation Centre: Gym, Hockey Pitches, Swimming Pool, etc. It is open to the general public on a membership basis. • The School Library: contains over 25,000 volumes and offers access to the School Intranet • Shirley Hall: School Assemblies and Examination Hall; formerly known as the Great Hall, renamed after the former headmaster, Fred Shirley • St Mary's Hall: Drama, Theatre Studies • The Westbere Lakes: Sailing and Rowing St Augustine's The school also owns the grounds of the former St Augustine's College, a missionary college located within the precincts of St Augustine's Abbey. The college buildings were built in 1848 by William Butterfield, while the two gates, Fyndon's Gate and the Cemetery Gate, both date to the 14th century and were built in an English Decorated Gothic style. Acquired by the school in 1992, it now uses the site for boarding houses, a library, and 2 chapels. The Norman Staircase The school's Norman staircase is one of the most painted, photographed and admired sites in the Precincts. It dates back to the 12th century, once providing entrance to a former guest hall for pilgrims (Aula Nova). For formal occasions, the School traditionally gathered here. Archbishops of Canterbury addressed the School from the Staircase during Visitations. King George VI, accompanied by Queen Elizabeth and Princess Elizabeth, presented the School's Royal Charter to the Dean on 11 July 1946. ==Traditions==

King's has many traditions including: • Purples: Until recently called "monitors", these are the school prefects, who are marked out by their distinctive purple gowns. Only those in the highest year at the school may be a purple. Each house generally has one purple (the Head of House). The purples are headed by the Captain of School and a Vice-Captain. A head scholar and two Vice-head scholars are also invited to become Purples. • Full Canterbury Dress: The name given to the school uniform, which consists of a white shirt with wing collar, black waistcoat, pinstripe trousers, black jacket, black socks, black tie and black shoes for the boys. Girls wear a white blouse, brooch, pinstripe skirt or trousers, black jacket, black tights and black shoes. When he came to the School, Fred Shirley, Headmaster (1935–1962), updated the school uniform to sports jackets but within a year, the boys had asked to revert to their traditional garb. He tried again after the War when the School returned to Canterbury, this time taking a vote on the matter but despite the difficulty in finding outmoded clothing in a time of clothes rationing, the boys once again decided to revert to tradition. In the mid-twentieth century, there were elaborate customs relating to such matters as buttons and the angle at which a boater was worn. The girls' version was introduced by Anthony Phillips, Headmaster. • '''King's Scholars:''' An academically-select group, they process wearing surplices during school services in the Cathedral. To become a scholar, a pupil must take the Scholarship examinations at a standard approaching GCSEs prior to entry at the age of 12 to 14 (Exhibitioners may also be elected) or, in the case of honorary scholars, achieve exceptional GCSE results (9 A*s is usually the minimum) or AS Level results. King's Scholars are part of the Canterbury Cathedral Foundation. Scholars are admitted by the dean at the beginning of every school term; the scholars kneeling before the dean, who then touches their head and utters "Admitto Te", formally acknowledging them as a King's Scholar. King's Scholars in the Upper Sixth are permitted to wear a black gown. • Year level naming: Year 9 / 3rd form is known as the "Shell" year, while year 10 / 4th form is known as the "Remove". The "Shell" name originates from Westminster School, where students were taught in an apse like alcove in the School Hall that resembled the look of a shell, hence its name. The "Remove" name originates from the year where students would spend an additional year preparing for examinations. ==King's Week==

A festival of arts, held during the last week of the summer term, was introduced by Fred Shirley in 1952. The week has featured over 100 events, ranging from classical concerts to theatre performances, held in locations around Canterbury. Events have been free to attend and required no booking and a number were broadcast live. The week culminated with Commemoration Day (known as "Commem") on the last day of the school year. On this day, the school leavers in 6a wore court dress of white tie and tails, with breeches and black stockings, or their national dress. The whole school attended a service to commemorate the school benefactors; such benefactors include Mathew Parker, the first Archbishop of Canterbury under Elizabeth I. ==Office of Fair Trading investigation==

In 2005, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) provisionally found that the school exchanged detailed information about prospective fee increases with approximately 50 other prominent UK independent schools, including Eton and Sevenoaks. The OFT stated that "regular and systematic exchange of confidential information as to intended fee increases was anti-competitive and resulted in parents being charged higher fees than would otherwise have been the case." ==Staffing==

Peter Roberts retired as Headmaster at the close of the Summer Term on Thursday, 7 July 2022. Elizabeth Worthington, Senior Deputy Head, was the interim head until September 2023, when Jude Lowson became the first female Head in the history of the School. ==Notable headmasters==

• 1525–1560: John Twyne • 1935–1962: Fred Shirley • 1975–1986: Peter Pilkington, later Lord Pilkington of Oxenford ==Notable alumni==

==The Junior King's School, Canterbury==

The King's School has a feeder preparatory school, the Junior King's School (JKS), previously Milner Court Preparatory School. The school is a coeducational boarding and day establishment and currently has around 400 pupils aged 3 to 13. Whilst there are boarding facilities available, the majority are day pupils. JKS is now located at Milner Court in Sturry, having been originally based in the crypt of Canterbury Cathedral. The current site was donated by Lady Milner following the death of Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner in 1925. The buildings on site were opened by Rudyard Kipling in 1929, in his capacity as a close friend of Alfred Milner. Wilfrid Oldaker was headmaster from 1945 to 1956 and was the last head to occupy the manor house as the headmaster's residence. Further extensions include a sports hall (1999), a CDT block (1991) and a new music department (2016). ==See also==