King’s School Rochester offers a truly remarkable educational experience rooted in over 1,400 years of history. Founded in 604 AD, King’s is the UK's second oldest school and the oldest Cathedral Choir School in the world. Pupils are educated amidst spectacular historic buildings that have entertained royalty, including Queen Elizabeth I, all set against the awe-inspiring backdrop of Rochester Cathedral and the Castle.
Our location provides a unique blend of old-world charm, with cobbled medieval streets right on our doorstep and exceptional modern connectivity. We are just a few minutes’ walk from the train station, offering high-speed rail links to London (just 30 minutes away) and the Kent coast. This means easy access to the capital or the beautiful rolling countryside and coastline of Kent. The School's campus is an oasis tucked away in the heart of historic Rochester.
Our vision is to inspire confident, resilient, and inquisitive young minds to fulfil their individual potential. High expectations, excellent teaching and a carefully designed curriculum ensure academic excellence, while our focus on character, competencies and curiosity prepares pupils for a fast-changing world. We believe academic success is most meaningful when pupils feel happy and motivated, a belief underpinned by our HEART values (Happiness, Endeavour, All-Roundedness, Respect and Teamwork). This supportive community is guided by our motto: “Work hard, play hard and look after each other,” ensuring an outstanding all-round education that empowers every pupil to become a confident, capable young person.
What Makes Us Unique
At King’s School Rochester, our future-focused curriculum prepares pupils for the careers of tomorrow and our extensive co-curricular opportunities are designed to bring out the best in all. This combination gives pupils the courage and confidence to be their best, fostering individuals in a community underpinned by kindness, strong moral values and emotional intelligence. Our philosophy ensures that pupils become creative, independent thinkers.
Our cutting-edge curriculum is award-winning for its AI integration, seamlessly combining STEAM subjects with the arts and the green curriculum. Central to this is the unique Futures Programme (ages 9–18), which places climate education and systems thinking at the heart of learning. Furthermore, the King’s Diploma (ages 11–13) develops intellectual curiosity through Enquiry Days linked to the UN Sustainability Goals, while our Sixth Form Electives Programme offers academic breadth from Beginners’ Russian to British Sign Language.
Beyond the classroom, a diverse co-curricular programme instils the five key traits of a King's pupil. Highlights include outdoor learning, a tri-contingent Combined Cadet Force (Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force) and the Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award. Renowned performing arts support West End-standard productions and a thriving music department, while exceptional clubs cater for every interest, from debating and coding to Cathedral bell-ringing and rowing.