Location and transport
The school’s location overlooking the beautiful cathedral city of Canterbury mean that boarders at Kent College have the best of both worlds – a healthy, safe environment close to beautiful countryside, and to the city’s
excellent facilities. Canterbury is also within easy access of Gatwick, Heathrow, London City and Stansted airports, the Channel Tunnel and Dover ferry, and has frequent high-speed trains to London. For more information
about our location and transport click here.
We strongly encourage all prospective boarding pupils and their parents to come and visit us to meet our welcoming boarding staff, and see the houses for themselves. To arrange a visit call +44 (0)1227 763231 or click
here.
Welcome from the Head of Boarding
“The purpose of education is transformation and there is no doubt that those who board at Kent College are changed by the experience. Communal living is enriching, rewarding and exciting. Pupils learn to live with one another, they learn from one another, and they learn about themselves. They flourish in a supportive environment that is akin to being a member of a large, diverse and happy family. As well as making academic progress, boarders develop social and emotional skills, and become self-sufficient and resilient. By the time they leave us, boarders have developed the confidence and independence to successfully navigate the next stage of their lives. They go on to learn and achieve elsewhere, but they are always guided by what boarding has taught them”
Head of Boarding, Mr Dan Bennett
Questions? Please contact the Head of Boarding, or take a look at the KC Boarding Pupils’ Handbook
here or book a visit.
Book a Visit
Boarding Principles
Boarding options
Our Boarding Houses
Boarders’ Activities and Trips
Boarders’ FAQs
Boarding Handbook
We adhere to all the values of KC
Our principles are rooted in respect for yourself and those around you.
Act justly in our community and take care of each other. We are open to each other, and we develop a curiosity to be lifelong learners.
Although living together, staff and boarders acknowledge the right of each other to privacy and expect kindness to all.
Each boarder has the right to extend his or her intellectual growth in an atmosphere of positive ambition and in conditions that are conducive to learning.
All boarders will build their resilience to develop physically, spiritually, intellectually, morally and socially and will leave school with humility.
We share in the aims of Kent College to:
- Be a caring Christian family community committed to the development of the full potential of each individual:
- Maintain high educational standards in all academic, cultural and sporting activities, stimulating high excitement in learning and requiring discipline in study whatever the ability of the child;
- Work with and in the communities it serves;
- Worship as Christians in the Methodist tradition and uphold Christian values in practice as well as in theory, whilst welcoming members of other faiths (and none) in a spirit of openness and tolerance; and to make religious education a strong feature of the curriculum;
- Encourage pupils in a critical examination of the standards and values current in society and to discover and develop a personal faith to guide them throughout their lives.
“I really like boarding because it’s like having a new family and new amazing friends who are always supportive and motivating.”
Full boarding: Most of our boarding pupils are full boarders – they stay at school throughout the term and are able to take full advantage of the wide range of sport, trips and activities
on offer at the weekends.
Weekly boarding: this option allows students to enjoy the stimulus and structure of boarding life during the week while being at home with family at weekends – although there is so much
going on at school during the weekends, including the boarding activities programme, that many weekly boarders often choose to stay for weekends too.
Occasional boarding (subject to availability): this option is useful if parents need to be away for short periods. Please contact
enquiries@kentcollege.co.uk for more information about occasional boarding. The occasional boarding parental consent form can be found
here.
Information about fees for all boarding options is available on our Fees page here.
“Boarding has allowed me to expand my qualities as a person; I am now more independent, I have more friendships and I have been given a confidence boost.”
There are five boarding houses at Kent College Senior School, three boys’ houses and two girls’ houses. All of the boarding houses have House Parents who live in, and who are responsible for the
welfare of the pupils in their house. The House Parents are assisted by Assistant House parents, House Managers and Resident Tutors, and between them they ensure the care of our boarders 24 hours
a day, seven days a week.
Younger pupils may be accommodated in rooms of up to four, while students in Years 12 and 13 are allocated a study bedroom of their own wherever possible. In each boarding house there are common
room facilities for all pupils which include Sky TV, Wifi, kitchen and dining areas and games areas. Each house has its own character and style but all have similar rules and values.
Click below to see information about each of our Houses
Throughout the week and at weekends there is a wide range of activities and trips available to all boarders. These include school sports training and fixtures, music and drama rehearsals and
performances, opportunities for volunteering, trips to the theatre or sporting events, and shopping expeditions. Canterbury has many attractions and boarders are allowed to visit the city centre at
the weekend at the discretion of their House Parents, although junior boarders are always supervised.
Example weekly activities – Badminton; Basketball; Conservation; Cooking (Yr 12 & 13); Dance; DoE Bronze, Silver, Gold; Equine (horse care and riding); Five-a-side Football; Gym (over 16 years);
Martial Arts; Pilates/Aerobics; Swimming; Tennis; Volleyball ; Yoga; Young Enterprise (Yr 12); Young Farmers’ Club.
Example weekend trips – Dreamland, Margate; Paintballing; New Scientist Live; Thorpe Park; Pink Floyd Exhibition: V&A Museum; Royal Albert Hall Classical Concert; Ice Skating & Tower of London;
Science Live: Victoria Theatre, London; Westfield Shopping Centre; Brooklands Motor Racing & Concorde; Football: Charlton Athletic; Chinese New Year Meal: Café De China; Windsor Castle & Park;
Go-Karting; Greenwich Shopping; Howletts Wildlife Park; Trampolining & Ice Skating.
What is the daily routine?
Details of the daily routine for boarders during the week and at weekends can be found here and in the
Boarding Pupils’ Handbook.
Is there school on Saturday?
There are no formal lessons on Saturday, but there are usually sports fixtures and team practice in the morning as well as catch up sessions and other activities.
What else happens at weekends?
There is a full programme of boarders’ activities at weekends.
Are pupils allowed out after school?
Boarding pupils are allowed into town at the discretion of their House Parents and after a suitable induction. They are generally allowed to go into Canterbury on Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Details can be found in the Boarding Pupils’ Handbook.
Can my child put posters on their walls?
Yes this is permitted in the boarding houses.
Special diets?
Our Head Chef caters for special diets such as gluten-free, or lactose-intolerant and works closely with the staff in the school’s medical centre to ensure that pupils with specific needs are well
looked after. If you have any questions about dietary requirements at the School, please contact our Head Chef Neil Wiggins at
headchef@kentcollege.co.uk
What are the laundry arrangements?
Laundry is done for the boarders. Pupils put their washing into the laundry bins on the allocated day. All pupils are responsible for their own ironing (all age groups).
How many others will my child share a room with?
Most rooms in boarding are doubles, while the younger years share rooms in groups of 2 to 5 depending on their year group and boarding house. There are a number of single rooms available for Sixth
form students. Most rooms have ensuite bathroom facilities while others share larger bathroom facilities.
When do boarders do their homework?
For Years 7-9, homework (prep) is done in Study Hall at the end of the school day – this is supervised by a member of staff. Older students work more independently in their boarding houses during
quiet times before and after supper.
What happens when a boarder is ill?
The school has a fully equipped Medical Centre which is staffed by medically trained nurses 24 hours a day during term time. Click
here for more information.
Is there someone in the boarding house during the day?
Yes, the House Manager is on duty during the day, so there is always someone in the house to help if a boarder has a problem.
How far is the nearest airport?
Gatwick Airport is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes, Heathrow Airport approximately 1 hour 40 minutes and Stansted approximately 1 hour 30 minutes by car/taxi.
Can the school arrange airport transfers?
Airport transfers are arranged by parents or the pupil’s guardian. Boarding pupils under 16 must be collected from the school by a guardian, parent or other named adult.
Our Boarding Handbook contains lots of useful information regarding boarding at Kent College. Click here to download our handbook
Arrange a visit
If you would like to come visit us and meet our friendly staff and pupils click below.
We look forward to seeing you.