Kent College takes pride in its traditions while looking innovatively to the future. Located in the University city of Canterbury, it is one of the few schools in England to boast its own working farm.
As a selective boarding school, not every applicant is accepted — which makes us all the more delighted that every pupil we’ve supported and prepared in recent years has successfully gained a place.
Founded in 1885 as a Christian Methodist private school, Kent College has since become one of England’s leading IB boarding schools, excelling academically, in sport and the arts.
From its red-brick walls you look out over Canterbury and a lush green landscape that awes and impresses. The school also has a reputation for being particularly friendly.
Few boarding schools care for the soul and personal development of their pupils as sincerely as Kent College does. Patience and passion here are not just values — they are lived out daily.
Akademis makes history – A Triple Award-Winning Consultancy (2023, 2024 & 2025) 🏆
Akademis has been recognised three years in a row by StudyTravel for excellence in the education sector:
2025 & 2024: Winners of the StudyTravel Secondary School Award (Best Western European Agency)
2023: Winner of the StudyTravel Star Award
(Best Western European Agency)
The StudyTravel Awards are among the most prestigious honours in international education, recognising outstanding quality, client focus and trusted partnerships. Being the first consultancy ever to win for three consecutive years is something we are deeply proud of. For us, these awards highlight our commitment to offering the very best guidance, personal service and long-term support for families embarking on this exciting journey.
Quick Overview
Number of students: 550
Boarding students: 40%
International students: 30%
Average class size in the Senior School: 11
Boarding fees for Senior School per term: £17,798
Main sports offered in addition to traditional team sports: athletics, sailing, horse riding, hockey, rugby, tennis, rowing, badminton, cricket, squash
Nearest airports: Gatwick (approx. 1 hour by car)
https://kentcollege.com/
Key Strengths at a Glance
Very friendly and down-to-earth school
Offers both IB and A-Levels
Own school farm
Family-oriented and supportive environment
Kent College Canterbury – Photo Highlights
Kent College Canterbury in Detail
Community
Every pupil thrives in the warm and supportive community, thanks in no small part to the expertise and dedication of the staff. Their aim is for every pupil to achieve their full academic potential — something exemplified by the six dedicated language teachers and an enviable 100% pass rate in exams. The five newly renovated boarding houses foster a harmonious living environment. Weekends are filled with activities such as badminton, cooking, horse riding, and excursions to places like Windsor Castle, go-karting, ice skating or shopping in Greenwich — boredom is not on the agenda!
Arts and Enrichment
One distinctive feature we love is the school’s own, well-developed, working farm covering over 20 hectares of pasture, home to a variety of cows, pigs, and chickens cared for by the pupils. The farm also houses a riding school. Kent College also has superbly equipped art studios, offering everything from crafts to photography. In addition to music, drama, robotics and debating, pupils can get involved in charitable or environmental projects, or even set up their own student-run businesses.
Academic
Academic performance at Kent College is excellent! Pupils in the Sixth Form can choose between A-levels, Cambridge Technicals, and the IB Diploma. The average IB score is an impressive 38.5 points (equivalent to a German grade of 1.6). Timetables are tailored individually, enabling pupils to choose almost any combination of subjects, making the academic programme uniquely suited to each student. We also admire how Kent College brings learning to life: for example, biology classes often include trips out into nature.
Sport
Kent College also shines in sport. In just four years, the school has won five national hockey titles! There is also a new dance department. The extensive facilities include a sports hall, fitness suite, squash courts, astro turf for hockey and tennis, pitches for football, rugby and cricket — and of course, a heated outdoor pool. Pupils can also try their hand at volleyball, basketball, badminton, strength and conditioning, and trampolining.
Kent College Fees
The fees at Kent College are £17,798 per term, or £53,395 per school year.
The one-time registration fee is £100.
Our Visit
Kent College is bursting with life. The compact campus, with its red-brick buildings and modern boarding houses, immediately invites you to become part of its extraordinary community.
During our tour, pupils told us the cafeteria is famous for its delicious cakes — and that every pupil at Kent College has their own favourite. But it isn’t just cake that strengthens this vibrant community — the dedicated teachers play a huge part too. You can truly feel their passion for helping each pupil surpass themselves, both in class and in daily life. Of course, we couldn’t leave without visiting the beautiful city of Canterbury itself, with its charming centre just a few minutes from the campus.
Photos From Our Visit
What our clients say about us
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Conclusion: Kent College Canterbury
Kent College is a close-knit IB boarding school that dedicates time and care to each pupil individually.
That said, it is far from the only school in the UK offering outstanding academic opportunities.
We encourage you to explore further English boarding schools with us. Thanks to our longstanding relationships with these schools, we understand their unique qualities and can offer you authentic, first-hand insights.
We’re confident we can find the right boarding school for your child together.
You can find an overview on our Boarding Schools in England page.
Benefit from:
- authentic, first-hand insights
- our strong relationships with admissions offices
- many years of placement experience
- help with visa questions
What Makes Akademis Stand Out?
- We remain your trusted contact throughout your child’s stay, well beyond the placement process.
- We provide support with guardianship, visa applications and recognition of qualifications within the German school system.
- We offer fully tailored advice. Our school recommendations are unique to each child and can run to 40 pages in length.
- Families receive our 30+ page boarding school guide, packed with practical tips and insights.
- We prepare your child thoroughly for entrance exams and interviews to maximise their chances of success.
- We arrange school visits, ensuring you have the opportunity to experience each school first-hand.
Every boarding school has its own character and ethos. Having personally visited more than 100 schools, we understand these nuances. We also work with schools that do not pay commission, ensuring that our advice remains independent and always in the best interest of your child.
Our roots lie in the UK. For years, we have placed 200–300 families annually into British boarding schools. While our portfolio now includes schools beyond Britain, the UK remains at the heart of what we do.
Our tailored approach results in exceptional acceptance rates. For example, in 2022/23, all seven students we placed at the highly selective Malvern College received offers – a 100% success rate.
We arrange for prospective families to speak with our current students to hear first-hand accounts of life at a UK boarding school.
