If you’re looking for an outstanding music and drama offering, St Edmund’s School Canterbury is just the place. In this warm and positive community, every student can truly flourish.
Founded in 1749, St Edmund’s is set in the idyllic historic city of Canterbury, about an hour from London in the county of Kent – “The garden of England”.
With around 560 pupils, it’s a picturesque school with a predominantly British student body. In its nurturing environment, young people grow into responsible, confident young adults.
We were particularly impressed by the creative arts here. The music department is superb, but St Edmund’s doesn’t just foster creativity — it also instils values like innovation, determination, and independence. Personal development and academic learning go hand in hand, because only happy, relaxed pupils can really thrive.
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: 560
Boarding Students: 105
International Students: 8%
Qualifications: GCSEs and A-Levels
Boarding Fees for Sixth Form per Term: £18,048
Key Sports Offerings (in addition to traditional team sports):
Boys: Hockey, football, cricket, basketball, golf
Girls: Athletics, badminton, netball, tennis, golf
Nearest Airports: Gatwick – 1.2 hours, Heathrow – 1.5 hours
https://www.stedmunds.org.uk/
Key Strengths at a Glance
Focus on music
450-seat theatre
Emphasis on personal development
Beautiful location in the cathedral city
St Edmund’s School Canterbury – Photo Highlights
St Edmund’s School Canterbury in Detail
Music and Drama
St Edmund’s is nationally renowned for its artistic focus. The school has even trained choristers for the Canterbury Cathedral Choir, and no fewer than 20 students have gone on to become professional musicians — an impressive achievement. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an accomplished performer, every pupil can blossom here. Drama enthusiasts are also in their element, with countless opportunities to take to the stage. The Francis Musgrave Performing Arts Centre houses a 450-seat theatre, a recording studio, rehearsal rooms, and a concert hall. Since 2017, the school has proudly hosted the annual public Festival on the Hill to celebrate its talented young artists. Music lovers will feel completely at home here.
Facilities
Pupils benefit from a unique setting in the beautiful university city of Canterbury. The main building of the historic campus houses classrooms, the dining hall, library, and rooms for art, design technology, and science. Because all students live together in the main building, the sense of community at St Edmund’s is particularly strong. The stunning exterior of the school left a lasting impression on us during our visit.
Academic
Academically, the school offers a broad range of subjects, from politics, history, and art to drama and several languages, including French, Spanish, and Latin. A distinctive feature is the Curiosity Shop, where external speakers share their career journeys and inspire pupils to broaden their horizons, discover what matters for their future, and seize opportunities. Another special feature is the Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education course, which focuses on social life and moral issues — equipping pupils for the wider world.
Sport and Co-curricular
We were also impressed by the sports offering at St Edmund’s. Students have access to a sports hall, fitness suite, football pitch, golf practice area, tennis courts, shooting ranges, and a swimming pool. Hockey and football are particularly strong here, with good connections to Chelsea Football Club and the Canterbury Hockey Club. The school also takes pride in discovering athletic potential, with many pupils competing in local and national competitions. The wide-ranging activities programme includes horse riding, chess, volunteering, outdoor pursuits, dance, and debating. New clubs are regularly founded at students’ request — something we find very commendable!
Photos From Our Visit
Our Visit
Even the drive to the school was impressive. We passed through the beautiful city of Canterbury, and after a few minutes the majestic school building appeared on the horizon, framed by its expansive lawns and historic chapel — truly unmistakable. Our friend, the Headmaster Mr Edward O’Connor, proudly spoke to us in an interview about the school’s ethos and strengths.
Musical Excellence at St Edmund’s
This is Edmund’s
Fees Edmund’s School
The fees at St Edmund’s School are £18,048 per term, or £54,144 per school year.
What our clients say about us
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Conclusion: Edmund’s School Canterbury
St Edmund’s is a strong artistic and musical boarding school set in stunning surroundings.
That said, it is far from the only boarding school in the UK with excellent musical opportunities. We encourage you to explore other English boarding schools as well. Please feel free to contact us for a free consultation. Thanks to our years of close contact with schools, we know their unique characteristics and can offer authentic, personalised advice.
We’re confident we can help you find the right boarding school for your child.
On our “Boarding Schools in England” page, you’ll find an overview of options.
Take advantage of:
- An exclusive interview with the Headmaster, Mr O’Connor
- Scholarships — some of our students have secured music scholarships here
- In-depth insights into daily school and boarding life
- Support with visa applications and interview preparation
- Our excellent relationships with the Admissions Office
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.
