Kent College Pembury is a leading day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 to 18. The Prep School accepts boys up to Year 2 (2023) and each subsequent year until the Prep School is fully coeducational by 2027. The Senior School is girls only 11 to 18.
Kent College is forward-thinking school with high academic standards and a flexible and personalised approach for each pupil. At GCSE, pupils achieve, on average, one grade higher than predicted which puts the school in the top 7% in the UK for ‘Value Added’.
The recent ISI inspection awarded Kent College the highest possible grading of 'Excellent' in Academic Achievement and Personal Development, as well as being fully compliant. The report showed that “pupils achieve high levels of knowledge, skills and understanding across all areas of the curriculum” and that “pupils are highly confident and are well prepared for the next stage of their lives”.
Set in 75 acres of beautiful countryside, Kent College has excellent facilities which ensure it provides outstanding opportunities for pupils so they can approach life and learning with creativity and adventure.
The boarding community is an integral part of the school and boarders take part in a wide range of activities, sports, and trips to ensure their time at Kent College is maximised and they are equipped with the necessary skills to excel in their lives beyond school.
The school is accredited by HMC, GSA, BSA and IAPS.
Ethos and Aims. The Prep School (ages 3–11) and the Senior School (ages 11–18) are part of the Methodist Independent Schools Trust, whose schools have an ethos of being caring, Christian environments, and welcome pupils from all faiths or none. The Methodist value of ‘doing all the good you can,’ sits at the very heart of Kent College and ensures every pupil can be the absolute best they can be, not only for themselves but for the community and the world around them.
Location and Facilities. The Prep School and the Senior School share the site which is set in 75 acres of beautiful green countryside in Pembury, three miles from Royal Tunbridge Wells. It is just 35 minutes to London by train and within easy reach of Heathrow and Gatwick airports, channel ports and the Channel Tunnel. The school campus comprises the original Victorian manor house and purpose-built facilities that include a Music Centre, Sixth Form Centre, Science block, a 200-seat theatre, Dance studio and on-site outdoor confidence course. The Susanna Wesley Arts and Library Centre provides an open-plan library space, computer rooms and bright and spacious Art studios. For sport, the school has two large sports halls, an all-weather Astro pitch, fitness suite, netball and tennis courts and a brand new, indoor 25m swimming pool.
The junior boarding house, Hawkwell and Hargreaves, is home to all boarders from Year 4 to Year 9 while the senior boarding house, James and Osborn, is for boarders in Year 10 to Upper Sixth. Boarders come from across the world with many from countries including Hong Kong, China, Spain, Singapore, Thailand, South Africa as well as the UK. Flexi-boarding is a popular option for local day pupils.
The Prep School is based in its own modern, purpose-built building with art rooms, language laboratories, computer rooms and library inside and spacious playgrounds, forest school and netball and tennis courts outside. Prep School pupils additionally have all the sports, music and drama facilities of the Senior School at their disposal. The Prep School has its own wide range of after school clubs and offers flexible wraparound care from 7.30am-7.30pm. (See also Prep School entry in IAPS section.)
Curriculum. In the first years of the Senior School all pupils follow a wide curriculum which includes academic as well as creative and practical subjects. At GCSE, all pupils take English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, separate Sciences, and select from a wide range of other GCSE option subjects including Textiles, Food Technology, Spanish, Computer Science, Physical Education and Art. In the Sixth Form, pupils take 3 or 4 A Levels and/or BTECs. Sixth Form pupils take part in the KC Honours programme, participating in extracurricular activities such as The Ivy House Award, a transformational personal and professional development programme which aims to develop extraordinary leaders, the Extended Project Qualification designed to develop analytical, critical thinking and research skills, the CREST Gold Award in Science and The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. These are all focused on improving pupils’ skills such as confidence, leadership, innovation, creativity, problem solving and intrapersonal skills, which are in demand by employers.
Academic Results. Kent College is a leading school in the UK for ‘Value Added’, currently ranked in the top 7% of schools at GCSE, with pupils achieving at least one grade higher than predicted. The school is at the very top in several subjects, such as Food Technology and English.
Sixth Form leavers head to leading universities across the UK to study a wide range of subjects. In 2023, 83% were accepted into their first-choice university.
A recent Good Schools Guide review commented; “if you’re looking for an injection of optimism, it’s right here: bold, courageous and resilient learning where the message emblazoned on the school minibuses - ‘We Are The Future’ - really does apply to these pupils, who we felt are more than ready to ‘smash the world’.”
Sport. Sporting activities include hockey, netball, cricket, football, athletics, cross country, tag rugby, horse riding, swimming, tennis, trampolining, dance and gymnastics. The school has a strong history of producing national and international players and athletes.
Extracurricular Activities, Music and Drama. The school prides itself on offering an extensive programme of extracurricular activities at lunchtimes, after school and at weekends which are open to day pupils and boarders. There are frequent visits to London theatres, art galleries, lectures and places of cultural interest, overseas trips including Pompeii, Ypres, South Africa and Dublin, and residential trips with a broader educational remit. Music and Drama are performed to West End standard in the two school productions each year (from Sweeney Todd to Six), and a myriad of concerts, musicals night, open mic and opera nights allow pupil to showcase their exceptional ability and talent.
Entrance. Main intakes to the Prep School are to Nursery (age rising 3) and Reception (age 4) classes. The school will take pupils into other year groups subject to places being available. Entrance into Years 3–6 is based on the school’s own entrance tests.
The main entries to the Senior School are at Year 7, Year 9 and the Lower Sixth. The school is gently selective and entrance is by a computer-based test, interview and a reference from the previous school. Boarders are welcomed from age 8.
Scholarships and Bursaries. Academic, Art, Dance Drama, Music and Sport Scholarships are awarded to outstanding entrants at 11+, 13+ and 16+.
Bursaries: Kent College is committed to broadening access to the school by offering to eligible parent or guardians means tested financial support towards the payment of school fees in the form of bursary awards. Fee assistance may be offered to those applying to the Senior School.
Fees per term (2023-2024). Senior: Day £8,460, Full Boarders £13,500, Weekly Boarders £11,500. Prep: Day: £3,890-£5,850. Full Boarders £11,500, Weekly Boarders £9,900. Sixth Form Entrant: £9,040. Discounts for siblings.
Charitable status. Kent College Pembury is part of the Methodist Independent Schools Trust, which is a Registered Charity: number 1142794.
Governors & Staff:
Head: Miss Katrina Handford, BA Hons, MEd, PGCE
Deputy Head – Academic: Mr James Mossman, BA Hons, MA, PGCE
Deputy Head – Pastoral: Mrs Louise Payne, BA Hons, MBA, PGCE
Head of Prep School: Mrs Salli Hall, BSc Hons, PGCE
Head of Sixth Form: Mrs Wendy Young Min, BA Hons, PGCE
Bursar: Mrs Angela Jenkins, BA Hons, ACA
Chair of Governors: Mrs Jane Day
Chaplain: Rev’d Kate Osweiler
Director of External Relations: Mrs Sara Ward, BSc Hons