Welcome to
KING’S BOARDING
I am delighted that you are considering joining our boarding family. Whether you are arriving from the United Kingdom or overseas, for a term or several years, School House offers a warm, inclusive and vibrant home at the heart of our historic school.
With pupils from many countries, cultures and backgrounds, our co-educational boarding house is a place where individuality is celebrated, friendships flourish and everyone belongs.
Centrally located within the campus, School House is close to the high-speed train link, the school’s main facilities and the historic high street – giving boarders a strong sense of connection and easy access to everything they need for a fulfilling school life.
Boarding life is active and varied, and part of the fun of living at school is being able to join in with all sorts of trips and activities – from touch rugby on the Paddock to a West End theatre visit. We encourage all boarders to take full advantage of these opportunities. Whilst academic success is a key part of being here at King’s, the opportunities available through boarding will help you to develop skills and attributes that go far beyond the classroom and prepare you for life. Independence, resilience, empathy and collaboration are all encouraged and nurtured here.
As Housemaster, I work alongside a dedicated team who are here to support, guide and champion every pupil. Above all, we want King’s to feel like a second home – a place where you feel safe, supported and known as an individual.
Callum Carroll
Housemaster, School House
WHERE is King’s
King’s School Rochester is the oldest choir school and the second oldest school in the world. The School is nestled in the Cathedral precinct of historic Rochester and in the shadow of Rochester castle which boasts one of the finest Norman keeps in the country. King’s is truly a School with a strong historical tradition and a clear vision of education for the 21st century.
With a rich and diverse heritage, our pupils have been educated for over 1,400 years under the watchful gaze of Rochester Cathedral and Rochester Castle. A stone’s throw from the beating heart of London, inhabitants of Rochester enjoy rolling countryside hills in one direction, and beautiful seaside in the other.
Airports
London Gatwick – 50 mins
London Heathrow – 80 mins
London Stansted – 80 mins
Trains
London St Pancras International (STN)- 36 mins
London Victoria (VIC) – 43 mins
Euro tunnel – 34 mins
There are also International links via Eurostar to France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany which leave from London St Pancras International.
Ferry
P&O Ferries – 95 Mins
BOARDING at King’s
Our boarding community is small enough to have a genuine family-like feel, where everyone knows one another and is treated as an individual. King’s welcomes UK and international pupils from Year 7 to Sixth Form, offering a range of flexible boarding options to suit everyone’s needs.
School House was built in 1880, but naturally has been extensively refurbished over the years and includes a common room, study rooms, music practice rooms and a fully stocked kitchen. All rooms have high-speed, age-appropriately filtered Wi-Fi, making it easy to enjoy a video call home.
Meals are a central part of boarding life – a chance to connect, unwind and feel at home. All food is freshly prepared on-site, with a cooked breakfast, school lunch, tea and dinner served daily. Menus feature fresh, seasonal and locally sourced produce, with special diets easily accommodated. Many evening meals are served family-style at long tables, creating a relaxed, home-from-home atmosphere.
There is no exeat required at weekends and we don’t hold a Saturday school – boarding pupils have the freedom to choose how they wish to spend their downtime. That being said, there is always something fun on the calendar for the weekends! Trips to see shows in London, museums and theme parks, to name a few.
Boarders benefit from excellent pastoral care, a safe and friendly atmosphere and supervised study times. Whether boarding full-time, weekly or flexibly, every pupil feels fully at home and part of the life of the house.
The History of
SCHOOL HOUSE
Boarding at King’s is steeped in tradition. Our story begins in 1844 when one of King’s longest-serving Headmasters, Rev. Robert Whiston, purchased The Old Palace at Bishops Court. This residence not only became his home but also provided dormitory space for pupils, laying the foundation for the School’s boarding legacy.
By 1880, School House was purpose-built to accommodate boarders and the new Headmaster, becoming a landmark in Rochester and a home to generations of pupils.
During the Second World War, School House was briefly commandeered by the Women’s Royal Naval Service, while boarders were evacuated to Scotney Castle and other locations. Even the pool played a vital role, serving as an emergency water supply during this time. By 1947, the roles of Headmaster and Housemaster were separated, with Housemasters assuming full responsibility for the running of each boarding house.
Today, we proudly celebrate 145 years of School House, where tradition and innovation continue to live side by side, welcoming new generations of boarders into a rich and storied environment..
INDUCTION Week
We take the time to settle you into boarding life at King’s by providing a full week’s worth of introductory activities before the school term commences. This allows our pupils to ‘find their feet’ and settle in so that they can come home to a comfortable environment after a day at school.
Our comprehensive induction process for new boarders at King’s School Rochester begins with a warm welcome upon arrival, followed by a school tour led by tutors and house prefects. For starters joining in the Michaelmas term (September), parents/guardians are invited to join their children for a delightful English afternoon tea in St. Margaret’s garden, after which they will be given a guided tour of the School campus. The day concludes with a BBQ dinner and evening activities, allowing new boarders to bond with their peers and settle into their new environment.
Your DAILY ROUTINE
Weekdays
| 07:30 | Breakfast |
| 08:10 | Registration & Announcements |
| 16:15 | School ends Have a snack and relax After school clubs and activities |
| 17:15 | First prep (Homework) |
| 18:30 | Dinner |
| 19:15 | Second Prep – not Prep School, Remove (Year 9) only if incomplete |
| 20:00 | Prep School shower and get ready for bed |
| 20:15 | Fifth Formers (Year 10 & 11) finish prep |
| 20:30 | Sixth Formers (Year 12 & 13) finish prep |
| 21:00 | Prep School lights out |
| 21:30 | Remove (Year 9) lights out |
| 22:00 | Fifth Form lights out |
| 22:30 | Sixth Form lights out |
Weekend
| 09:00 | Breakfast |
| 12:30 | Lunch |
| 18:30 | Dinner |
| 21:30 | Prep lights out |
| 22:00 | Remove lights out |
| 22:30 | Fifth form lights out |
| 23:00 | Sixth form lights out |
WEEKENDS and Activities
There is an abundance of activities available to the boarders. Some of these include swimming, basketball and playing on the Paddock. School house has their own gym which the boys are able to use after school and on weekends.
Weekend activities are in abundance at King’s, with a vibrant calendar that can include:
- Bluewater shopping & dinner
- Brighton Adventure
- British Museum
- Broadstairs Beach Trip
- Canterbury
- Chatham Dockside
- Covent Garden Christmas Shopping
- Gravesend Escape Room
- Greenwich Park & Market
- Harry Potter World
- Dover Castle
- Ice-Skate and Shop London
- London Culture
- London Open-Top Bus Tour
- Pottery Painting Trip
- Putt Shack
- Science Museum
- Thorpe Park
- West End Pantomime
- West End Musical Show
- Laser Tag
pupil TESTIMONIALS
Full
Boarding
At King’s there are no exeat weekends and we don’t hold a Saturday school – giving boarding pupils the freedom to choose how they wish to spend their downtime.
The boarders have access to an array of facilities for use after school or during weekends. Additionally, there’s always something fun planned for the weekends! Activities include trips to see shows in London, visits to museums, and outings to theme parks, to name a few.
Weekly
Boarding
Offering the best of both worlds, weekly boarding allows pupils to enjoy everything the boarding school experience offers during the week. They can immerse themselves in their studies, engage fully in school activities and spend lots of time with their friends. Then at the weekends, return home to relax with their family.
Weekly boarding is especially beneficial for children who cannot commute daily due to long distances or have parents with demanding jobs that involve long hours or frequent travel. It provides a consistent and nurturing environment throughout the week, coupled with the chance to enjoy quality family time at home during the weekends.
Weekly boarders are requested to return to the boarding house by 6pm on Sunday evenings, ready for the upcoming school week. They usually leave after school on a Friday afternoon.
Flexi
Boarding
Flexi boarding pupils are temporary members of the boarding house. They stay over on certain nights a week and usually only for a short period of time, for example during public exams. They are allocated a specific bedroom for their time at the boarding house, but this may change at short notice.
This flexible option is also perfect for those who want to experience boarding life and see if it’s the right fit for their family.
Perhaps your son or daughter would like to prioritise studying and might find the school environment better suited, particularly around the exam period? Our boarding houses are more than just a place to stay. They provide a productive environment for study, supported by experienced teachers and staff. Pupils can connect with peers, form study groups, exchange ideas, and motivate each other along the way!
Occasional
Boarding
Occasional boarders are temporary members of the boarding house who wish to spend one night or more per week in boarding, or join the boarding house for a one-off extended stay.
At King’s, we understand that life can be unpredictable, especially for busy families. That’s why we offer our ‘Occasional Boarding’ option, providing day pupils with the opportunity to stay overnight on an as-needed basis.
Whether it’s due to unexpected work commitments, family obligations, or the desire to reduce travel time for after-school activities, our boarding facilities are available on an ad hoc basis (subject to availability).
Daily
Boarding
For day pupils wishing to stay on at school till 9pm, they can benefit from supervised prep followed by dinner and relaxing with friends.
Day boarders attend the appropriate house for the duration of first and second prep and dinner. They are collected by 9pm and not allocated a bedroom. If pupils are collected after 9pm, parents will be charged the occasional boarding fee.
Trial
Boarding
Trial boarding allows for a day pupil to come and experience the boarding house for one night with a view to joining the boarding house on a more permanent basis. We offer one night of boarding free of charge for pupils wanting to trial the boarding experience.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Next Steps
If you are interested in further information on boarding, please contact our Admissions team.
Contact our Admissions Team:
Use the form below to contact us, or send us an email directly at admissions@kings-rochester.co.uk.
ADMISSIONS
