Independent Schools in Kent

Steephill School is a co-educational independent day school for pupils aged 3 to 11, located in Fawkham near Longfield, Kent. Founded in 1935 by Eileen Bignold, the school occupies a five-acre rural site featuring a dedicated woodland area for Forest School. The curriculum is delivered in small classes, focusing on a broad range of subjects including specialist teaching in music and languages. Facilities include a science and art room, an ICT suite, and a library. The rural setting supports an extensive outdoor learning programme and various sporting activities in a nurturing environment.

Walthamstow Hall is an independent day school for girls aged 2 to 18, located in Sevenoaks, Kent. Established in 1838 to educate the daughters of missionaries, it is one of the oldest schools of its kind in the United Kingdom. The campus combines an Arts and Crafts-inspired main building and Victorian vaulted dining room with modern facilities, including the Ship Theatre and a specialist Sixth Form Centre. The school provides an all-through education that emphasises academic breadth alongside a rich co-curricular programme in sport, music, and the performing arts.

Solefield School is a co-educational day preparatory school in Sevenoaks, Kent, for pupils aged 3 to 13. Established in 1948, the school is housed in a former Victorian residence and is situated near the site of the 1450 Battle of Solefield. It maintains a nurturing ethos with small class sizes and a focus on the development of the whole child. Facilities include a music school, art studio, and science laboratory. The curriculum balances academic study with music, drama, and sport, preparing pupils for transition to senior schools at both 11+ and 13+.

Kent College Pembury is an independent day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 to 18, situated in 75 acres of parkland near Tunbridge Wells. Established in 1886 and part of the Methodist Independent Schools Trust, the school moved to its current site in 1939 and is centred around a Victorian manor house. Its facilities include an indoor swimming pool, a purpose-built theatre, and extensive sports pitches. The school fosters a nurturing and inclusive environment, encouraging pupils to achieve their potential through a balanced curriculum and a wide variety of academic and creative pursuits.

The Mead School is a co-educational independent preparatory day school and nursery for pupils aged 3 to 11, situated near the historic Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells. Established in 1957 and housed in a Victorian villa, the school maintains a family-focused ethos founded on Christian principles. The curriculum provides specialist teaching in music, drama, and sport, alongside core academics. A member of the Wishford Schools group, the school prepares children for various senior destinations, including local grammar schools. Facilities include on-site playgrounds and a nearby playing field for outdoor education and sport.

Cobham Hall is a co-educational independent day and boarding school for pupils aged 11 to 18, set within 150 acres of historic parkland in Kent. Housed in a Grade I listed Tudor mansion, formerly home to the Earls of Darnley, the school features grounds designed by the landscape architect Humphry Repton. As a member of the Round Square network, Cobham Hall emphasises a holistic education focused on character and global citizenship. Part of the Mill Hill Education Group, the school provides diverse facilities, including the ornate Gilt Hall and modern creative arts and sporting centres.

Saint Ronan's is a co-educational preparatory day and boarding school for children aged 2 to 13, located in Hawkhurst, Kent. The school is housed in Tongswood House, a Grade II listed Victorian mansion set within 250 acres of Wealden countryside. Founded in 1883 in Worthing, the school relocated to its current site in 1946. Facilities include an on-site farm, a chapel relocated brick by brick from Sussex, and extensive sports pitches. The school provides a broad education with a particular focus on music, sport, and outdoor learning within its expansive grounds.

Earlscliffe is an independent, co-educational sixth-form boarding school located in Folkestone, Kent. Housed in a Victorian building dating from 1870, the school is situated in the town's West End, close to the sea and the Leas promenade. Earlscliffe provides a personalised education for students aged 15 to 19, with a curriculum focused on A-levels and university foundation programmes. The academic approach is defined by small class sizes and a system of weekly progress testing. Now part of Dukes Education, the school supports a diverse, international community of students.

Bethany School is a co-educational independent day and boarding school for pupils aged 11 to 18, set within 60 acres of the Weald of Kent near Goudhurst. Founded in 1866 by Reverend Joseph James Kendon, the school maintains a Christian ethos and focuses on the development of individual character. Facilities include a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, a climbing wall, and a high ropes course. The school provides a broad curriculum of GCSEs, A-levels, and BTECs, supported by a specialist learning support department and a programme of over 50 extracurricular activities.

Junior King’s School is a co-educational day and boarding preparatory school for pupils aged 3 to 13, situated on the Milner Court estate in Sturry, Kent. Set within 80 acres along the River Stour, the campus features a 16th-century manor house and a historic tithe barn. The school serves as the junior department of The King’s School, Canterbury, offering a curriculum that balances academic study with music, sport, and performing arts. Facilities include a dedicated music school, a sports hall, and a heated outdoor swimming pool.

St Lawrence College is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 to 18, situated on a spacious campus in Ramsgate, Kent. Established in 1879, the school is within walking distance of the coast and maintains a strong Christian ethos rooted in its founding traditions. Facilities include a 500-seat theatre, an indoor swimming pool, and a water-based hockey pitch. The college combines historic Victorian architecture with modern additions, such as a specialist Science, Art, and Technology centre, while fostering a supportive community for its local and international pupils.

The King's School Canterbury is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 13 to 18, situated within the Precincts of Canterbury Cathedral. Founded in 597 AD, it is widely considered the oldest school in the world. The school occupies a UNESCO World Heritage site, incorporating historic medieval buildings alongside modern facilities such as the Malthouse Theatre and the Birley Centre for music. Its ethos focuses on holistic development, offering a traditional academic curriculum complemented by extensive programmes in sport and the arts, all set within a unique scholarly environment.

Benenden School is an independent boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18, situated within the 250-acre Hemsted Park estate near Cranbrook, Kent. Founded in 1923, the school is centred on Hemsted House, a Victorian mansion built in the 1860s. Its educational approach follows a 'Complete Education' model, which integrates academic study with professional skills and personal development. Facilities include a dedicated science centre, a professional-standard theatre, and a music school with a concert hall. The expansive grounds accommodate a variety of activities, including lacrosse, hockey, and equestrian sports.

Radnor House Sevenoaks is a co-educational independent day school for pupils aged 2 to 18, situated on the historic Combe Bank estate in Kent. Housed in a Grade I listed Palladian mansion set within 27 acres of parkland, the school provides a continuous education from nursery to sixth form. Facilities include a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, a STEM centre, and a performing arts theatre. Formerly known as Combe Bank School, the institution emphasises a core ethos of excellence, respect, courage, and perseverance across its academic and extracurricular programmes.

The Dulwich School Cranbrook is a co-educational day and flexi-boarding school for pupils aged 2 to 16, situated within a 50-acre estate in the Kent countryside. Formerly known as Dulwich Prep Cranbrook, the school recently expanded its curriculum to offer a senior provision through to GCSE. The campus comprises specialised blocks for science, art, and music, alongside extensive sporting facilities including an on-site swimming pool and floodlit astroturf. Established in 1938 as a wartime evacuation camp, the school maintains a strong emphasis on both academic breadth and outdoor learning.