St Edmund’s School Canterbury Overview
St Edmund’s is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 to 18. Educating children across all age groups helps create a strong sense of community and a family-like atmosphere. Pupils benefit from a supportive environment, high-quality teaching, and a broad educational approach focused on creativity, leadership, and independent thinking.
The school moved to its current site on St Thomas Hill, Canterbury, in 1855. Its striking chapel was completed three years later, in 1858. Since then, the school has grown significantly, continually adapting to modern needs. In recent years, it has invested heavily in new facilities and expanded its curriculum to offer a rich, challenging and well-rounded education.
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St Edmund’s School Courses And Programmes
St Edmund’s prides itself on a pupil-centred and ambitious academic ethos. The school aims to develop original thinkers equipped with the intellectual and personal skills to become future leaders and decision makers.
It offers a wide range of challenging I/GCSE and A-level courses, designed to suit pupils’ diverse strengths and interests. Small classes and highly qualified teachers ensure personalised learning, with lively debate and individual support in every lesson.
Pupils enhance their skills through project work and research opportunities, including the Extended Project Qualification and the Durrell Essay. The school also promotes cross-curricular learning to encourage original ideas and multi-dimensional thinking.
Senior School
At Senior School level (ages 11–16), students follow a comprehensive programme leading to GCSE and IGCSE qualifications. Core subjects include English Language and Literature, Mathematics, Sciences, and Humanities. Pupils also study Modern Foreign Languages, Creative Arts, and Technology subjects, encouraging both academic rigour and personal development. The school emphasises a mix of traditional and contemporary subjects to ensure pupils gain strong foundational knowledge and transferable skills.
Sixth Form
In Sixth Form (ages 16–18), students choose from a wide range of A-Level courses tailored to their interests and ambitions. The school supports individual academic pathways, allowing pupils to specialise while maintaining breadth. Popular subjects include Sciences, Humanities, Arts, and Languages. Alongside A-Levels, students have access to enrichment opportunities such as the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), fostering independent research and critical thinking.
St Edmund’s School Fees
| School Section | Boarding Type / Year Group | Fee (per term) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior School | Full boarding* | £17,026 | Includes tuition, accommodation, and meals |
| (ages 13 – 18) | Weekly boarding | £15,872 | |
| Day – Years 9 to 13 | £9,314 | ||
| Junior School | Full boarding (from age 11)* | £12,966 | Includes tuition, accommodation, and meals |
| (ages 7 – 13) | Weekly boarding (from age 11) | £11,816 | |
| Choristers | £11,409 | ||
| Day – Years 7 & 8 | £7,096 | ||
| Day – Years 5 & 6 | £6,972 | ||
| Day – Years 3 & 4 | £6,870 |
St Edmund’s School Boarding And Pastoral Care
The pastoral team works closely with both pupils and parents, offering trusted, relevant guidance. Pupils are encouraged to approach staff with any concerns, knowing they will be supported.
The Director of Boarding and Head of Girls’ Boarding manage all aspects of boarding life. They support houseparents and matrons, who play vital roles in meeting pupils’ practical and pastoral needs. Pupils’ wellbeing and happiness remain the school’s top priority.
Boys and girls live in separate boarding areas, each supervised by resident staff. Accommodation ranges from large dormitories with cubicles for younger boys to smaller rooms with en-suite facilities. Sixth Formers have the choice of single or double rooms.
The school continually improves boarding facilities. For example, the Junior School House, recently refurbished, provides comfortable accommodation for pupils aged 11 to 14. At this stage, communal living is encouraged, with dormitories, shared common rooms, TV and games rooms. The academic and recreational facilities are conveniently close to the boarding houses.
St Edmund’s School Extracurricular Activities
Led by Mr Alastair McKean, a former international sportsman and current teacher, the co-curricular programme at St Edmund’s offers a wide range of activities that complement academic life. The school believes that education should extend beyond the classroom, helping pupils develop vital personal and social skills. These include emotional intelligence, teamwork, creativity, problem-solving, and adaptability, qualities needed to thrive in a fast-changing world.
Each term, the Junior School runs over 30 clubs and activities led by teachers. Options include choir, musical theatre, chess, creative writing, computer coding, Minecraft, and cup stacking. The PE Department also offers a variety of sports such as cricket, hockey, and netball. Outdoor education is a core part of the programme, with weekly sessions at the school’s Forest School site, run by qualified staff.