Kent College, Pembury

Background

Founded in 1885, Kent College is an ISI ‘Excellent’ independent day and boarding school from 3-18 years. Forest Explorers Nursery is for girls and boys from rising 3 years and the Prep School is currently co-educational to Year 3 with boys joining each subsequent year group until the Prep School is a co-educational school in 2027. The Senior School is girls only from ages 11-18 years.

Since 1939, Kent College has been located in 75 acres of beautiful countryside in Pembury, on the outskirts of Tunbridge Wells. The school campus enjoys excellent facilities, including two indoor sports halls, indoor swimming pool, floodlit Astro, state of the art 200 seat theatre, modern science block, art studios and a Sixth Form centre.

Our Vision

To unlock the potential of all.

Our Aims

Individual excellence is at the heart of our community. We value

Achievement

Support for all

Purposeful citizenship

Individuality

Reliability, respect, resilience

Enquiring minds

Kent College's Aims

1. By nurturing, valuing and celebrating each individual.
2. By creating an aspirational environment in which intellectual curiosity can flourish in order to maximise the academic achievement of all.
3. By promoting the Methodist value of 'doing all the good you can' and inspiring all to make purposeful contributions as global citizens.

Heads

Katrina Handford (Head)

Salli Hall (Head of Prep School)

Nursery and Prep School

The Prep School is a friendly, caring and happy school with a current roll of over 100 pupils aged 3 to 11 (Nursery – Year 6). In addition to the core subjects of English, Maths and Science, all of the pupils in Key Stage 2 study Geography, History, Art, DT and RE. ICT is taught from Year 1 upwards. There are specialist teachers in Music, French, Drama and PE, and Mandarin is taught in Year 6. Class sizes in KS1 and KS2 are normally a maximum of 21. Each year, a number of pupils apply for and are awarded scholarships to the Senior School, and around two thirds of Year 6 pupils move up to the Senior School.

Senior School and Sixth Form

The Senior School has over 300 day and boarding pupils. Boarders make up 20% of the total school and come from all over the world. Entry at 11 and 13 is by an entrance test, interview and classroom observations, and the school accepts pupils with a range of academic abilities. Kent College offers a choice of 24 GCSE subjects, with group sizes usually between 3 and 18. Most pupils complete 10 GCSEs or IGCSEs, but there is the opportunity to take more or less depending on interest or need. Students are also accepted for entry at 16+ and there are over 70 pupils in the Sixth Form. We offer over 20 subjects at A Level and 3 BTECs. Class sizes in the Sixth Form normally range between 3 and 12.

Extra Curricular Activities (ECA)

Kent College places a strong emphasis on extra-curricular activities and has a flexible and innovative lunchtime and after-school programme of prep and activity sessions. All pupils are encouraged to plan the use of their time so that they follow a balanced programme of academic work and extra-curricular activities. The pastoral care in the school is very strong and all staff are highly involved in wellbeing and general pastoral matters. All teaching staff are required to be involved in at least one ECA and most do more than this, as both subject and general ECA’s are available.

ISI (2023)

Kent College was judged to be ‘Excellent’ in both Academic Achievement and Personal Development, as well as being fully compliant with the Independent Schools Standards, including the National Minimum Standards for Boarding and the Early Years Foundation Stage.

“Pupils have exceptionally positive attitudes to all aspects of their learning. They have a ‘can do’ attitude and persevere at all ages, greatly enjoying working together.

Pupils are highly confident and are well prepared for the next stage of their lives.

Pupils achieve high levels of knowledge, skills and understanding across all areas of the curriculum. This is as a result of the high expectation, strong subject knowledge and expertise that characterise the teaching.

Pupils put in to practice the Wesleyan philosophy of the school and are proud to do all the good that they can.

The pupils’ contribution to others, the school and the community is excellent.”

View Kent College Pembury’s latest ISI report