Kent College is a private girls and boys' day and boarding school for pupils aged 3-18, in Pembury, near Tunbridge Wells. The school's nursery is for girls and boys from rising 3 years, boys can join the reception class and Year 1, and from September 2023 Year 2 as the prep school becomes co-educational. The senior school and sixth form (11-18) are becoming co-educational in September 2026.
History In 1886, the school was established in Bouverie Road, Folkestone, with twelve girls. John Stainer was one of the founders. The original site of the school is now occupied by apartments, which are named after heads of the school. In 1939, the school moved to its current location in Tunbridge Wells because of the danger to girls being too near the coast during World War II. During the war, the school was hit by a V-1 flying bomb, a German aircraft was shot down inside the school's grounds, and a pilot of a Hawker Hurricane died when his aircraft crashed inside the school's grounds. In 1945, the prep school was established in Tunbridge Wells, and in 1989 it moved to the same location as the senior school.
Prep school
The prep school is on the same site as the main school, housed in its own buildings and shares many of the facilities of the senior school. Full, weekly and flexi boarding are available to children aged 10 and above.Boarding – Introduction
School heads
Edith Margaret James 1983–1989 John C.A. Barrett 1990–2002 Barbara Crompton 2002–2007 Anne E. Upton 2008–2015 Sally-Anne Huang 2016–2021 Julie Lodrick 2022–present Katrina Handford
Notable former pupils
Sarah Sands, former Editor of The Sunday Telegraph newspaper, current editor of the Today Programme Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh Suki Brownsdon, swimmer Catie Munnings, British Rally Driver
References
Further reading The Kent College Saga by Margaret James, published by the Governors of Kent College, 1986, ASIN B00169BIPU
External links School Website Profile at MyDaughter Kent College, Pembury, Kent at ISBI Kent College Preparatory School, Pembury, Kent at ISBI ISI Inspection Reports – Prep School & Senior School