Athletics
Athletics takes place in the Summer term. Over 100 pupils currently opt for the sport which has grown in popularity in recent years.
Training facilities are primarily based on the grass track at Birley’s but the tartan track at Canterbury High School is also hired.
Pupils compete in mid-week district competitions at Junior level and also in weekend fixtures with other schools at both Junior and Senior level.
Cricket (Boys)
There is a strong tradition of cricket at King’s, with our most famous players being former England captain David Gower and more recently England International Ollie Robinson.
Birley’s offers four grass and two artificial wickets, as well as 18 grass and 4 artificial nets. Seven teams are currently fielded during the Summer term: three senior teams, two Under 15 and two Under 14.
Mark Ealham, ex Kent and England cricketer, has succeeded his Father Alan as the Cricket Professional. He currently runs nets throughout the Autumn and Lent term, providing pupils with one-to-one coaching and aiding their technical abilities.
There are close links with Kent County Cricket Club, with a number of pupils playing at county level.
Tours have included Dubai, Antigua and Abu Dhabi. Future tours will see pupils travel to the United Arab Emirates in February 2023.
Head of Cricket: Mr Richard Singfield
Cricket (Girls)
Cricket was played by girls at The King’s School for almost a decade in the 90s before it faded away. Now after almost a 20 year gap, Girls’ Cricket is back!
During the 2016 season, the girls developed their cricketing skills in Games sessions. Harvey House took the winners trophy in the inaugural Junior Inter House cricket, and U15A and B teams participated in 8 a-side 12 over competitive school matches using an Incrediball.
Cross Country
Cross Country takes place during the Autumn and Lent terms. Local tracks and woods, which are closely monitored, are used for running. Boys and girls of a wide range of ability join the club.
King’s enters the Kent Schools’ League during the Lent term, as well as participating in regional and national competitions, enjoying much success at all age levels.
The Inter-House Cross Country competition, held at Birley’s in September, involves the entire school and is keenly contested.
Equestrianism
Pupils can participate in Show Jumping, Eventing and Dressage, and have competed regularly in local and national events with great success.
We ride on a regular basis at Trenley Park and Manston Riding Centre. Pupils can stable their own horses at the Centre.
Fencing
Fencing takes place throughout all three terms.
We host local tournaments and we enter the Public Schools Championship and other national tournaments. The club has trained 17 international fencers in recent years, who have represented England, Scotland, N Ireland, Ireland, Hong Kong, Bulgaria and Thailand.
The Recreation Centre has a purpose-built salle, incorporating four practice pistes and one full size competition piste. Épée is the main weapon used. Fencing is coached by Marc Chapman (OKS, former GB Under 18 Fencer and current GB coach).
A new facility at the School’s Malthouse site houses 18 underfloor pistes, including 8 stainless steel competition pistes making it the third biggest in England.
Football
Football is offered to all pupils during the Lent Term as a games choice. It is also available as part of our co-curricular activity programme on Wednesday afternoons.
We currently field four senior boys’ sides, two U16, two U15 and two U14 teams with competitive fixtures played on Saturdays at Birley’s. Pupils train at least twice a week, both on and off the field, making use of our connections with the University of Kent.
The Football Club currently participates in the SOCS SKIL league in all year groups. Professional FA level coaches are contracted to provide specialist coaching across the teams alongside our own members of staff.
Pre-season training occurs most years, with a trip to Spain becoming a regular January feature. We have also worked with Crystal Palace Football Club to provide the best experience possible in football for pupils.
Head of Football: Mr Charles Gardiner
Golf
Golf is played during every games session in the Autumn and Summer Terms, and once a week in the Lent Term. All golfers are regularly coached by Danny Maude who is on the list of the 100 most influential people in golf.
Golf continues to be a very successful sport at King’s. In 2010 the school won the South East of England Independent Schools Golf Association Championship, qualifying for the National Finals. Teams are entered for all the prestigious HMC and ISGA competitions, and travel as far afield as Edinburgh to play in them.
Along with the strong links with Canterbury Golf Club, where golfers regularly play in weekend competitions, inter-school matches are arranged at some fabulous courses including Royal St. George’s, Chart Hills and Royal Cinque Ports.
On-site, the school possesses a state-of-the-art indoor golf simulator, which is used for both formal and informal practice sessions. A full range of courses is available and it introduces some unique competitions amongst the golfers, whether it be holing a putt from the Valley of Sin on the 18th at St Andrews, or managing to keep their their tee shot dry on the 17th at Sawgrass.
Hockey (Boys)
Boys Hockey is played throughout the Lent term.
The school has two astroturf pitches, one at Birley’s and the other at the Recreation Centre. The school also has strong links with Canterbury Hockey Club, with both training and matches taking place at the excellent Polo Farm facilities.
The club runs seven teams: three senior teams and two each at Under 15 and Under 14 level.
The 1st XI won the Under 18 Kent Cup in 2014 and the Frank Mason County Tournament in 2015. James Oates, 1st XI captain (2016), captained the England U18 team in 2016 and earned his first senior international cap in 2022.
Overseas trips are a regular feature of the club: with a recent tour of South Africa and pre-season tours to Barcelona.
Hockey (Girls)
Hockey is played in the Autumn term.
The school has two astroturf pitches, one at Birley’s and the other at the Recreation Centre. The school also has strong links with Canterbury Hockey Club, with both training and matches taking place at the excellent Polo Farm facilities.
The club fields ten teams: five senior sides, three at Under 15 and two at Under 14 level. The club also enters the England Hockey Board National Schools competition.
Fifteen girls are currently involved in the England Hockey training system at various levels.
Girls are also offered the opportunity to experience the high paced thrills of the Indoor version of the game and two squads (Under 16 and Under 18) compete in the National Schools Competitions each year.
Recent tours have included Australia, South Africa and Holland, and a successful tour of South Africa was undertaken in July 2017.
Lacrosse
Lacrosse has a long tradition at King’s and is played in both the Autumn and Lent terms, with up to three teams taking the field at senior level along with two U15 teams.
The annual National Lacrosse Tournament at Aldershot Garrison Sports Center in Surrey is the highlight of the season for our 1st X as well as U15A teams. In recent years, the senior team has continuously progressed and was able to compete in the second division in the 2022 competition.
Pupils train twice a week, with qualified external coaches and full time Lacrosse specialists. Both 1st X and U15A have regular Saturday fixtures against schools in Kent, Surrey and the Greater London area.
The 1st team pitch during the Lent term takes pride of place at Birley’s, infront of the pavilion.
Head of Lacrosse: Ms Amelie Blum
Netball
Netball is played as a major sport in the Lent term.
Birley’s offers four netball courts, recently resurfaced to the highest specifications with sunken posts, used throughout the week for training and on Saturday afternoons for matches.
The club caters for over 100 pupils and has a very competitive fixtures list. Specialist coaching is available at all levels with each team having their own individual coach.
The club hosts Invitational tournaments at both Under 19 and Under 14 level with ten teams competing in each age group. This has been a huge success with an outstanding level of netball played.
Rounders
Rounders is played in the Summer Term.
Birley’s hosts four rounders pitches, and the club fields a Senior team, as well as two Under 15 and two Under 14 teams.
Regular fixtures are arranged with other schools either midweek or on Saturday afternoons.
Rowing
Rowing takes place in each term throughout the year.
The Boat Club is fortunate to have a rowing lake at Westbere with its own boat house.
The club enters the Schools Head and the National Schools Regatta, as well as working towards qualification for the Henley Royal Regatta. Other regattas are entered over the Lent and Summer Terms in line with the development of the crew.
In 2012, King’s celebrated the 150th anniversary of the start of rowing. Over these years a strong reputation has been built; a well-established Old Boys (Pilgrims) rowing club, based on the Thames, gives strong and experienced support to the club.
Frances Houghton, quadruple World Championships gold medallist and triple Olympic silver medallist, Fred Scarlett Olympic gold medallist, and Tom Ransley, double World Championship gold medallist and Olympic gold and bronze medallist, are our most successful rowers.
Rugby
Rugby is the focal sport for boys during the Autumn Term; the club fields twelve teams from 1st XV level down to Under 14.
The school has a large number of boys involved in the RFU Schools of Rugby programme as well as in Kent County Representative sides. Strong links exist with Canterbury RFC and with the Saracens Academy.
Rugby 7s is played in the Lent term, the highlight being the Rosslyn Park Schools Festival.
Overseas tours are a regular feature of the club: the 1st XV squad toured South Africa in 2019, and a successful tour of Hong Kong and Japan was undertaken in August 2017.
Sailing
The King’s Sailing club is a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Training Centre.
Sailing takes place all year round at our twin venues of Westbere Lake (40 acres of inland sailing water) and Herne Bay Sailing Club (located on the north Kent Coast). A regular sailing program enables pupils to progress through the RYA Dinghy Sailing Scheme, including advanced and Racing levels. Senior students have the opportunity to qualify to RYA Instructor level.
The club sails Firefly, Laser Vago, RS Feva and Topper Dinghies. The focus is on racing, both Fleet and Team racing through regular fixtures organised by the British Schools Dinghy Racing Association (BSDRA), Kent Schools Sailing Association (KSSA) and other National Associations. As part of the program of events at Westbere, the school hosts a small number of competitions which includes the annual KSSA Single-handed Team racing.
Although the emphasis is on dinghy sailing, King’s sailing looks to expand general boating skills and knowledge by offering RYA Level 2 power boating courses as well as sailing and competing in several Keelboat competitions.
Shooting
The school uses a refurbished 4 lane 25 metre range at the Recreation Centre.
The club enters the Winter and Summer Kent leagues, where scores are added up to give a county ranking.
Coaching is conducted by Keith Jefferies, a highly experienced and qualified outside coach.
Squash
Squash is played in the Autumn and Lent terms, and it is a sport that proves equally popular with both boys and girls.
The club runs senior and junior teams, and fixtures include participation in the National Schools’ Squash competition.
The Recreation Centre offers four squash courts, two of which are glass-backed.
Swimming
Swimming takes place in all three terms under John Vinson, Head of Swimming.
The Recreation Centre hosts a fine six lane, 25-metre pool.
School fixtures are held mainly in the Lent term with Girls’ and Boys’ teams at all age groups.
The Boys’ senior relay team won the prestigious Bath & Otter national schools event in 2014.
Tennis
Tennis is a very popular Summer term sport.
The School possesses 24 astroturf courts and 9 hard courts divided between the Recreation Centre and Birley’s.
Teams are put out at Senior, Under 16, Under 15 and Under 14 levels. Both Boys and Girls teams enter the Aegon Tournaments and the KSTA tournaments.
Experienced coaches run sessions throughout the winter months at Birley’s and at the excellent indoor courts at the University of Kent.
