Private Schools / Kent
Private Schools in Kent
There are 60 independent (private) schools in Kent. Compare fees, ISI and Ofsted inspection ratings, boarding options and entry requirements side by side.
60 private schools in Kent
St Helens Montessori School
Maidstone · Independent · Mixed
Beech Grove School
Dover · All-through · Mixed
MEPA ACADEMY
MAIDSTONE · Senior · Mixed
Ashford School
Ashford · All-through · Mixed
Babington House School
Chislehurst · All-through · Mixed
Beechwood School
Tunbridge Wells · All-through · Mixed
Benedict House Preparatory School
Sidcup · Prep · Mixed
Benenden School
Cranbrook · All-through · Girls
Bethany School
Cranbrook · Senior · Mixed
Breaside Preparatory School
Bromley · Prep · Mixed
Bromley High School GDST
Bromley · All-through · Girls
Bronte School
Gravesend · Prep · Mixed
Cobham Hall
Brewers Road · Senior · Mixed
Dover College
Dover · All-through · Mixed
Earlscliffe (Sussex Summer Schools Ltd)
Folkestone · Senior · Mixed
Farringtons School
Chislehurst · All-through · Mixed
Gad's Hill School
Rochester · All-through · Mixed
Hilden Grange School
Tonbridge · Independent · Mixed
Hilden Oaks Preparatory School and Nursery
Tonbridge · Prep · Mixed
Holmewood House School
Tunbridge Wells · Independent · Mixed
Junior King's School
Canterbury · Independent · Mixed
Kent College (Canterbury)
Canterbury · Senior · Mixed
Kent College International Study Centre
Canterbury · Senior · Mixed
Kent College Nursery, Infant and Junior School
Canterbury · Prep · Mixed
Kent College Pembury
Tunbridge Wells · All-through · Mixed
King's School, Rochester
Rochester · All-through · Mixed
Lorenden Preparatory School
Painters Forstal · Prep · Mixed
Merton Court School
Sidcup · Prep · Mixed
Northbourne Park School
DEAL · Independent · Mixed
OneSchool Global UK - Maidstone Campus
Maidstone · All-through · Mixed
Radnor House Sevenoaks
Sevenoaks · All-through · Mixed
Rochester Independent College
Rochester · Senior · Mixed
Rose Hill School
Tunbridge Wells · Independent · Mixed
Russell House School
Sevenoaks · Prep · Mixed
Sackville School
Tonbridge · Senior · Mixed
Sevenoaks Preparatory School
Sevenoaks · Independent · Mixed
Sevenoaks School
Sevenoaks · Senior · Mixed
Solefield School
Sevenoaks · Independent · Mixed
Somerhill
Tonbridge · Independent · Mixed
Spring Grove School 2003 Ltd
Ashford · Prep · Mixed
St Andrew's School (Rochester)
Rochester · Prep · Mixed
St Christophers The Hall School
Beckenham · Prep · Mixed
St David's Prep
West Wickham · Prep · Mixed
St Edmund's School Canterbury
Canterbury · All-through · Mixed
Steephill School
Longfield · Prep · Mixed
St Faith's At Ash School Limited
Canterbury · Prep · Mixed
St Lawrence College Junior School
Ramsgate · Prep · Mixed
St Michael's Prep School
Otford · Independent · Mixed
St Ronan's School
Cranbrook · Independent · Mixed
Sutton Valence School
Maidstone · All-through · Mixed
The Dulwich School Cranbrook
CRANBROOK · All-through · Mixed
The Granville School
Sevenoaks · Prep · Mixed
The King's School Canterbury
Canterbury · Senior · Mixed
The Mead School
Tunbridge Wells · Prep · Mixed
The New Beacon School
Sevenoaks · Independent · Boys
The Worthgate School
Canterbury · Senior · Mixed
Tonbridge School
Tonbridge · Senior · Boys
VTC Independent School
Sittingbourne · Senior · Mixed
Walthamstow Hall
Sevenoaks · All-through · Mixed
Wellesley Haddon Dene School
Broadstairs · Independent · Mixed
About private schools in Kent
Private (independent) schools in Kent charge fees and set their own admissions criteria, curriculum and term dates. They are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) or Ofsted rather than following the state framework, and many offer smaller class sizes, specialist facilities and a broad co-curricular programme. Fees vary by age group and by whether the school offers day or boarding places, so request an up-to-date fee schedule directly from each school - and factor in that since January 2025 school fees are subject to VAT, which has affected headline prices across the sector.
When comparing independent schools in Kent, consider the key entry points - commonly at 4, 7, 11 and 13 - and what each school requires at assessment, whether that is an 11-plus entrance exam, 13-plus common entrance or the school's own test. Bursaries and scholarships in areas such as academic achievement, music and sport can reduce fees significantly, so ask each school for its current financial support policy and application deadlines. ISI inspection reports, GCSE and A-level results and the destinations of leavers give a fuller picture of a school than fees alone.
Choosing a school in Kent
Whether or not Kent has schools of a particular type, the same fundamentals help you compare your options. Ofsted judgements - Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement or Inadequate - summarise the quality of education, behaviour, personal development and leadership. A rating is a useful starting point, but bear in mind that some schools have not been inspected for several years and that a single word cannot capture everything about a school.
For secondary schools, Progress 8 is often more revealing than raw results. It measures how much pupils improve between the end of primary school and their GCSEs, so a school serving a less advantaged community can still post strong progress. Attainment 8 shows average achievement across eight GCSEs, and the percentage of pupils reaching grade 5 or above in English and maths is a useful benchmark. For 16-18 study, look at A-Level and applied-course results and where students go next.
Beyond the data, look at how places are allocated when a school is oversubscribed and whether your address is likely to secure one, the range of subjects and activities on offer, the sixth-form provision if you are planning ahead, and travel and transport. Above all, visit. An open day tells you more about a school's atmosphere, pastoral care and whether it will suit your child than any league table can.
Frequently asked questions
How many private schools are there in Kent?
There are 60 private schools in Kent listed on School Signal, of which 3 are rated Outstanding or Good by Ofsted.
Which private school in Kent has the best Ofsted rating?
St Helens Montessori School is among the highest rated private schools in Kent, judged Outstanding at its most recent Ofsted inspection.
How much do private schools in Kent cost?
Fees vary by school, age group and whether the place is day or boarding, and since January 2025 independent school fees are subject to VAT. Our private school fees page for Kent lists each school's published fees, with the academic year and whether VAT is included. Many schools in Kent offer means-tested bursaries and merit-based scholarships in areas such as academics, music and sport, which can reduce costs significantly. Ask each school for its current fee schedule and financial support information as early as possible in your search.