The King's School, Chester, is a co-educational private day school for pupils aged 4 to 18. It is one of the seven 'King's Schools' established (or re-endowed and renamed) by King Henry VIII in 1541 after the Dissolution of the Monasteries.
It is situated outside the city of Chester, England. The school is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school comprises an Infant school (years 4–7), a Junior school (years 7–11), a Senior school (years 11–16) and a Sixth form (years 16–18) in which the students choose their A-level subjects.
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History
An ancient foundation, attached to a monastery that King Henry VIII had dissolved, it still served a purpose teaching grammar to potential ordinands. It was reconstituted in 1541 as a joint church state enterprise and operated for 400 years in the former monks' refectory. The statutes that constituted the school also specified the training and education of choristers for Chester Cathedral, an arrangement that ran in parallel for hundreds of years. It was one of seven schools in this category, the others being Canterbury, Rochester, Peterborough, Worcester, Gloucester, and Ely.
In 1869 new school buildings were constructed and they were formally opened by Gladstone.
The school motto is "Rex dedit, benedicat Deus” (The King gave it, may God bless it), which was given by John Saul Howson, Dean of Chester. John Saul Howson was the chief instrument in the building and endowing of the King's School, and in its reorganization on a broader basis.
Description
Since 1960, the King's School has been based at its Wrexham Road site on the outskirts of Chester. It has a Sixth Form Centre, a library (the Wickson Library), a theatre (the Vanbrugh Theatre), and a music school (the Tim Turvey Music School). Sports facilities include a swimming pool, all-weather sports pitches, grass sports pitches, a cricket pavilion, and a boat house on the River Dee.
Academia
In September 2011, King's adopted a new curriculum alongside its shift from an eight-period to a five-period day. This involved substantial changes, introducing 'enrichment' lessons and replacing the GCSE courses with IGCSE.
The Junior School provides a broad curriculum designed to develop pupils' knowledge, skills and independence through a balanced programme of academic and practical learning. Pupils study English, mathematics, science, history, geography, technology, computing, art, music, modern languages, physical education, games, religious studies, personal, social and health education (PSHE) and guided reading, alongside a programme of activities. The curriculum is supported by educational visits, workshops, music and drama opportunities, residential courses and optional overseas trips. Teaching aims to develop literacy, numeracy, enquiry and problem-solving skills while providing appropriate support for pupils with special educational needs and additional challenge for more able learners.
The Senior School follows a broad academic curriculum designed to provide a balanced education while allowing increasing subject specialisation as pupils progress through the school. In Years 7–9, pupils study a wide range of subjects including English, mathematics, sciences, humanities, modern foreign languages, computing, creative arts, physical education and personal, social and health education (PSHE). GCSE study begins in Year 10, with English, English Literature and mathematics compulsory, alongside science, at least one modern foreign language (subject to individual needs), and a range of optional subjects. In the Sixth Form, most students initially study four A Levels before specialising in three in their final year. The curriculum is supported by careers education, PSHE, enrichment opportunities and the option to complete the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ).
In 2025, 84% of all GCSE grades were at grade 7-9 (A/A* equivalent), with 66% of all grades at grade 9/8, and 96% at grade 6-9 (A*-B).
In 2025, 25% of all A-Level grades where A*, 60% were A*/A, 85% A*-B
Extra-curricular activities
The school's pupils engage the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme.
The King's School's Combined Cadet Force (CCF) is a voluntary contingent within the CCF. It consists of the mandatory Army Section, with an additional RAF Section. The King's School has also been successful in the F1 in Schools competition, sending a team to the global finals in 2016. In July 2004 Head of Maths Mr Barry Lewis was involved in North Wales Police's Operation Sadir due to images found on his school computer
Publications
The Herald is the school's magazine and is published on a termly basis for parents and pupils. Its articles are about current pupils, teachers and former pupils.
Sports
Hockey
In 2011, King's appointed hockey coach Simon Egerton, who is a member of the England hockey team.
Rowing
The King's School Rowing Club has been in existence since 1883 with the school's boat house situated on the River Dee in the centre of Chester and is affiliated to British Rowing. Rowing is offered as part of the sports curriculum from the third year onwards.
The King's rowers often compete in the top levels of school's competitions, and count numerous ex-Boat-Race crew members alongside National and Olympic squad members amongst it Old King's Scholars Alumni including seven Olympians, three in the London 2012 games. Gold and silver medallists – two gold and one silver Olympic medallists. Olympic Finalists – three in 2012. 14 x Oxford and Cambridge Blues. 47 x GB Senior World Championship representatives – since 1960 and 36 x GB Junior International representatives – since 1970.
Headmaster
The school's headmaster (since 2017) is George Hartley.
Previous headmasters
1981–2000 - Roger Wickson, historian
2000-2007 - Tim Turvey, biologist
A full list of previous headmasters are engraved on a board displayed in the school.
Notable alumni
Post-1900
Godfrey Ashby, former bishop of St John's, South Africa
Michael Axworthy
Hagan Bayley, scientist and head of chemical biology at the University of Oxford
Graham Benton, British and world indoor rowing champion
Michael Burdekin, civil engineer and emeritus professor of the University of Manchester
John Carroll, mathematician, physicist and former professor of natural philosophy at the University of Aberdeen
Matthew Collins (academic), archaeologist
Rob Leslie-Carter, engineer
Sir James Dutton, former commandant-general, Royal Marines
Rob Eastaway, mathematician and ex-puzzle writer for New Scientist
Simon Edge, novelist
James Fair, England and Great Britain hockey goalkeeper
Nickolas Grace, actor
George Guest, organist and choirmaster at St John's College, Cambridge
Matthew Hancock, former secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport (2018), secretary of state for health and social care (2018–21) and member of Parliament for West Suffolk
Phillip Hallam-Baker, computer scientist, mostly known for his contributions to Internet security
Pre-1900
Randle Ayrton, film and stage actor, producer and director
John Bradbury, 1st Baron Bradbury, civil servant and chief economic advisor to the government during World War I
Thomas Brassey, civil engineer
Edward Brerewood, mathematician, logician and antiquary
Charles Burney, music historian, musician, composer and philosopher
John Byrom, poet and developer of geometric shorthand
Randolph Caldecott, illustrator
William Chaderton, academic, clergyman and former Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Cambridge
John Churton Collins, literary critic and former professor of English literature at the University of Birmingham
Piers Claughton, clergyman and former archdeacon of London
Thomas Legh Claughton, first bishop of St Albans and former Oxford Professor of Poetry
George Cotton, clergyman and educator, known for establishing schools in British India
Sir Peter Denis, 1st Baronet, naval officer and member of Parliament
John Downham, clergyman and theologian
Joseph Everett Dutton, pathologist, physician and tropical medicine specialist