St Lawrence College

Only 75 minutes to London, yet set on the Kent Coast St Lawrence is a hidden gem and one of the UK’s best kept secrets.  Small enough to ensure that every individual receives the attention and care they require, but large enough to provide outstanding facilities and opportunities for all.

Educating children from the age of 3 to 18 years, this safe and caring school is set in over 80 acres of spacious, safe and stunning grounds which house beautiful old architecture combined with new modern builds and facilities. Founded in 1879, St Lawrence is home to 650 boarding and day pupils from local, national and international families.  We welcome boarders from 7 years of age in a wonderful purpose build boarding house on the main campus. Facilities include a historic Dining Hall, Chapel, Library and a newly opened specialist Science, Art and Design Technology Centre.

Academic standards are high across the school and an extensive choice of i/GCSEs and A-levels are offered, with an excellent success rate of pupils going on to their first choice university including Oxbridge. Small class sizes ensure that teachers can look after the individual needs of each pupil, so that high-flyers gain their places at the top universities, and less able pupils develop skills in areas which will serve them well in the future. St Lawrence College is the only High Performance Learning World Class School in Kent and one of only 14 globally.

Our school is founded on a strong boarding ethos and the school is a vibrant and exciting place with a strong sense of community and superb pastoral care. Boarding is central to school life and is one of its great strengths. A full boarding environment is offered and exeat weekends are optional. There is a wide range of evening and weekend activities for boarders as well as additional events and regular day trips to explore the Kent coast and beyond. Boarding pupils enjoy a 'home-from-home' experience, both in terms of comfort and atmosphere. Ongoing investment has created some truly remarkable boarding facilities, and all rooms are en-suite.  With a large number of children from the Armed Forces we are able to offer a full boarding school experience, however we also have families who live in London and send their children to St Lawrence as a weekly boarder.

Sporting facilities are exceptional, and expert coaching is provided at all levels in a variety of disciplines including hockey, rugby, netball and cricket. The large Sports Centre houses a fitness suite, squash courts, climbing wall, dance studio and large sports hall for badminton, basketball etc. There are a variety of high quality outdoor courts and floodlit pitches including a water-based all-weather pitch, a heated indoor swimming pool, endless grounds and activities to engage even those not keen on Sport!  Our Elite Performance Director, who is former Great British hockey player with over 150 caps is on hand to ensure that our Elite Players are put through their paces daily as well as supported academically.

Music, drama and the arts flourish, enhanced by the school’s 500-seat theatre, and there are many opportunities for pupils to perform.  All pupils benefit from an extensive activities programme throughout the week which includes the Combined Cadet Force and a thriving Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, as well as chess, archery, golf, fencing, football, sailing and horse riding to name a few.

St Lawrence is set in a safe, self-contained campus situated within easy walking distance to beautiful beaches. It has excellent transport links to Europe, being near both Dover and the Channel Tunnel. London is only 75 minutes away by high-speed rail link to St Pancras International. Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted are under two hours away.