An independent school has been classed as “excellent” by the Independent Schools Inspectorate

Kent College Pembury was examined by inspectors in June and their report just published found the school to be “excellent” in both academic achievement and personal development.

The school was also found to be fully compliant with the Independent Schools Standards, including the National Minimum Standards for Boarding and the Early Years Foundation Stage.

The body is the equivalent in the private schools sector to Ofsted.

The inspectors found that students made rapid progress in their learning and achieved highly in public examinations. They were exceptionally creative and performed well in artistic subjects.

They were eloquent communicators, able to readily articulate sophisticated viewpoints and demonstrate advanced study and thinking skills.

The headmistress, Katrina Handford, said: “I am so proud to lead such a fantastic school.

“Over the course of the inspection, every student, member of staff and parent who contributed was a credit to Kent College.”

“The pupils, in particular, were keen to speak to the inspectors and did so with such confidence, maturity and positivity.”

The full ISI inspection report can be read here.

Kent College was founded in 1886. It has 513 pupils between the ages of three and 19, of whom 67 are boarders.

The school is running events for families throughout the autumn including a forest fun open day for nursery and prep school children on Saturday, September 16, and an open morning for the senior school on Saturday, October 7.

The school near Tunbridge Wells takes boys up to Year 6, and afterwards is a girls school.