King's school, Canterbury or Rugby School?

[Yasmin2013]

Torn between the two, liked both and now having a difficult time choosing, anyone with children there? :)

My DS's prep sent loads to Kings (over the years I'm talking of 100+) all different personalities: really clever, really sporty, really arty, really musical less clever, quirky, shy, friendly, anxious, cheerful. All bar one were/are very happy.
I've been to Rugby the town (admittedly only once) it's not for me, I know Canterbury well it's a lovely civilised city, a UNESCO world heritage site, great shops/restaurants, not bad culture for somewhere so small, because of the art school, a well regarded theatre, lots of students as there's two universities there, so very relaxed, the countryside around is stunning Kent is not called the garden of England for nothing and what would and did sell it for me the sea is just up the road loads of beaches catering for virtually everyone.

I don't know much about the school but I'm from canterbury and it's a lovely place
I used to see the kids walking around the town in between lessons and they always looked very happy
it's a massive part of the community

Another vote for kings Canterbury here, simply based on what a lovely place Canterbury is. Has you dc spent a night at each school to see which one they prefer?

We have friends with children at Kings. Lovely children, lovely school. Fast train connection to London and the continent. One of the few schools where boarding means full boarding, so it does not empty out at the weekend.

Thank you all for the helpful replies! Dutchmummy, no unfortunately my daughter hasn't spent a night at either yet but we'll see if we can arrange something. I believe Rugby's entry requirements for sixth form are at least 5 B's whereas King's is 7 and my daughter isn't necessarily the brightest child, although I think she's perfectly capable of getting 7 B's for GCSEs, she doesn't which is probably why she's leaning more towards Rugby.

I've had three children at King's Canterbury and 2 at Rugby. Rugby is better by FAR. Canterbury is jam packed with hordes of French schoolchildren on trips and crumby fudge shops. Rugby ain't too scenic for sure but the school buildings are fine!

Funny how we all see things differently I spent four years in and around Canterbury there were lots of tourists from all nations but it never bothered me, loads of students which give the place a young feel and I never went in a '"crumby" fudge shop in the whole time I was there. It's a civilised City with some nice shops and good restaurants goodishfacilities.
I'm not overly enamoured with Kent people who I find frankly a bit provincial but I doubt the good burghers of Rugby are any less provincial.

We looked at Kings for sporty DS but didn't like it - all the sports facilities/playing fields seemed miles away from the houses. He's at another full boarding school where the boys just have to step out of the door to kick a ball around. I also didn't take to the boys who toured us around the school, which put me off. But I know people who have had children there who have been very happy (we looked on the basis of a recommendation from friends, DS's prep hadn't sent anyone there for decades).

Rugby currently has a very good Head who is leaving to become the new Head of Westminster and the school has been flourishing under his tenureship. He has been at Rugby since 2001. There are a good number of totally integrated Arnold Scholars who are there because of benefiting from a boarding education and would not afford the fees otherwise. The pastoral care is excellent and my boys have been extremely happy there.

Yasmin2013 - just wondering what you decided. We are off to visit Kings next week having already seen and liked Rugby, so may be facing a similar decision for our DS.

Aaaabbbbcccc - what is it about Rugby that you prefer over Kings?

Any thoughts gratefully received, thank you.

Any further thoughts in the discussion between Kings Canterbury and Rugby? Two years have passed and I would like to know what people think in relation to the new Rugby head.

I heard he is trying to elevate results.
Is Rugby as happy a place as Kings seems to be or is it stricter?
We may be facing a decision between these two schools soon and I would like to know if there have been any changes since 2014.
How flexible are these schools in relation to leaving on Saturdays after the fixtures and returning on Sunday evenings?