The grammar school was established in 1674, following the death of William Harvey, the eminent physician and discoverer of the major details of blood circulation. A small class with one schoolmaster was first created, until Eliab Harvey, William's nephew, acting as executor of his uncle's will, founded a larger school of the name.
The current school is a selective 11 to 18 boys’ grammar school situated in
Folkestone with over 100 pupils on roll. The school is a high performing academic institution that is OFSTED outstanding and has a commitment to pupils regardless of their social background. There is staunch support for equality and a deep appreciation of diversity. Pupils value the academic ethos supported by a well-organised programme of personal development, welfare and well-being.
The curriculum is well planned, securely embedded and precisely sequenced across all years. It is hierarchical and developmental.
The school offers an extensive assortment of enrichment and extra-curricular
opportunities.
A thoughtfully planned careers programme makes exceptional use of alumni to talk about apprenticeships and finance, with memorable inputs from film directors, sports journalists and social media influencers. Careers provision is bespoke, so that significant numbers of students go on to university. Many of these are the first in their family to do so. The school meets the requirement of the Baker Clause, which requires schools to provide pupils in Years 8 to 13 with information about approved technical educational qualifications and apprenticeships