Our History

Founded by Royal Charter in 1549, Maidstone Grammar School has a long and proud history that can be traced back to an earlier school from the 1340s, making it one of the oldest schools in England – and indeed, the world. While much has changed over the centuries, and as we strive to provide our students with the best that today’s education has to offer, MGS remains grounded in the values enshrined in its original Charter. Honouring its rich traditions while embracing innovation, the school ensures that students are best prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.

On July 4th 1549, King Edward VI granted Maidstone its first Royal Charter, which also gave “to the Mayor, Jurats, and Commonalty, and to their successors, full power and authority to set up a Grammar School in the aforesaid town of Maidstone.” By virtue of this Charter, the school was founded.

However, MGS can claim an even older lineage. It is recorded that the 1549 foundation was actually the reinstatement of an earlier school. The school’s origins can be traced back to a Grey Friars’ Order School established in 1348, originally housed at the top of Gabriel’s Hill. By the 1390s, it had moved to All Saints College, attached to the church. By 1549, the school was based in Corpus Christi Hall at the bottom of Earl Street, part of which still exists today. In 1871, MGS moved again, this time to Tonbridge Road, before finally settling at its current Barton Road site in 1930.

Our history continues to shape the school’s identity today. Each student belongs to one of four Houses – Barton, College, Corpus Christi, and Tonbridge – all named after the different sites occupied by the school throughout its long history. Our founders understood that a truly successful school must not only deliver academic excellence but also promote character development. We uphold this vision, dedicating time, expertise, and resources to developing well-rounded individuals who contribute meaningfully to society.

On September 29th 1559, Queen Elizabeth I granted a second Royal Charter to Maidstone, emphasising the school’s continuity and long-term purpose. This Charter ensured that MGS would “stand and continue a Grammar School forever for the inhabitants and Freemen of the Town and Parish of Maidstone.” It also enshrined arrangements to guarantee that students could be “freely taught.”

Maidstone Grammar School’s early homes, Corpus Christi Hall and later Tonbridge Road, served the school well for over 300 years. Since moving to Barton Road in 1930, nearly five centuries have passed since our original founding. Throughout these years, MGS has endured and adapted, navigating momentous events such as the Plague, the English Civil War, the Great War, World War II, and the Covid-19 pandemic.

Since relocating to our current home on Barton Road, the school has continued to evolve, undergoing major campus developments and investments to ensure that we provide for both current and future generations.

Yet, through all these changes, our traditions have remained steadfast, and our commitment to the values enshrined in our original Charter endures. This balance between tradition and innovation defines our approach to education, ensuring that MGS students are fully prepared for the challenges of the 21st century and beyond.

MGS has stood the test of time, and may it continue to do so for many centuries more.

Olim Meminisse Juvabit