King's School Rochester Weekly News
Boarders go Back to the Future
It was a busy weekend for our Boarders. On Friday evening, the Vines Hall was opened up for basketball and the girls had great fun taking part in the activity. On Saturday everyone had an amazing time at the theatre watching Back to the Future, with the highlight being the moment the DeLorean flew! On the way home, we stopped via Covent Garden before returning for a Chinese takeaway, chosen by the winners of the Mario Tournament.
Back at school, we hosted a House paper aeroplane competition to celebrate engineering and STEM. The furthest flight reached 9.5 metres, while the longest time in the air was 3.6 seconds—well done to all the creative engineers!
In House meetings, pupils have been sharing how Halloween is celebrated in their home countries. So far, we’ve learned about German trick-or-treating (Süßes oder Saures) and we look forward to hearing about Spanish celebrations on Friday.
We were also pleased to welcome a few flexi boarders this week. They settled in quickly, felt supported, and enjoyed the routines. We encourage more day pupils to contact admissions@kings-rochester.co.uk to find out more about joining us.
This weekend, the pupils are looking forward to a trip to an escape room for a fun challenge.
Water for the World
Over two days Year 8 pupils took part in a King’s Diploma Enquiry, exploring the cross-curricular theme “Water for the World”.
Day One began with a dramatic interpretation of Coleridge’s The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, before pupils investigated water stress, calculated their own water footprints and explored the unique chemical properties of water. They then took part in an extended role-play on global water conflicts, focusing on the impact of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam.
Day Two examined the effects of climate change on floods and droughts, followed by an insightful talk from a volunteer from WaterAid UK on clean water, sanitation and hygiene in Least Developed Countries. Pupils worked in small groups to develop creative solutions to real-world water challenges, framed around the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
Pupils participated in a “Walk for Water”, carrying 5 litres of water over a 5 km route (10 laps of the Paddock!)—reflecting the daily journeys of women and girls in developing countries. Pupils were invited to wear an item of blue clothing and make a £2 donation to WaterAid UK – collectively enough to fund a household toilet for a family in Bangladesh.
The two days offered rich learning experiences, fostered creativity, critical thinking and global awareness, while helping pupils develop skills that are increasingly valued in today’s interconnected world.
An Oar-some Day at the Rowing Fundraiser
We had a brilliant day by the river for our rowing fundraiser, with an excellent turnout from pupils, parents and Old Roffensians. Former pupils returned to race against current, rekindling plenty of friendly rivalry and school spirit.
Parents also got involved—both on the water with “learn to row” sessions, and on land with rowing machine challenges. The energy and enthusiasm throughout the day made it a true celebration of rowing within our community.
A huge thank you goes to the dedicated staff, parents and volunteers who made the event such a success. Thanks to everyone’s participation, we raised an incredible £1,100 to support and grow our rowing programme.
September 2025