Which school in Canterbury is considered the world’s oldest continuously operating school?

The King’s School, Canterbury is considered the world’s oldest continuously operating school.

The school traces its history to education connected with Canterbury’s religious institutions in AD 597. That date is linked to Augustine of Canterbury’s mission and the establishment of an abbey and cathedral community in the city. The school operates beside Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, England.

The institution was re-founded under a royal charter in 1541 during the reign of Henry VIII. That later re-foundation is why some descriptions distinguish the ancient educational tradition from the modern school’s formal legal history.

“Oldest school” claims can be difficult because institutions may have gaps, mergers, or changing names. The King’s School is generally described as the oldest continuously operating school, while Shishi High School in China makes an older foundation claim that is disputed because of an interruption in its operation.