Since its establishment, Christ's Hospital has been a charity school, with a core aim to offer children from disadvantaged backgrounds the chance of a better education.

The historic Court of Governors survives as a formal institution consisting of over 650 benefactors but its powers have since the 19th century been largely transferred to the smaller Council of Almoners.

Henry VIII had already granted the use of Greyfriars to the city for the relief of the poor and to house the homeless children which the magistrates had taken notice of.

By the end of the 17th century the buildings had been rebuilt with the assistance of Sir Christopher Wren, a governor of Christ's Hospital, and Nicholas Hawksmoor, who designed the Writing School (1696).

This created the Royal Mathematical School, the original purpose of which was to train mathematicians and navigators who would serve as naval officers and merchant seafarers.

Isaac Newton, Jonas Moore, John Flamsteed, and Edmund Halley contributed to plans for the course of study of the new school within the foundation.

The governors had been paying a teacher in Hertford from 1653, and the removal of some children from London following the Great Fire strengthened the link with the town.

In 1778 the last girls were moved out of London to join the others at Hertford, where the school was rebuilt 1795–1798 to provide accommodation for the new numbers.

In November 1815 the "most infamous Regency flagellant”, an MP named Sir Eyre Coote, entered Christ's Hospital mathematical school, sent away the younger boys and paid the older ones for a session of mutual flogging.

The school nurse arrived to find him buttoning his breeches; England's satirical press had come of age in time to make the very most of such a moment.

The foundation stone was laid by Edward, Prince of Wales on 23 October 1897, on behalf of the sovereign, the date being the anniversary of the birthday of the founder.

Sexual abuse of pupils from 1969 to 2001[11] led to six former teachers being convicted of offences after more than 20 former students made complaints to the police in 2016.

The complex includes a tall water tower, a dining hall facing a quadrangle flanked by collannaded wings, and a school chapel.

[14] The red brick colonnades are joined to the dining hall with stone archways which were designed by John Shaw in 1836 for the old school in Newgate Street in the City of London.

[14] The Big School is noted for its large Perpendicular-style windows, its octagonal turrets and a square clock tower on the roof.

[14] The dining hall is dominated by an 86-foot (26 m)-long painting by Antonio Verrio which depicts the foundation of the Royal Mathematical School at Christ's by King Charles II in 1673.

[19] The walls of the chapel nave are adorned with a series of sixteen murals, painted by Frank Brangwyn in tempera in 1912-23.

One of the Christ's Hospital traditions is marching into lunch with the band, which is done every day except Tuesday, Thursday, and Sunday, weather permitting.

Another is the annual speech-day parade, where the Lord Mayor of London and his procession watch the school perform a march-past through the main quad.

The Tudor school uniform consists of belted, long blue coats, knee-breeches, yellow socks, and bands at the neck.

[25] As a guide, children entering Christ's Hospital at age 11 into Year 7 need to show evidence of academic potential, working towards the higher end of the ability range in both the Mathematics and English National Curriculum syllabuses.

John and Frances had no children of their own but they did have strong family connections with Newbury, Reading, Twickenham and the City of London.

Children from these areas are therefore encouraged to apply for a place at Christ's Hospital via the West Gift Bursary fund.

Famous alumni of Christ's Hospital Music School include conductors Sir Colin Davis, Charles Hazlewood, Adrian Bawtree and Simon Joly, trumpeter David Mason (formerly Principal Trumpet of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra), composer Tim Benjamin, and composer and conductor Constant Lambert.

Throughout the school's history, many pupils have gone on to take up choral and organ scholarships at Oxford and Cambridge universities or have gained places at leading music conservatories.

The Music Department organises a public concert every February at St John's, Smith Square in London.

The school is also famous as the first place in England to host a complete cycle of the chamber music of Brahms, under the direction of the then Head of Piano John Thwaites.

The band led the procession at the Queen's 80th birthday parade in London on 21 April 2006 and has played at Twickenham Stadium on a number of occasions.

An Arts Centre complex designed by architect Bill Howell was opened in 1974, including a theatre with Tudor-style auditorium, an extension to the music school, the 'Octagon' rehearsal/performance space, and classrooms.

Former pupils in theatre and film include Jason Flemyng, Leo Gregory,[30] James D'Arcy, Michael Wilding and Roger Allam.