The school was founded in 1549 after Protector Somerset sold Corpus Christi Hall on behalf of King Edward VI to the people of Maidstone for £200.

Additional funding from Kent County Council allowed the school to open a designated Performing Arts building, new sports pavilion, and computing and science block between 2017 and 2019.

The main sports at the school are rugby, football and cricket, but participation also includes rowing, cross country, athletics, handball, and basketball.

The school has a Combined Cadet Force, with Navy, Army and RAF sections accepting students on a voluntary basis when they reach year nine.

[7] The RAF section regularly enters teams into both regional and national competitions and have won a total of nine Air Squadron Trophies[8][9] In 2001 two senior students plead guilty to a series of violent and racially aggravated charges relating to abuse of junior CCF cadets.

Former pupils of the school are called "Old Maidstonians" and include: Art, Music & Literature Business & Commerce Media, television & film Military Politics & government Religion Science & academia Sport Other