The Central School, started in 1883, was the first English school in the Malay States. It was renamed the King Edward VII School when the present building was opened in 1905. The angsana trees of "The most picturesque school ground in Malaya" were planted in 1910. The school excelled in sports, especially football, rugby, hockey and athletics.

During the Japanese Occupation, the school was the base of the garrison commander who converted the classrooms in totorture chambers and dug up theplaygrounds to grow food