Fees and Charges

Invoices are issued termly for payment in advance. All of the fees and supplemental charges are stated exclusive of any taxes, which will be added (where applicable).

Fees should be paid by the due date as stated on the invoice. Extra charges for chargeable items are payable in arrears through the school billing system. Payment by bank transfer is preferable or failing that, cheques drawn on a UK bank account; cash is not accepted. Credit cards can be used to settle any fees and charges. Credit card payments can be taken over the telephone or in person at the Finance office. Card details must not be emailed. AMEX is not accepted.

For those making payments from non-UK bank accounts, we recommend use of Flywire’s international payment service. This is a system set up specifically for educational international fund transfers and offers a cost effective and efficient route for parents to transfer money to our UK bank account. Exchange rates are competitive, and all is transacted online without the need for time consuming paperwork. Flywire offer exchange rate guarantees (under their Terms and Conditions). Please see www.flywire.com/pay/kingsely

The School Fees include lunch for Day pupils and breakfast, lunch, and evening meal for Boarders. The tuition fee also includes school trips where they are compulsory for whole year groups, an issue of basic stationery and textbooks up to year 11 and standard GCSE examination entry fees. 6th form students are also expected to buy their own textbooks to allow individual annotation. This may also apply to a limited number of texts in earlier years.

Fees for A-level examinations, fees for elective school trips, any agreed one to one Learning Support provision, home-school minibus usage, and music and drama exams will be charged in addition to the standard tuition fees. Any charges arising from requests for examination re-marks, appeals, or late changes in examination entries requested by pupils/parents will be asked for payment in advance via debit/credit card or bank transfer prior to submitting the request to the examination board.

The School reserves the right to charge for any damage caused and the replacement of lost items.

The contract terms for payment of School Fees and Notice are mainly set out in Sections 4 and 9 of the King’s Ely Terms and Conditions. It should be noted also that the GCSE and A-Level courses are each over a period of 2 years, including any “study leave” periods and the period after examinations. The fees for each course are spread over two years or six terms with three terms per year charged equally over the academic year to spread the payments; and each term’s fees cannot be considered in isolation.

Individual Music/Drama/Trinity lessons are delivered by Visiting Music Teachers (VMTs).  The normal termly charge is for a "package" of 10 lessons, with durations set by age.  For pupils in Years 12 and 13, 10 x 45 minute lessons at £364 per term (£1,092 per academic year) and pupils in Year 11 and below, 10 x 35 minute lessons at £283 per term (£849 per academic year).

Music lessons are invoiced by the self-employed VMT concerned in advance direct to the parents, except where the cost of music lessons is offered as part of a Scholarship/Chorister or other package, in which case VMTs will invoice the School directly each term.  Ceasing of lessons should be notified directly to the VMT a term in advace otherwise fees to the parents will be charged by the VMT.

Any missed lessons, without sufficient prior notice to cancel the music/instrument/singing lesson will be billed directly to the parents, including those where School sponsored music lessons are awarded.

Any package of individual one-to-one Learning Support lessons agreed with parents will be charged at a rate of £60.06/hour irrespective of the age of the child concerned.

Subject to availability of beds in the appropriate year group, it may be possible to offer overnight accommodation for Day pupils on an occasional or regular basis at a cost of £73 per night in Senior School (Years 9–13) and £61 per night in Prep School (Years 3–8).

This nightly charge is applicable for all boarding arrangements whether extended or on a regular but flexible basis. In some boarding houses it may also be possible to offer a “late stay” arrangement encompassing tea and first prep, dependent on space and demand. For all flexi and occasional boarding needs please contact the Director of Boarding in the first instance.  Additional meals can be taken by Day pupils at a charge of £2.50 per meal.

We operate a scheme whereby funds towards school fees can be paid in advance attracting a small discount.  If Fees in Advance are used to pay fees, the Acceptance Deposit is required in addition to the FIA.

At the start of each term the FIA value held by the school must always be equal to or above the combined value of the Acceptance Deposit and the Additional Deposit for International domiciled pupils. When fees are paid in advance, any extra charges should be settled each term as per the invoice issued.

For further information, please contact the Chief Financial Officer and Deputy COO, Mrs Fiona Sanders-Hewett.

Our bursaries are means-tested and the process is thorough and impartial, ensuring that our funds go to those who are most deserving. Throughout each year we receive applications for help in times of unexpected hardship, enabling children to experience continuity and stability when they need it most.

Until 1997, the Assisted Places scheme supported families for whom independent education was out of reach. Many of our alumni benefitted from this scheme as well as from the generosity of previous generations of benefactors of our school.

Without an endowment to support the school we are limited in our capacity to provide funds to those in need. However, we want to continue to provide support if at all possible.

We hope that our community will support this vital work, bringing in young people who enrich our school and giving them a life-changing education. If you feel that you or your child benefitted from an education at King’s Ely then please support our Bursary fund.

Bursary Application Timelines - September 2025 Entry

Year 12 Entry and Current Year 11 (including siblings) Continuations

Year 9 Entry and Other Continuations (for pupils not in Year 11)

As an alternative to paying your School Fees termly, we are delighted to advise that you can now choose to pay your School Fees and Extras via monthly repayments through School Fee Plan*.

Example fee monthly repayment amounts:

Credit is subject to status, affordability, terms and conditions apply, over 18s only.  Rates subject to change.  Correct at time of publication, August 2023.

School Fee Plan has over twenty years' experience in providing this service to parents and we are confident that you will recieve exceptional service from their dedicated team.

To find out more about School Fee Plan and how to apply, click on the link below:

School Fee Plan | King's Ely

The King's School, Ely, is an appointed representative of Premium Credit Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

*School Fee Plan is a trading style of Premium Credit Limited (Company Number 02015200).