Welcome to KING's ELY
Frequently Asked Questions
Location
| Where is King's Ely? |
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| King’s Ely is in the City of Ely, a safe, historic, and beautiful city of about 30,000 people. It's a 15-minute ride from Cambridge. The school is closely connected to the magnificent Cathedral at the city's centre. |
| How can I get to Ely? |
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| Ely is well-connected. It's only a 5-minute walk from the boarding houses to the city centre. The railway station is close-by with regular trains to Cambridge (15 mins) and London (75 mins). Stansted airport is 45 minutes away by train, and Heathrow is a two-hour ride. |
School History, Size, and Community
| How old is the school? |
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| Founded in 970AD, King’s Ely is one of the oldest schools in England, with over 1,000 years of experience. |
| How big is the school? |
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| We are a community of 1,150 students (ages 2-18). It is divided into: Senior School (610 pupils), Prep (400 pupils), and Pre-Prep/Nursery (125 pupils). |
| Pastoral Care |
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| The school's pastoral care is a significant strength, recognized in the March 2025 Inspection and by the Talk Education Award in 2025 for Pastoral Care and Wellbeing. Individual care is given by Form Teachers, Heads of Year, and House Masters/Mistresses. |
| What is the gender mix at the school? |
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| It is truly a co-ed community, with the school equally divided: 50% boys and 50% girls as of September 2025. |
| Do you have to wear uniform? |
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| Yes. It creates a sense of community and positive mental attitude. Prep School wears a tartan skirt/grey trouser option with a navy blazer. Year 9+ switch to a pinstripe suit (trouser/skirt option). Sixth Form can wear their own choice of smart 'business attire'. |
School Day, Curriculum, and Academics
| What is the length of the school day? |
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| Registration is at 8.30am. Lessons start at 9.00am. Formal lessons end at 3.45pm (Up to Year 5) and 4.30pm (Year 6+), followed by the extra-curricular hour until 5.30pm. |
| Do we offer a Saturday School? |
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| There is no formal Saturday morning school, but Senior School matches, long concert rehearsals, and drama performances are scheduled over the weekends. |
| What are the strengths of the school? |
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| The strength lies in its broad and balanced curriculum, especially in the Prep section. It's best known for its Creative Arts (Music, Drama, Photography, Fine Art, Textiles), STEM, and Sport (Independent School of the Year for Sport 2024). |
| Do you offer IB or A Levels? |
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| King’s Ely offers only the A level programme. It values creativity, which is limited in the IB offering, and provides 29 different A level subject choices. |
| What are the A level options available? |
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| 29 different subjects are offered, including the Arts (Fine Art, Photography, Music), STEM (Maths, Physics, Computer Science), Humanities (History, Economics, Psychology), Languages, and BTEC/CTEC in Sport and Business. A minimum academic standard (e.g., Grade 7 in GCSE Maths for A level Maths) is required for some. |
| Is the same wide choice available at GCSE? |
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| Absolutely. Students study Maths, English, Religious Studies, and Double Science (compulsory) and choose four additional subjects from a list including Music, Drama, History, Engineering, Triple Science, and various Art/Design subjects. |
| Tell me a little more about the Year 11 one-year IGCSE programme. |
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| It's an ideal launchpad to A levels for students who need to build English confidence or settle in. Students study a minimum of 5 IGCSEs (Maths and English are compulsory) and choose three from subjects like Chemistry, Business, and Computer Science. Unconditional Year 12 offers can be made as early as December. |
| Does the school offer ESOL? |
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| Yes. Specialised ESOL lessons are available from Prep to Year 11, charged separately. The Year 11 one-year IGCSE program includes 7 English lessons in the quoted fee. Year 12 students have IELTS lessons scheduled, with an average IELTS grade of 7.5 (2025). |
| What are the exam results like for international students? |
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| A Level (2025): 32% of A level students were international, with 56% of their grades being A and A*. One-third of international students secured all grades at A* or A. IGCSE (2025): 46% of IGCSE students achieved grades 7-9. GCSE (2025): 62% of all grades for international students were at 6-9. |
International Students and Admissions
| How many international students are there? |
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| About 200 international students from across 40 different nationalities. The biggest contingents are from China and Hong Kong, but many others (Germany, Ukraine, Spain, Russia, Vietnam, etc.) are represented. |
| What are the common points of entry? |
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| International students can join from Year 5 onwards. Popular entry points are Year 7, Year 9, Year 10 (start of GCSEs), Year 11 (one-year programme), and Year 12 (A level programme). |
| What assessments are carried out? |
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| We primarily use the Password Assessment platform (English and Maths) for non-native English speakers. The English assessment includes a short written piece. Some students may take the Quest or GL assessment. |
| Do the assessments need to be supervised? |
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| Yes, all tests must be supervised by an agent, school, or British Council to ensure the work is the student's own. Remote monitoring via TEAMS/ZOOM is an option. |
| Is there an interview? |
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| Yes, all students who pass the assessment are offered a 30-minute interview, normally with a member of the leadership team, in person or via TEAMS (ZOOM is no longer preferred). Students are encouraged to attend alone. |
| Do you help with the student visa? |
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| We hold a UKVI licence and can sponsor a Child Student Visa by issuing a CAS after the place is accepted and deposit paid. We cannot offer further support with securing the visa, and this is the family's responsibility. Parent Visas are only applicable until the student is 12 years old. |
| What is the best time to apply? |
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| The earlier the better as places are awarded in order of registration. For GCSEs, aim for the beginning of March; for A Levels (especially sought-after courses), the beginning of January. |
| Are there any scholarships available? |
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| A limited number of scholarships (Academic, Sport, STEM, Music, Drama & Dance, Art) are available for entry into Years 9 and 12. The maximum scholarship is 10% off the day fee. Separate application and assessment are required (Year 12 deadline: 24.10.25; Year 9 deadline: 4.12.25). |
| What are the fees? |
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| Fees are hosted on the website and include VAT. For example, a Year 7 boarding fee is £37,437 per year (2025), rising to £49,917 for Years 12 and 13. ESOL fees are charged separately (up to a maximum of £6,318 for Years 5-10). |
Short-Term Stays and Summer Programmes
| Do you offer short term stays? |
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| Short-term stays are not traditional but are increasingly recognized. The minimum stay is two terms (Michaelmas and Lent) to ensure a settled and fulfilling experience, as a single term is often disruptive. Enquiries should be directed to admissions@kingsely.org. |
| Can my child attend a Summer School at King’s Ely? |
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| King's Ely does not run its own summer camps. Studio Cambridge hosts summer camps for five weeks over the summer holidays, utilizing the school's facilities. This is a good way to experience the school site and improve English. |
Boarding Life and Care
| How many boarders are there? |
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| We have 185 boarders across seven gender- and age-specific boarding houses. About 25% of the boarding population are British. |
| At what age can a student board at King’s Ely? |
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| Boarding starts in earnest from Year 5, though younger siblings are occasionally admitted. |
| Are the rooms shared? |
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| Yes, in most cases. Single rooms are mainly for Year 13 students or those with positions of responsibility. Shared rooms are encouraged for an enriching, supported experience that prevents isolation. There are no ensuite rooms; bathroom facilities are shared. |
| What sort of activities do the boarding students enjoy? |
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| A range of organized activities are offered (ice skating, rock climbing, punting in Cambridge, laser quest). Students can also use school facilities (sports, music practice rooms, workshops) and houses run their own activities (baking, film screenings). Students are also encouraged to manage their own time. |
| Do boarding students need a guardian? |
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| Yes, all international students in boarding houses require a guardian with resident status in the UK who lives within easy access of Ely. The guardian acts as the family representative for emergencies and consultations. |
| Do you have exeat weekends? |
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| Yes, three per academic term, plus half term holidays, during which students must leave the boarding houses to stay with guardians or school friends. |
| Can students go to Cambridge/London at weekends? Can they go into town after school? |
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| Independence is age-related: Prep boarders are always accompanied. Year 9+ are allowed into Ely after school and weekends in a small group. Year 11+ can travel to Cambridge. Year 12+ can go to London with parental permission. |
| What is the food like at King’s Ely? |
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| All food is freshly prepared daily by accomplished chefs. Meals are served in The 14th Century Monastic Barn (Years 12/13 use The Old Palace refectory for lunch). The menu is wide-ranging, with meat, vegetarian, and vegan options. Senior boarding houses have kitchens for students to prepare their own food. |
Safety, Security, and Wellbeing
| Will my child be safe and secure? |
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| Every step is taken to ensure safety. The school is interwoven with the safe City of Ely, but there is a full team of staff (tutors, Heads of Year, House staff, etc.) looking out for students. Bullying is not tolerated and is investigated immediately. |
| How secure is the site? |
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| The campus is not a closed site but is interwoven with the safe City of Ely. The Prep School is more contained. Older students cross roads, but there are established protocols for safety, including staff accompanying younger students at lunch and a staff presence around entrances/exits. |
| My child may be anxious about leaving family and home. How can you support them? |
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| The school has a full Health and Wellness Centre staffed by medical and mental health nurses, advisors, and counsellors. All teaching staff are trained to identify signs of anxiety and stress. Continuity of care is maintained with a student's existing medical advisor, and all international students are enrolled at the local GP. |
| What is the school’s mobile phone policy? |
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| No mobile phones are accessible during school hours (in-line with Government advice). If seen without permission, the device is confiscated. Boarders have special dispensation for calls home (e.g., during mid-morning break/lunch) in their rooms. Phones are made available in the evenings after prep. Years 12 and 13 do not have to relinquish their phones overnight, but all students up to Year 11 must hand them in nightly for safe charging. |
Extra-Curricular and Sport
| What is the extra-curricular programme like? |
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| This is a strength. Students in Prep and Senior Schools have access to a range of clubs and activities (sporting, creative, academic) during the extra-curricular hour to hone skills and facilitate making new friends. |
| What is the sport like at King’s Ely? |
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| Wide and varied. Prep focuses on core sports (rugby, netball, cricket), while older students can access up to 32 different sports (rowing, volleyball, ultimate frisbee). A Performance and a Participation Programme ensures all students find their level and passion. |
| Do you offer trips and are these at an additional cost to the fees? |
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| Curriculum-support trips (usually local) are included in the fee. Non-compulsory national and international trips (often during holidays) incur an additional charge. |
