King's Ely

Since 2019, John Attwater, previously head of King Edward’s, Witley. After Rugby School, he took a first in PPE at Oxford, then a PGCE. Naturally musical, his years as a chorister at Chichester Cathedral and a first teaching post at Wells Cathedral

King’s takes pupils from the nursery, aged 2, through to 18, with key entry points at ages 7, 11, 13 and 16. Entry to the nursery is without assessment. For the pre-prep (reception to year 2), pupils are invited for informal assessment through play

Around a quarter of pupils leave post GCSE, but this number is declining, especially since the establishment of the sixth form centre in the Old Palace. Leavers head for the Cambridge sixth forms; presumably money is a factor, but some want a change,

In 2025, 44 per cent 9-7 at GCSE; 21 per cent A*/A at A level (73 per cent A*-B).

Parents all mention the quality and dedication of the teaching staff: ‘They were all good and I could pick out some really outstanding ones.’ ‘We try to value children in different ways and provide lots of opportunity to find out what they are good

Plenty of screening throughout the pre-prep and prep schools so any difficulties are picked up quickly. Around 25 per cent are monitored in the prep school, usually for dyslexia or dyscalculia with a few on the neurodivergent spectrum. In the prep,

King’s is a cathedral school and the chance to become a chorister and enjoy the outstanding experience of training, rehearsing and singing the cathedral liturgy on a daily basis is now offered equally to boys and girls of the same age. Training

The school makes the most of being just a few minutes from the Great Ouse and pupils all have the chance to row from year 8 onwards. The King’s boathouse is close to that of the Cambridge elite teams. Parents all mention the opportunities offered by

From aged 7. Originally, all choristers had to board but this is no longer the case though many prefer to flexi-board. ‘They become tremendous friends with each other and sometimes with rehearsals and late services it’s the best way,’ said a

Tutor groups kept through the school, with the same member of staff, and pupils also belong to a house, day or boarding, which will be single sex above year 8. All houses have common room space; boarders have their bedrooms and day houses give pupils

Attracts wide mix of backgrounds: traditional business and farming East Anglian families and, increasingly, the offspring of Cambridge academics, scientists and medics, plus those with London-based careers These parents are looking for ‘a broader

Choristers receive scholarships of 40 per cent plus a means-tested bursary, if necessary. Academic, music, sport, art, STEM and drama scholarships available.

This is a school that provides an excellent academic education within an extraordinarily broad extracurricular programme. Opportunities abound and pupils are fortunate to spend their days among the medieval marvels of the cathedral and close. Parents