Cambridge Arts and Sciences (CATS)
School summary
Cambridge Arts and Sciences (CATS) is an independent, co-educational boarding and day school in Cambridge, taking pupils from 13 right through to age 24. With 534 on roll and 245 in the sixth form, it is a medium-sized school heavily weighted towards older students preparing for university and beyond. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated both its education and its pupils' personal development as excellent. One important caveat: the school did not meet ISI compliance standards at inspection, and prospective families should ask the school directly how this has been addressed.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 23 January 2026
Teaching & academics
The school offers GCSEs and A-levels under the leadership of Head Dr Hugh McCormick. A-level choices lean strongly towards the sciences and quantitative subjects, with Mathematics, Further Mathematics, Economics, Chemistry, Biology and Physics all popular, alongside Sociology. This makes CATS a natural fit for academically ambitious students aiming at competitive STEM and economics-related degree courses. Around 8.4 per cent of pupils receive SEN support.
Popular GCSE subjects
Head · Dr Hugh McCormick
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 245
A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
School life & ethos
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 8.43%
- EHC plans
- 0%
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £13,990 - £18,990
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £14,595 - £21,465
Schools nearby
Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts (CSVPA)
Cambridge, East of England
Cardiff Sixth Form College, Cambridge
Cambridge, East of England
Sancton Wood School
East of England
St John's College School
Cambridge, East of England
The Stephen Perse Foundation
East of England
St. Andrew's College Cambridge
Cambridge, East of England
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A Cambridge-based school built around serious academic preparation for university, with a marked science and maths focus. The excellent ISI judgements are encouraging, though the unmet compliance finding is worth raising before committing.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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Cambridge Arts and Sciences (CATS) 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.