MixedIndependentBoarding

King's College School, Cambridge

Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, East of England · CB3 9DN

Tracing its origins to 1440, King's College School in Cambridge is a small, mixed independent prep school for pupils aged 4 to 13, with around 385 children on roll. Its historic link to the choral tradition endures through chorister scholarships, and boarding is available alongside day places. With a favourable pupil-to-teacher ratio of about 13 to 1, classes stay manageable, and the school was judged excellent across the board by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, including for pupils' personal development. Notably, almost a quarter of pupils receive some form of SEN support, suggesting a setting attentive to a range of learning needs.

385

Pupils

excellent

ISI

£24,408

Day fees / yr

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Overview & data

Gender: Mixed
Type: independent (fee-paying) school
Age range: 4-13
Pupils: 385
Pupil:teacher ratio: 13
Location: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, East of England
Website: https://www.kcs.cambs.sch.uk/
Telephone: 01223 365814

Headteacher

Head Yvette Day

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Teaching & academics

The ISI awarded its highest rating of excellent for the quality of pupils' academic and other achievements, a strong signal of the standard maintained here. A pupil-to-teacher ratio of roughly 13 to 1 allows for close attention, and the school prepares children for entry at 11+ as well as onward transfer at 13. The substantial proportion of pupils receiving SEN support indicates teaching geared to individual progress rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Learning support & SEN

SEN support: 23.59%
EHC plans: 0%

Arts & extracurricular

Scholarships

Chorister scholarships

Beyond the classroom

The school's foundation in the choral tradition lives on through chorister scholarships, offering musically able children a distinctive route into school life. Boarding provision extends the day for those who want fuller involvement in the wider community.

Ethos & heritage

Founded: 1440
Boarding: Yes

Money matters

Day fees (per year): £19,242 - £24,408
Boarding fees (per year): £37,818
Bursaries up to: 100% of fees

Means-tested bursaries of up to 100 per cent

Inspection reports

ISI rating: excellent
ISI personal development: excellent
Last inspected: 13 January 2026

Read the full inspection report ↗

The last word

A small, historic Cambridge prep with an excellent ISI verdict and a genuine choral heritage. Means-tested bursaries of up to 100 per cent mean the substantial fees need not rule out talented children from less affluent homes.

The Passmate verdict