King's Ely
School summary
Tracing its origins to 970, King's Ely is among the oldest schools in the country, a co-educational Church of England foundation set in the cathedral city of Ely. With around 1,156 pupils across day and boarding, it is a large school with a strong choral tradition, offering generous chorister scholarships of 40% alongside means-tested bursaries. Boarding is available, and the school spans the full age range up to a sixth form of 193 pupils. Entry is offered at 11+, making it an option for families seeking a long-established independent education in Cambridgeshire.
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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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Latest results
GCSE grade 9-7
44%
National average 23%
A-level A*-A
21%
National average 28%
A-level A*-B
73%
National average 55%
Inspection reports
Teaching & academics
Results sit comfortably above national benchmarks at GCSE, where 44% of grades reach 9-7 against a national average of 23%. A-levels are solid rather than spectacular: 73% of entries achieve A*-B (national average 55%), though the proportion at A*-A, at 21%, falls just below the national figure of 28%. The sciences and mathematics feature prominently at both GCSE and A-level, with Further Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology widely taken, and an EPQ available for those wanting independent academic stretch.
Languages
GCSE subjects
Principal · John Attwater
Sixth form
- Sixth-form pupils
- 193
A-level subjects
Qualifications offered
Beyond the classroom
Sport is broad, taking in rugby, football, hockey, netball, cricket and rowing, the last reflecting the school's riverside setting. Music is a particular strength, anchored by the chorister tradition, while drama and art run through to A-level. Scholarships across academic, music, sport, art, STEM and drama signal the range of talents the school looks to develop.
Main sports
School life & ethos
- Founded
- 970
- Religious character
- C of E
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 0%
- EHC plans
- 0%
Mobile phone policy
No mobile phones allowed during school day since September 2024. Devices removed and returned at end of day. International students have access in boarding houses to call home.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £21,969 - £32,913
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £34,956 - £49,917
Means-tested bursaries available for choristers
Schools nearby
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Red Balloon Learner Centre - Cambridge
Cambridge, East of England
Hope Tree School
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Fairstead House
Newmarket, Suffolk, East of England
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A thousand-year-old cathedral school combining day and boarding, with notably strong GCSE results and a distinctive choral heart. Its chorister scholarships and bursaries open the door for musically gifted children whatever the family budget.
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.
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King's Ely 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.