MixedIndependent

The Perse School

Cambridgeshire, East of England · CB2 8QF

Academic ambition runs through The Perse, a large independent school in Cambridgeshire that educates pupils from age three to eighteen. With around 1,738 on roll and a generous pupil-to-teacher ratio of roughly nine to one, it pairs scale with close attention. The Independent Schools Inspectorate rated the school excellent for both education and personal development, and judged it compliant with the standards it must meet. A significant sixth form of 384 pupils anchors the upper end of the school.

1,738

Pupils

excellent

ISI

£27,222

Day fees / yr

Prepare for the 11+ free →School website ↗

Free month · No card needed · Cancel anytime

Schools nearby

Open in Google Maps ↗

Overview & data

Gender: Mixed
Type: independent (fee-paying) school
Age range: 3-18
Pupils: 1,738
Pupil:teacher ratio: 9
Location: Cambridgeshire, East of England
Website: www.perse.co.uk
Telephone: 01223 403893 or 403800

Entrance & admissions

Entry age: 11

Want your child to win a place at The Perse School?

Passmate builds a personalised practice plan from your target schools' exact 11+ topics - so every session moves your child closer to a place.

Practice matched to The Perse School's 11+ format
See precisely where your child stands, topic by topic
A profile of how they think - not just scores

Try Passmate for free →

Free month · No card needed

Headteacher

Head Ed Elliott

Latest results

Attainment 8

82.9

National average 46.9

GCSE grade 5+ (English & Maths)

99%

National average 47%

GCSE grade 9-7

90%

A-level A*-A

80%

A-level A*-B

94%

Teaching & academics

Results here sit well above national benchmarks. The average Attainment 8 score is 82.9 against a national figure of 46.9, and 99 per cent of pupils secure grade 5 or above in English and Maths, compared with 47 per cent nationally. At GCSE, 90 per cent of grades fall in the 9-7 range, while 80 per cent of A-level entries reach A*-A and 94 per cent A*-B. The sciences, mathematics and further mathematics are popular choices at A-level, and an EPQ option allows able pupils to pursue independent research.

Sixth form

Sixth-form pupils: 384

Popular A-level subjects

MathematicsFurther MathematicsPhysicsChemistryBiologyEnglish LiteratureHistoryEconomicsGeographyComputer Science

Qualifications offered

GCSEA-levelEPQ

Learning support & SEN

SEN support: 18.16%
EHC plans: 0%

Arts & extracurricular

Scholarships

Academic scholarshipsMusic scholarshipsSport scholarshipsArt scholarships

Languages

FrenchGermanSpanishItalianJapaneseChinese

Popular GCSE subjects

English LanguageEnglish LiteratureMathematicsBiologyChemistryPhysicsHistoryGeographyFrenchSpanish

Beyond the classroom

Languages are a notable strength, with French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese and Chinese all taught. Scholarships recognise talent in academics, music, sport and art, signalling breadth beyond the classroom.

Ethos & heritage

Boarding: No

Mobile phone policy

Year 7-11: not allowed to use phones during school day around school site. Can contact family from school office if urgent need. After 4pm (end of school day) students can use phones. Sixth form can use phones in designated areas including sixth form common room.

Money matters

Day fees (per year): £21,372 - £27,222

Recently spent over £1m on fees assistance. Determined to maintain direct grant tradition and increase means-tested financial support.

Inspection reports

ISI rating: excellent
ISI personal development: excellent
Last inspected: 24 February 2026

Read the full inspection report ↗

The last word

A high-performing, selective school for families seeking serious academic stretch, backed by over £1m recently spent on means-tested fees assistance. Day fees range from £21,372 to £27,222 a year.

The Passmate verdict