Address: Old Palace, Palace Green, Ely, Cambridgeshire, CB7 4EW
Website: kingsely.org
Founded: 970 AD
Number of Pupils: 1,036
Ages: 2-18 (King’s Ely Acremont, King’s Ely Junior, King’s Ely Senior and King’s Ely sixth-form)
Fees: (All per term) Day: £3,490 – £10,355; Boarding: £7,860 – £13,600
Head Teacher: Mr John Attwater
Religious Affiliation: Church of England
Entrance Procedure: King’s Ely Acremont: trial morning involving basic maths and phonics.
King’s Ely Junior: online maths, English, lucid and interview.
King’s Ely Senior: year 9 – Pre-testing in year 6 and year 7 for deferred entry into year 9. Online maths, English and lucid, as well as interview. Year 8 for year 9 entry is English, maths, science, lucid and interview.
Year 10: English, maths, lucid and interview.
Year 12: taster day and interview – offers are based on references and predicted grades.
Year 9 and year 12 entry scholarships are available in academic, STEM, music, drama, art and sport (maximum 10 per cent of fees available).
Contact: Jane Formston, Head of Pupil Recruitment: 01353 660707
Email: [email protected]
School Visits: Open events are held in February, March, May, September and November, although individual tours and visits are welcome and indeed held every weekday during term time.
Upcoming open events by age group:
King’s Ely Nursery (Ages 2-4) : Saturday 18th September 2021
King’s Ely Acremont (Years Reception-2) : Saturday 18th September 2021
King’s Ely Junior (Years 3-6) : Saturday 18th September 2021
King’s Ely Junior (Years 7-8) : Saturday 25th September 2021
King’s Ely Senior (Years 9-11) : Saturday 25th September 2021
King’s Ely Sixth Form (Years 12-13) : Saturday 9th October 2021
The Curriculum
Innovative approaches to teaching and learning are the hallmark of every section of King’s Ely. Through a broad and balanced curriculum, pupils develop the self-knowledge and inner resilience that will enable them to face the challenges of an ever-changing world.
Games & the Arts
Music, drama, art and textiles are each embedded in the culture of King’s Ely, with vast opportunities for students of all abilities and aspirations. All major sports are offered, along with an impressive array of other activities, helping every pupil to realise their sporting potential. Rowing, athletics, golf, cricket, hockey, tennis, rugby, netball, equestrian and football – students find themselves spoilt for choice.
Pastoral Care
Deemed in recent inspection reports to be ‘outstanding’, pastoral care at King’s Ely underpins all that we do. Working closely with parents, we are there for each student, celebrating their achievements, supporting them through the inevitable problems that arise in adolescence, and helping all in our care to develop into responsible, grounded and exciting young people.
Head Teacher’s Philosophy
At King’s Ely, every student’s strengths and talents are recognised and nurtured, whether that be in a classroom or laboratory, on stage, on the pitch or on a mountainside. We provide an abundance of opportunity for pupils’ personal development – whatever stage they may be in their King’s Ely career – both academically and socially, encouraging an atmosphere where deep learning beyond mere exam success can flourish. Young people are genuinely prepared for exciting futures we can only imagine.
Outstanding Characteristics
- Ideal location in the heart of the beautiful cathedral city of Ely in Cambridgeshire – just 15 minutes north of Cambridge and one hour from London’s King’s Cross, with direct rail links to both. Ely is also just an hour from the scenic North Norfolk Coast.
- King’s Ely has a fascinating history stretching back more than 1,000 years. The school was first established to educate the boy choristers of the worshipping community of Ely. In the 11th century, King Edward the Confessor was educated at the school and throughout our history we have maintained strong links with Ely Cathedral, which makes the perfect setting for concerts and performances, a daily extension to the school’s workspace, the school chapel and a place of outstanding beauty and spirituality.
- The King’s Ely boathouse is just a five minute walk from school and rowing students get to share one of the best stretches of river in the country – the River Great Ouse – with rowers from Cambridge University.
- The school’s unique outdoor education programme, Ely Scheme, offers boundless opportunities for students to learn through outdoor education, such as kayaking, rafting and of course the Duke of Edinburgh Award.