King's Ely A GSG School
- King's Ely
The Old Palace
Palace Green
Ely
Cambridgeshire
CB7 4EW - Head: John Attwater
- T 01353 660707
- F 01353 667485
- E admissions@kingsely.org
- W www.kingsely.org/
- An independent school for boys and girls aged from 2 to 18.
- Boarding: Yes
- Local authority: Cambridgeshire
- Pupils: 1,145; sixth formers: 214
- Religion: Church of England
- Fees: Day £14,775 - £31,048; Boarding £32,977 - £47,092 pa (last updated on 14/01/2025)
- Open days: September, October, March, May
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
What The Good Schools Guide says..
‘We liked the pupils who showed us around, they hadn't been given a script.’ All mention the quality and dedication of the teaching staff: ‘They were all good and I could pick out some really outstanding ones.’ Pupils can write on their work, ‘I’m not sure I get this’, rather than blustering their way and then getting really stuck. King’s is a cathedral school… music is referred to as the ‘beating heart’. Drama productions are great occasions to bring the performing arts together… parents all mention the opportunities offered by it being a ‘rowing school’. Doubtless the famed early-morning starts encourage…
What the school says...
A friendly, well-balanced, caring community which is valued for getting the best from a broad range of abilities whether Oxbridge or average. Founded over 1,000 years ago, King's Ely enjoys an exceptional setting next to Ely Cathedral. Music is a special strength and up to 500 individual lessons are given each week in addition to timetabled music classes. The equivalent of a whole working day each week is devoted to sport, the unique outdoor pursuits programme (Ely Scheme) and creative and performing arts. There is a strong rowing tradition in addition to team sports - rugby, football, hockey, netball and cricket - golf, basketball, squash and equestrian are also available. Boarding is increasingly popular. The campus is a five minute walk from the station - Cambridge is only 15 minutes by rail - and there are mainline links country-wide. School buses run across Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. ...Read more
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Other features
All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.
Choir school - substantial scholarships and bursaries usually available for choristers.
International Study Centre - school has a linked, international study centre for overseas students wishing to improve their English.
Sports
Unusual sports
Equestrian centre or equestrian team - school has own equestrian centre or an equestrian team.
Rowing
Fencing
Shooting
What The Good Schools Guide says
Principal
Since 2019, John Attwater, previously head of King Edward’s, Witley. After Rugby School, he took a first in PPE at Oxford, then a PGCE. Naturally musical, his years as a chorister at Chichester Cathedral and a first teaching post at Wells Cathedral School confirmed his appreciation of the very significant place the choral tradition holds within our cultural life, and in education particularly.
The west front of Ely Cathedral provides the spectacular view from his study window, but his desk faces away from it. Was the view too distracting perhaps? ‘No, it was during the pandemic; it made a great backdrop for Zoom meetings.’ He has a ready wit, an appearance like that of a well-dressed don (tweed suit with waistcoat and cufflinks) and he comes across as friendly, thoughtful...
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Overall school performance (for comparison or review only)
Results by exam and subject
Subject results
Entry/Exit
Special Education Needs
SENCO and Learning Support Assistant see individuals and small groups before, during and after timetabled day.
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder
Might cover/be referred to as;
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), PDA , Social skills, Sensory processing disorder |
|
| HI - Hearing Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Hearing Impairment, HI - Hearing Impairment |
Y |
| MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Learning needs, MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty |
|
| MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment, Sensory processing |
|
| OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic , OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability, Tics, Tourettes |
Y |
| PD - Physical Disability
Might cover/be referred to as;
PD - Physical Disability |
|
| PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay, PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty |
|
| SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health
Might cover/be referred to as;
Anxiety , Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health, SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health, Trauma |
Y |
| SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication
Might cover/be referred to as;
DLD - Developmental Language Disorder, Selective mutism, SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication |
|
| SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
Complex needs, SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty, Cerebral Palsy (CP) |
|
| SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty
Might cover/be referred to as;
ADHD, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Auditory Processing, DCD, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting, Other specific learning difficulty, SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) |
Y |
| VI - Visual Impairment
Might cover/be referred to as;
Special facilities for Visually Impaired, VI - Visual Impairment |
Who came from where
| School | Year | Places | Scholarships | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| King's College School, Cambridge | 2024 | 6 | ||
| Old Buckenham Hall School | 2024 | 1 | ||
| St Faith's | 2024 | 2 | 1 | Art Scholarship |
| St John's College School | 2024 | 10 | 2 | Scholarships: 2 music |
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