One of the oldest schools in the country impresses with its outstanding music and rowing departments, all set in beautiful surroundings. London and Cambridge are ‘just a stone’s throw’ away.
Wonderfully situated in the historic cathedral city of Ely in Cambridgeshire, King’s Ely School has been educating young people since as far back as 970 AD. Originally founded to train choristers, its musical heritage still runs deep in the cultue of this creative and dynamic school.
A stroll across the campus immediately draws your eye to the magnificent Ely Cathedral, standing proudly next to the school buildings. Just a few minutes’ walk away, you’ll find the River Ouse and its well-equipped boathouse, offering superb training conditions for the school’s formidable rowing team.
For those keen to venture further afield at weekends, direct train connections whisk students to the cultural hubs of Cambridge (15 minutes) and London (1 hour).
With over a thousand years of experience in educating young people, King’s Ely brings unparalleled expertise, while maintaining a sharp focus on modern developments and contemporary opportunities.
Akademis makes history – A Triple Award-Winning Consultancy (2023, 2024 & 2025) 🏆
Akademis has been recognised three years in a row by StudyTravel for excellence in the education sector:
2025 & 2024: Winners of the StudyTravel Secondary School Award (Best Western European Agency)
2023: Winner of the StudyTravel Star Award
(Best Western European Agency)
The StudyTravel Awards are among the most prestigious honours in international education, recognising outstanding quality, client focus and trusted partnerships. Being the first consultancy ever to win for three consecutive years is something we are deeply proud of. For us, these awards highlight our commitment to offering the very best guidance, personal service and long-term support for families embarking on this exciting journey.
Quick Overview
Age of pupils: 2–18 years
Number of pupils: 1,000
International pupils: 10%
Represented nations: 40
Boarding fees per term (Sixth Form): £16,177–£19,639
Main sports in addition to traditional team games: rowing, rugby, hockey, football, netball, cricket, tennis
Nearest airports: Cambridge City Airport (30 min), London Stansted (1 hr)
Key Strengths at a Glance
Strong rowing department with direct river access
Highly musical, especially in choral singing
IGCSE programme offered
Beautiful cathedral on campus
King’s Ely – Photo Highlights
King’s Ely in Detail
Academic life
King’s Ely educates children from nursery age right through to Sixth Form. Younger pupils benefit from attentive guidance, while older students enjoy greater freedom, responsibility, and a modern Sixth Form Centre housed in the historic Old Palace. The school also offers a popular one-year IGCSE programme for international students. At A-Level, subjects include but ae not limited to Textile Design, Fine Art, Photography, Business Studies, Computer Science, Design and Technology, Drama, Film Studies, Psychology, and Latin. A cornerstone of the school’s learning ethos is the Senior Learning Habits Framework, which fosters vital life skills such as resilience, collaboration, and self-reflection — with excellent results: 90% of leavers secure a place at their first-choice university.
Sport
King’s Ely truly shines on the water, thanks to its exceptionally strong rowing team. The river right on the school’s doorstep offers 15 miles of uninterrupted water in both directions, with straight stretches of up to 5 km — ideal for serious training. On land, students develop strength and endurance in the gym, sports hall, and dedicated rowing fitness suite. It comes as no surprise that the school’s rowers regularly bring home trophies from prestigious competitions such as the National Schools’ Regatta and the Henley Royal Regatta. Athletes of all kinds are supported here, with high-level training also available in rugby, hockey, football, netball, cricket, and tennis.
The Arts
More than a third of pupils at King’s Ely learn a musical instrument or take singing lessons. Concerts and performances are woven into the fabric of school life — whether in the 80-strong Chapel Choir or the popular school orchestra, there are abundant opportunities to immerse yourself in music. The drama department is equally impressive, having been nominated in 2020 at the Music and Drama Education Awards for “Outstanding Drama Department.” Talented students can participate in up to eight theatre trips each year, and recent productions have included The Lion King, Frankenstein,Les Misérables, and Grease.
Co-curricular & Adventure
The range of activities on offer is vast — and students are even encouraged to set up their own initiatives. Whether it’s aerobics, orchestra, rugby, history café, horse riding, choir, swimming, or countless others, there is something for everyone. Trips range from local galleries and theatre visits to far-flung adventures in Iceland, China, France, and Belgium. Outdoor Education at King’s Ely builds independence, teamwork, and determination. Students scale rock faces in Wales and Spain, tackle the jagged peaks of the Cuillin Ridge and Corsican High-Level Route, and navigate white-water rapids in the French Alps. Excitement is guaranteed.
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Summary: King’s Ely
King’s Ely is a distinguished British boarding school with a rich musical tradition and a strong reputation in rowing. In particular, its choral and rowing programmes stand out.
That said, it is far from the only school in Britain to offer excellent opportunities in music and sport. If you have specific wishes or priorities, we warmly recommend seeking personalised advice. Please feel free to reach out to us — thanks to our long-standing relationships with these schools, we know their unique qualities and can offer authentic insights. Together, we are confident we can find the right boarding school for your child.
We’re also happy to advise you on other boarding schools in England. You’ll find an overview on our Boarding Schools in England page.
Benefit from:
- authentic, first-hand insights
- our excellent relationships with admissions offices
- years of experience in placements
- support with visa questions
What Makes Akademis Stand Out?
- We remain your trusted contact throughout your child’s stay, well beyond the placement process.
- We provide support with guardianship, visa applications and recognition of qualifications within the German school system.
- We offer fully tailored advice. Our school recommendations are unique to each child and can run to 40 pages in length.
- Families receive our 30+ page boarding school guide, packed with practical tips and insights.
- We prepare your child thoroughly for entrance exams and interviews to maximise their chances of success.
- We arrange school visits, ensuring you have the opportunity to experience each school first-hand.
Every boarding school has its own character and ethos. Having personally visited more than 100 schools, we understand these nuances. We also work with schools that do not pay commission, ensuring that our advice remains independent and always in the best interest of your child.
Our roots lie in the UK. For years, we have placed 200–300 families annually into British boarding schools. While our portfolio now includes schools beyond Britain, the UK remains at the heart of what we do.
Our tailored approach results in exceptional acceptance rates. For example, in 2022/23, all seven students we placed at the highly selective Malvern College received offers – a 100% success rate.
We arrange for prospective families to speak with our current students to hear first-hand accounts of life at a UK boarding school.
