Experience a taste of Cambridge while still at school — well, that’s exactly what The Leys offers. Those who meet its high expectations can flourish in this dedicated, ambitious atmosphere and look forward to excellent results.
Founded in 1875, The Leys School lies just a ten-minute stroll from the centre of the historic university city of Cambridge. Despite its central location, the leafy campus feels almost like the countryside.
Within its impressive buildings, students enjoy unique opportunities to make early connections with the world-famous University of Cambridge, whose presence can be felt throughout school life, especially in the academic standards. The school has a proud tradition of producing Members of Parliament, celebrated athletes, and activists. With such achievements to inspire them, it’s no surprise that in 2021, 71 percent of students achieved top A*/A grades.
What particularly impresses us, however, is that alongside academic excellence, The Leys also places great emphasis on pastoral care and a lively, well-rounded co-curricular life — the three pillars of its educational ethos.
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 range of pupils: 11–18
Number of pupils: 575
Boarding pupils: 65%
International pupils: 16%
Pupils in the Sixth Form: 210
Boarding fees for the Sixth Form per term: £18,102
Main sports on offer in addition to traditional team sports: water polo, rowing, dance, ice hockey, climbing
Nearest airport: London Stansted (40 minutes)
https://www.theleys.net
Key Strengths at a Glance
Ten minutes from the centre of Cambridge
Links with the University of Cambridge & excellent preparation for applications
Outstanding dance department
Exceptional sports offering, e.g. aerial hoops
The Leys School – Photo Highlights
The Leys School in Detail
Academics
The Leys sets a high bar for its students. Applicants face a series of tests and interviews before being offered a coveted place — but those who succeed find the support they need to shine. Tutors help with study skills, time management, and university preparation. Results speak for themselves: in 2021, 71 percent of A-level students achieved A*/A grades. Guest speakers from the University of Cambridge, including the late Professor Stephen Hawking (whose son was a student at The Leys), enrich the academic offering. The school’s Careers Forum gives students insight into the professional world through talks and stands hosted by local employers.
Sport
With 26 sports to choose from, students can try everything from target shooting, rowing, and trampolining to water polo and the more unusual aerial hoops. Cricket and hockey remain firm favourites, supported by strong links with Northamptonshire County Cricket Club and Cambridge City Hockey Club — ideal for budding professionals. Dance is growing in popularity, and the dedicated studio caters to everyone from complete beginners to advanced dancers, offering ballet, contemporary and more. The Games Programme lets students sample a range of sports, and private lessons are available too.
The Arts
Alongside ceramics, sculpture and drawing, the photography and printmaking facilities are particularly impressive. Students can experiment with techniques such as relief printing, lithography, and monotype. We especially admire the long tradition of the school magazine The Fortnightly, published continuously since the 1870s, with photography club members contributing striking images. Musicians can join ensembles, the choir, or the orchestra, performing in concerts such as Lunchtime Live, and three music competitions take place each year. Around a third of students get involved in the vibrant theatre scene, staging productions in the purpose-built auditorium, drama studio, and backstage areas.
Co-curricular Life
Around 100 clubs and societies meet weekly — from iPad app development, yoga, and street dance, to cookery. Many students also enjoy exploring the museums, shops, and cinemas of Cambridge in their free time. Outdoor Education builds confidence and resilience through climbing, canoeing, kayaking and sailing, with a four-week expedition to India as a real highlight. We were particularly taken with the school’s innovative offerings, such as a Spanish flash fiction competition and a Maths Escape Room, where students solve puzzles in a thrilling treasure-hunt format. Through the Leys Personal Development, Service and Leadership Scheme, students also develop valuable character and interpersonal skills through volunteering.
Message from the Head
Dr. Clare Ives
This is Leys
Fees
Boarding fees at The Leys are £18,102 per term, or £54,306 per year.
Our Visit
The strong reputation of The Leys School precedes it. From the outside, it resembles many other schools but beyond the gates lies a green haven at the heart of Cambridge. We were warmly welcomed by Headmaster Martin Priestley, who has run the school since 2014 (Dr Clare Ives, the first female Head, taking over in September 2025).
Among the traditional buildings, we could already feel the spirit of Cambridge. Inside the historic walls, the modern facilities were a pleasant surprise, and we were particularly struck by the unusually colourful and beautiful library.
Photos From Our Visit
What our clients say about us
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The Verdict
The Leys School is a prestigious English boarding school that equips its students for future success at Oxbridge and beyond, through a rich and varied programme of academic, personal and co-curricular development.
That said, there are many other excellent boarding schools in England that also prepare students well for top universities. We recommend taking the time to explore the options fully. Feel free to contact us for a consultation — with years of experience and close relationships with schools, we can offer authentic insights and help you make the right choice.
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 impressions
- our strong connections with admissions offices
- years of experience in school 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 your home country’s education 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.
