The Leys School

The Leys is the only co-educational boarding and day school in Cambridge. We are located in the centre of the university city of Cambridge and are ideally placed to have such a vibrant, historic and cultural city at our pupils’ doorstep.

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    The Leys School

    Set in the centre of the beautiful and stimulating city of Cambridge, one of the world’s leading cultural and academic cities, our unique location allows our pupils unrivalled opportunities to achieve the exceptional.  Our added-value in academic progress is among the most impressive in the country, and the range of creative, cultural and sporting opportunities is breath-taking.

    We are rightly proud of our pupils’ achievements, both in the classroom and outside it, but the greatest pride we have is in the pupils themselves. They are our greatest achievement.

    Category: Senior, Sixth Form

    Pupils: Co-Education

    Type: Boarding and Day

    Religious Affiliation: Methodist

    Roll: 346 Boys / / 224 Girls

    Day pupils: 211

    Boarder Number: 359

    Age Range: 11-18 Years

    Founded: 1875

    Location Description

    50 acre site in the heart of historic Cambridge.

    School Contact Details

    Headteacher: Mr Martin Priestley

    Trumpington Road, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 7AD

    Tel: 01223 508904

    Email: admissions@theleys.net

    www.theleys.net

    Facilities

    The Leys is a Methodist foundation. The School Chapel, a Grade II listed building, is one of the most beautiful buildings on campus, offering pupils a restful haven from the busy demands of the school day. Regular services are held during the week and on Sundays, enabling plenty of opportunity for prayer. The School Chaplain is always on site

    Art is based around a large, purpose built, light filled studio. Pupils have access to a ceramics room, printmaking studio, specialist library and the Upper Sixth enjoy their own studio spaces on the mezzanine level. For Design Technology there are two large multimedia workshops and a design room. Extensive equipment allows for challenging projects to be made in wood, metal and plastics. We have a purpose-built state-of-the-art Theatre and Performing Arts Centre and fully equipped Language Laboratory. The Music School plays a vibrant and central role in the life of The Leys, running a wide variety of extra-curricular ensembles in which pupils are actively encouraged to participate.These include the larger ensembles such as the Chapel Choir, Chamber Choir, Orchestra, Wind Band and String Orchestra; and smaller ensembles including String Quartets, Flute Choir, Jazz Band, Brass Group, Clarinet Group and Guitar Group.

    The Sports Centre has a large sports hall with sprung wooden floor, a weights and cardiovascular gym, a projectile range with indoor cricket nets, three glass-back squash courts, an aerobics area and the PE classroom. Outside sports facilities include a full size floodlit astro-turf pitch which provides the base for invasion games and converts to twelve tennis courts in the summer, a 25-metre heated indoor swimming pool which is fully equipped for competitive swimming, water polo and canoe polo. Everyone takes part in sport, whether as a member of a team in hockey, rugby, swimming or netball, perhaps – or individually, in areas like trampolining, squash or aerobics. We also have a professional dance studio, 50 acres of sports fields and a purpose built boat house.

    A new Vision Studio for Virtual Reality learning opened in September 2021.

    The majority of Leysians are boarders in our 11 boarding houses. Some pupils at The Leys take advantage of our ‘home boarding’ facility where pupils sleep at home yet participate fully in daily school life. Pupils eat supper in School, as well as complete their prep and evening activities, so in effect they participate almost fully in the daily routine yet remain in close contact with their families.

    Outdoor pursuits such as canoeing, climbing and orienteering are on offer. The Combined Cadet Force and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme provide worthwhile challenges of a different sort.

    Scholarships

    Scholarships are available for entry to The Leys at 11+, 13+ or Sixth Form.

    Please contact the school for details.

    Entrance Requirements

    11+ and 13+: English, Mathematics and Reasoning (verbal, non-verbal and spatial), current school report.

    16+: at least five passes at GCSE at Grade B or above, and at least Grade C in Maths and English. Grade B pass at GCSE is almost invariably the minimum requirement for starting an A Level subject; Grade A is preferred. Current school report.

    Fees

    2023/2024

    Years 7 and 8:

    Day £6.655 per term, Boarding £10,185 per term.

    Years 9 – 13.

    Day £9,220 per term, Home Boarding £10,365 per term, Boarding £13,960 per term.

    Downloadable Resources

    OPEN DAYS

    All visits are welcome, please contact the school

    Open Morning: Saturday 20 Apr 2024 - Time: 8:45 am - 11:45 am

    Open Mornings: A typical Open Morning programme will include

    Introductory address.

    Tour of The Leys with a pupil guide.

    Coffee break.

    Tour of a Day or Boarding House by a Housemaster or Housemistress.

    Question and Answer session.

    Open Events: In order to arrange the correct number of guides and catering, it is essential to BOOK your place. It may be necessary to limit numbers or arrange an alternative visit if a particular date proves very popular.

    Please contact the Admissions Team at admissions@theleys.net or +44 (0)1223 508904 for further details.

    RECENT NEWS

    What’s been happening at the School?

    All posts by The Leys School
    • Latest News from The Leys

      To view the latest news from The Leys School please click HERE

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    • DELEGATES DEBATE GLOBAL ISSUES –...

      Nine pupils from The Leys joined others from around the UK and as far away as Jordan and Saudi Arabia for the annual Model United Nations conference at Haileybury College. The event was one of the largest MUN conferences in the country. Young people assumed the role of diplomats, debating global issues and developing public...

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    • CHOIR SINGS AT ST PAUL’S...

      The Leys Chapel Choir sang Evensong in the magnificent setting of St Paul’s Cathedral. The 32-strong choir also performed the Gloucester Service by Herbert Howells and the anthem was Beati Quorum Via by C.V. Stanford. Max Kenworthy, Director of Music, said: “The choir responded well to the building and adapted to the acoustics with great...

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    • PUPILS GET INVOLVED IN CLIMATE...

      Sixth-formers Sarah D (U6) and Tommy H (L6) were chosen to introduce the fourth and final lecture in the month-long Cambridge Climate Change series, held at Trinity College. CCLS is an annual event organised by residents of the city and staff and students from the University of Cambridge. The aim is to link key thinkers...

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