2025 leavers secured places at four of the top-ten UK universities, including St Andrews and Edinburgh.
Co-educational British boarding college in Cambridge, founded 1952
Why this school
2025 leavers secured places at four of the top-ten UK universities, including St Andrews and Edinburgh.
Students come from more than 80 nationalities, among the most international intakes of any sixth-form college.
The college is part of CATS Global Schools, an international group of independent colleges and creative-arts institutions.
CATS Cambridge is a co-educational independent sixth-form college in central Cambridge, established in 1952. Students are within walking distance of university libraries, museums, and the academic culture that defines the city. With 278 students on roll, the college operates at a compact scale: individual attention is practical, and the cohort is genuinely international. Accredited by ISA (Independent Schools Association), BSA (Boarding Schools’ Association), and CIFE (Council for Independent Further Education), it sits within a regulated framework of independent further education. Programmes are designed explicitly around university entry, covering UK undergraduate pathways, foundation routes, and accelerated GCSE progression.
CATS Cambridge offers GCSE, Pre-A Level, A Level, and a University Foundation Programme (UFP), alongside a UK High School Term option and summer programmes. The curriculum covers students aged 14 to 19, with particular depth at sixth-form level. A Level students take three subjects in small-group teaching, the format typical of independent sixth-form colleges. In 2025, 81% of A Level grades were A*–C. The Pre-A Level year exists for students who need a preparatory stage before committing to two-year A Level study.
The principal sixth-form qualification is A Level, taken across Years 12 and 13. The UFP runs in parallel for students targeting UK undergraduate entry via a non-A Level route. International tuition fees for A Level (3 subjects) are £38,515 per year (2025–26, VAT-inclusive). Full boarding — tuition plus catered single en-suite accommodation — is £60,035 per year (2025–26, VAT-inclusive). UK domestic tuition stands at £22,080 per year. The college’s focus is progression to competitive universities. Its Cambridge location supports direct engagement with university open days, faculty events, and application preparation in context.
A-Level results
81% A*-C (2025)
Boarding at CATS Cambridge means catered single en-suite rooms. That is a more individual standard than the shared dormitory arrangements common at many traditional boarding schools. The pastoral structure is designed for students aged 14–19, many living away from home internationally for the first time. At 278 students, pastoral staff maintain regular individual contact. The Cambridge setting forms part of the boarding experience: cycle paths, cultural venues, and collegiate events are all close by.
A central Cambridge location opens extracurricular options that more rural schools cannot offer. Students can attend public lectures at university departments and visit the Fitzwilliam Museum. The college runs summer programmes alongside its term-time curriculum, extending provision across the calendar year. The UK High School Term programme offers a structured short-stay academic option for students who want to experience British independent education without committing to a full year.
CATS Cambridge sits in central Cambridge, close to the university’s colleges, libraries, and research facilities. Specialist academic resources, transport links, and the atmosphere of a city built around higher education are all within easy reach. London Stansted Airport is approximately 40 minutes away, keeping international travel manageable. Cambridge train station connects to London in under an hour.
Annual tuition
£60,035 per year · full boarding · A Level (3 subjects) - International, boarding (tuition + catered single en-suite)
Other tier breakdowns shown below.
| Stage | Year groups | Type | Audience | Fee / year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Level (3 subjects) - International, boarding (tuition + catered single en-suite) | Full boarding | — | £60,035 | |
| A Level (3 subjects)/UFP - International tuition only | Day | — | £38,515 | |
| GCSE / Pre-A Level - International tuition | Day | — | £38,515 | |
| A Level - Domestic tuition | Day | — | £22,080 |
Additional fees
Deposit
£2,500
Registration
£700
Cambridge; London Stansted Airport is ~40 minutes by car; Cambridge train station connects to London in under an hour.
You may also like
CATS Cambridge offers GCSE, Pre-A Level, A Level (3 subjects), and a University Foundation Programme (UFP). It also runs a UK High School Term option and summer programmes for students aged 14 to 19.
International A Level tuition (3 subjects) is £38,515 per year (VAT-inclusive). Full boarding — tuition plus catered single en-suite accommodation — is £60,035 per year. UK domestic A Level tuition is £22,080 per year. A registration fee of £700 and a deposit of £2,500 also apply.
In 2025, 81% of A Level grades at CATS Cambridge were A*–C. The curriculum and sixth-form structure are oriented specifically towards university progression.
Yes. CATS Cambridge offers full boarding with catered single en-suite accommodation. The boarding fee for 2025–26 is £21,520 per year, in addition to the tuition fee of £38,515.
CATS Cambridge is accredited by ISA (Independent Schools Association), BSA (Boarding Schools’ Association), and CIFE (Council for Independent Further Education), the specialist accreditor for independent sixth-form colleges.
The college accepts students aged 14 to 19, covering GCSE through to A Level and foundation-year programmes. It is co-educational and draws a predominantly international student body.
CATS Cambridge is based in central Cambridge. London Stansted Airport is approximately 40 minutes away, and Cambridge train station provides connections to London in under an hour.
Submit your request and our manager will contact you shortly