The only co-educational independent boarding and day school based within Cambridge city itself.
Cambridge's co-educational boarding and day school since 1875
Why this school
The only co-educational independent boarding and day school based within Cambridge city itself.
BSA Award Finalist 2026 for the quality of support provided to international boarders.
EPQ available in the sixth form, giving university applicants a research credential beyond standard A-levels.
The Leys School is Cambridge’s only co-educational independent boarding and day school, founded in 1875 and set within the city itself. A short walk from university colleges, museums, and the river, it sits in a genuinely unusual position among British boarding schools. Around 560 pupils aged 11 to 18 attend, making it compact by design. The school describes itself as a “big, small school” — broad enough in provision to compete with larger independents, small enough that staff know every pupil by name. ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate) inspectors in 2025 recorded “significant strength” in the school’s community life, and The Leys was named a BSA (Boarding Schools’ Association) Award Finalist in 2026 for its support of international boarders.
The Leys delivers GCSEs across Years 9 to 11 and A-levels through the sixth form. Pupils can join at Year 7 (age 11) or at the standard 13+ and 16+ entry points. The curriculum covers the full range of academic subjects alongside the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), available to sixth-formers. The EPQ carries real weight at competitive UK universities, requiring sustained independent research rather than coursework across set topics.
The sixth form takes both internal candidates and new entrants for A-level study across Years 12 and 13. The EPQ sits alongside A-level programmes, giving university applicants an additional credential that demonstrates academic initiative beyond the standard three subjects. The Cambridge location adds something practical here: university open days, public lectures, and departmental events are accessible on foot or by a short cycle ride.
The Leys offers full boarding, flexi boarding (referred to internally as “home boarding”), and day places across both junior and senior years. International full boarders in Years 9 to 13 pay £57,021 per year (2026/27, inc. VAT), with UK full boarding at £54,828. Flexi boarding for the same age group runs at £40,710 per year. For junior international boarders in Years 7 and 8, the full boarding fee is £41,580 per year. The pastoral house system underpins daily life. The school’s track record with international pupils, recognised at BSA level, points to a structured approach to settling overseas students into UK boarding routines.
The Leys runs a co-curricular programme across sport, music, drama, and outdoor education. The urban Cambridge setting does not limit its physical education offer: pitches, courts, and sports facilities are on campus. Music and drama productions use the school’s own performance spaces. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) scheme operates across year groups, and the activities calendar extends into weekends for boarders. As pupils progress through the senior years, they can move between scheduled school activities and independent Cambridge life.
The campus sits within Cambridge city, bordered by residential streets and university buildings. Teaching blocks, boarding houses, sports facilities, and performance spaces all occupy a compact, walkable footprint. Being embedded in Cambridge rather than set in countryside gives The Leys a distinctive urban character uncommon among UK boarding schools of similar size. The registration fee is £200, with a £600 deposit required on acceptance.
London Stansted Airport is approximately 30 miles from Cambridge, around 45 minutes by road or direct rail via Cambridge North. London Heathrow is roughly 70 miles, accessible in under 90 minutes by road or train via central London. Cambridge station runs direct services to London King’s Cross in under an hour, making it manageable for families arriving via any London airport.
Annual tuition
£57,021 per year · full boarding · Senior · Years 9-13
Other tier breakdowns shown below.
| Stage | Year groups | Type | Audience | Fee / year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Senior | Years 9-13 | Full boarding | International | £57,021 |
| Senior | Years 9-13 | Full boarding | UK / EEA | £54,828 |
| Senior | Years 9-13 | Flexi boarding | — | £40,710 |
| Senior | Years 9-13 | Day | — | £35,505 |
| Junior | Years 7-8 | Full boarding | International | £41,580 |
| Junior | Years 7-8 | Full boarding | UK / EEA | £40,011 |
| Junior | Years 7-8 | Day | — | £25,641 |
Additional fees
Deposit
£600
Registration
£200
London Stansted Airport, approx. 30 miles (45 min); London Heathrow approx. 70 miles.
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For overseas full boarders in Years 9 to 13, the annual fee is £57,021 (2026/27, inc. VAT), charged at £19,007 per term. UK full boarders in the same year groups pay £54,828 per year. A registration fee of £200 and a deposit of £600 apply on acceptance.
Yes. The school offers full boarding, flexi (home) boarding, and day places across junior and senior years. Day fees for Years 9 to 13 are £35,505 per year (2026/27, inc. VAT). For Years 7 and 8, the day fee is £25,641 per year.
The Leys teaches GCSEs in Years 9 to 11 and A-levels across Years 12 and 13. Sixth-formers also have access to the Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), which supports university applications with evidence of independent research.
The school admits pupils from age 11 (Year 7) through to age 18 (Year 13). Entry points are Year 7, Year 9 (13+), and Year 12 (16+ sixth form entry).
The school is set within Cambridge city, approximately 60 miles north of London. London Stansted Airport is the closest at roughly 30 miles, with Cambridge accessible by direct rail in around 45 minutes. London Heathrow is approximately 70 miles away.
The school was named a BSA (Boarding Schools’ Association) Award Finalist in 2026 for its support of international boarders. ISI (Independent Schools Inspectorate) inspectors in 2025 also recorded a “significant strength” judgement for the school’s community environment, which is directly relevant to pupils joining from overseas.
Yes. The Leys is fully co-educational from Year 7 through to the sixth form, and is the only co-educational independent boarding and day school operating within Cambridge itself.
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