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The Perse is a co-educational day school that cannot sponsor a Child Student visa; The Leys offers day and boarding places and is changing sites for younger pupils from 2028.
The clearest Cambridge comparison is structural. The Perse School is a co-educational day school for ages 3–18. The Leys currently takes ages 11–18 and offers day, home-boarding and boarding places.
Choose The Perse only if the child will live with a parent or legal guardian in the Cambridge area. The school says it does not sponsor the Child Student visa. The Leys is the relevant one of these two if a boarding place is essential, although the boarding category and availability still need confirmation.
The Perse’s principal Upper School entries are Year 7 and Year 9. Its published deadline is noon on 1 December 2026, followed by an in-person assessment on 16 January 2027. Its 2026–27 Upper School fee is £9,482 a term including VAT; optional lunch is separate.
At The Leys, ask specifically about day, home-boarding or full boarding. For Years 9–13, the published 2026–27 fees are £11,835 a term for day pupils and £18,276 for boarders, including VAT. The overseas-boarder rate is higher.
The Leys and St Faith’s plan to become one school in September 2028. Pupils from Early Years through Year 8 will be taught on the current St Faith’s site; Years 9–13 will use the current Leys site.
September 2027 is the final Year 7 intake to begin on the present Leys site, and that cohort is expected to remain there. A family applying for 2028 or later should therefore ask about the new middle-school arrangement, not rely on an earlier campus tour.
Settle the non-negotiable question first: Cambridge day life or boarding. Then compare the correct age group, tuition, lunch or boarding inclusions, and admissions calendar. Both schools lead through GCSEs to A Levels.
Families with younger children should remember that The Perse already has separate Pelican and Prep sections. The Leys all-through structure is prospective from 2028.
Continue with the Cambridge city page and the United Kingdom overview.
Friendly orientation, not formal admissions advice. Always confirm dates with the school.
The Leys is a co-educational boarding and day school in central Cambridge, with GCSEs followed by A Levels. Its extended day and Saturday lessons matter as much as the academic programme. The final Year 7 intake on the current site is September 2027, ahead of the merger with St Faith’s.
CambridgeThe Perse is a selective, co-educational day school with Pelican, Prep, Upper and Sixth Form divisions. This guide explains each 2027 entry route, the full published 2026–27 fee schedule, bursary limits and the requirement to live locally without school visa sponsorship.
LondonAlleyn’s is a selective co-educational day school for ages 4–18. This guide explains the different junior-school routes, the 11+ and 16+ processes, and the costs that sit outside tuition.
BristolBristol Grammar School is a selective, co-educational independent day school from Reception through Sixth Form. Its subject range makes it worth considering for a child who wants academic choice while living at home. Senior and Sixth Form fees are £7,422 per term from autumn 2026. Admissions pages still describe the previous entry round, so families applying for 2027 need a new timetable.
Start with the qualification your child would actually receive. Then check its subjects, language demands, and recognition in the countries where they may study next.
7 minStart with your child and the family's likely plans. Define the non-negotiables, verify the school's claims, compare three realistic options and visit with specific questions.
7 minTuition is only one line of the budget. Separate charges from advance payments, record what each figure includes, and ask the school to confirm your calculation in writing.
7 minA useful visit should help you picture your child’s school day and resolve the questions that matter to your family. Ask for concrete examples, then separate what you observed from what you were told.