United Kingdom · Cambridge
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.
The Leys is a selective boarding and day school in central Cambridge. Its main entry points are Year 7, Year 9 and Lower Sixth, at approximately ages 11, 13 and 16. Pupils prepare for GCSEs and then A Levels.
It is worth considering for a family that wants boarding, or wants a local child to participate in an extended school day. The important comparison with The Perse is not simply academic reputation. The Leys organises school life around a boarding community, including Saturday lessons and evening commitments.
These arrangements involve different routines, not just different prices.
Full boarders live at school. The overseas boarding package includes weekend trips and activities, additional parent communication and a three-day induction for new pupils.
Home Boarding means joining boarding-house activities while usually sleeping at home. Pupils register at 8:20am, eat lunch and supper at school and complete supervised evening study. Years 9–11 can normally leave at 8:15pm; Sixth Form pupils stay until 9pm. Earlier departures require agreement.
Home boarders have study and storage space. From Year 11, they have a shared bedroom; occasional overnight stays remain subject to availability. Stays for school commitments are free, while other overnight stays are charged.
Day pupils have a different arrangement, with lunch included. Ask for the child’s actual collection times and activity commitments rather than assuming a conventional afternoon finish.
Saturday is a normal school day for all pupils, including Years 7–8, with four morning lessons. Year 9 and older pupils also have afternoon sport. Boarders may go home after completing Saturday commitments, and designated leave weekends offer longer breaks. Check the weekend arrangements against travel and family plans.
The Leys and St Faith’s will merge in September 2028 as The Leys School, Cambridge. Under the announced structure, Early Years to Year 8 will use the current St Faith’s site, and Years 9–13 will use the current Leys site.
There is a specific transition arrangement:
Families considering Year 7 entry from 2028 should follow the St Faith’s admissions information. Do not assume that the location or boarding option seen on an earlier tour will apply to that intake.
For Year 7, complete the application form first. The published timetable then sets out:
| Stage | Timing |
|---|---|
| Reports requested from current schools | From October 2026 |
| Assessments at The Leys | Early January 2027 |
| Academic-scholarship interviews, by invitation | Mid-January 2027 |
| Initial offers | Early February 2027 |
| Acceptance deadline | Monday 8 March 2027 |
| Joiners’ information and move-up morning | Around Easter and early June |
The school also lists offers for late applicants in early March. It does not give a single Year 7 application closing date on this page; ask admissions when a complete application is needed.
The Year 7 assessment includes interviews, group activities and a 105-minute online Quest test. The test covers English, mathematics, verbal and non-verbal reasoning, puzzles and comprehension. Request access arrangements early. Overseas applicants may follow different arrangements.
For Sixth Form entry in September 2027, the application deadline is Friday 9 October 2026. Applicants normally need a GCSE average of at least 5.5 and grade 5 or higher in both mathematics and English. Starting an A Level almost invariably requires at least grade 6 in the relevant GCSE, with grade 7 preferred. The school also requests a report and predicted grades; international pupils may need additional assessment.
The Sixth Form form cannot be saved midway. Have a birth certificate, recent school report and payment method ready.
The school publishes both termly and annual figures. These include VAT.
| Year 9 to Sixth Form | Per term | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Overseas boarders | £19,007 | £57,021 |
| Boarders | £18,276 | £54,828 |
| Home boarders | £13,570 | £40,710 |
| Day pupils | £11,835 | £35,505 |
| Years 7–8 | Per term | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Overseas boarders | £13,860 | £41,580 |
| Boarders | £13,337 | £40,011 |
| Day pupils | £8,547 | £25,641 |
The fee schedule includes meals appropriate to each arrangement: lunch for day pupils, lunch and supper for home boarders, and all three meals for boarders.
The £200 application fee includes VAT and is non-refundable, even if no place is offered.
On acceptance, families pay a £600 Entry Deposit. Those permanently resident outside the UK also pay an Overseas Deposit equal to one term’s fees less that £600. Together, the two deposits therefore equal one term’s fees; they are not two full-term charges.
The school says both deposits are credited without interest against the final balance on leaving, subject to its terms. They are additional upfront cash requirements, not automatically an additional lifetime cost. The overseas deposit is normally due alongside the first term’s fees, unless fees have been paid in advance.
The digital-device scheme is separate and requires a direct agreement with its provider. Public examinations, trips, uniform and optional visiting music or drama teachers can also add charges. The overseas boarding package includes its stated weekend trips, so do not add those again.
For pupils needing visa sponsorship, the school publishes a £595 compliance-management fee from the 2026 admissions cycle. It sponsors eligible international boarders, not day pupils seeking Child Student visas. Families living abroad must arrange a suitable UK-based guardian and confirm the applicable requirements with the school.
Means-tested bursaries reduce fees and must be requested before assessment. Families whose circumstances later change should contact the school about support. Gift of Education applicants are directed first to the Royal National Children’s SpringBoard Foundation.
Scholarships recognise ability rather than financial need. Use the current entry-year information for the relevant award; a scholarship and a bursary should not be treated as the same form of help.
The Leys is a strong option to investigate when boarding in Cambridge is central to the family’s plan. Home Boarding is particularly distinctive for local pupils who want supervised study and evening activities but prefer to sleep at home.
The tradeoff is time. A child who needs quieter evenings, free Saturdays or a shorter school day may find that routine demanding. Compare the actual timetable with The Perse’s day-school provision, and visit the correct campus for the intended entry year.
Official pages and documents we read. If a figure matters to your budget or your application, open the link and confirm it is still current.
Friendly orientation, not an application. Dates, fees, and programme details move. Confirm everything with the school.
The 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.
CheltenhamCheltenham College is a selective co-educational senior school for ages 13–18. It combines day places, full boarding and limited day boarding with GCSE, A-level and vocational routes.
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.
8 minStart with the child and a realistic weekly timetable. Then confirm who provides care, which nights are covered, and what happens when plans change.
7 minStart 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.