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06 March 2025
by Ferdinand Steinbeis
by Ferdinand Steinbeis
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English Boarding Schools in Profile: King's Ely School, Stunning School, Stunning Creative Offer
Hello from a sunny Richmond,
Our weekly visits to our partner school are off to a flying start in 2025.
Last Thursday, we hopped on a direct train from King’s Cross station in London to Ely in County Cambridgeshire, to visit King’s Ely School. We left London in the rain, trained through the beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside in the fog and - as if on cue - arrived in Ely in the most glorious sunshine. Perfect school-visiting weather!
A brisk 10-minute walk later, we were at King’s Ely School. There we were met by our fantastic guide, Amalia, a bright and self-assured student from Munich. Amalia had initially planned to stay at King’s Ely for just two terms. But then loved it so much she decided to see out her school career here. She is currently preparing for A-Levels in Economics, Biology, and Psychology. Amalia was refreshingly honest about her experience—both her love for the school and the bumps along the way.
At von Bülow Education, we tend to associate King’s Ely with its stunning campus, top-tier creative offer, and impressive rowing program. But, as always, short-hands never quite do a school justice.
Want to know more? Join us as we dive deeper into this fascinating place!
Street leading to school and cathedral
The Setting
No doubt, King’s Ely is a school with a serious ‘wow-factor’. The school sits proudly in the heart of the charming town of Ely, right in the shadow of the breathtaking Ely Cathedral, the Sea of Fens. It’s a true “town school,” seamlessly woven into the fabric of this 19,000-strong community, where modern conveniences—think cozy cafés, supermarkets, and restaurants—are all just around the corner. “Everything is within walking distance, including the train station," Amalia tells us, "so if the mood strikes (and parents give the nod), a quick trip to Cambridge or London is always on the cards!”
All beautiful houses, little lawns...
But don’t be fooled into thinking King’s Ely is an urban school. Despite being “baked” into the town, it boasts an impressive 75 acres of its own, complete with sprawling sports fields, an outdoor swimming pool, and a dedicated boathouse on the River Great Ouse for its rowers. From the moment you step off the train and stroll through town towards the school, it’s clear: pupils here are spectacularly lucky. Ancient buildings dating back to 900 BC mingle with sleek modern facilities. Though, of course, there’s the obligatory 1970s block that every UK boarding school seems to have.
A normal school building at King's Ely
We especially loved the Old Palace, a stunning 15th-century manor house, now home to the Sixth Form and school administration, with plenty of common rooms and study spaces for the 6th Formers. In contrast, the contemporary Arts Quad — housing the Music School, The Hayward Theatre, Art Centre, and Dance Studio — blends seamlessly into the historic setting, proving that at King’s Ely, the past and present don’t just coexist, they complement each other beautifully.
The school's phenomenal textiles department
What (we think!) King’s Ely School is about
Firstly, there’s a real sense of place to King’s Ely School. In a lovely market town, right next to the magnificent Ely Cathedral, the school enjoys a picture-perfect setting. The lawns outside the Old Palace stretch out with unbeatable views of the cathedral, shaded by a grand 250-year-old tree. When the weather improves, pupils are handed picnic blankets to lounge on the grass underneath said tree. The school’s boat house is five minutes down a little path. This is where the rowers head early every morning for training on the beautiful River Ouse. Classes and meals happen in buildings that are well over 500 years old, complete with spiral staircases, thick walls and wooden beams. In short: if you want real English boarding school atmosphere, King’s Ely School is hard to beat!
Seen in the entrance to King's art department
Secondly, King’s Ely is a dream for creative kids. The school’s offer in art, textiles, music, and drama is nothing short of outstanding. But it’s the textiles that deserve the highest praise: We’ve honestly never seen anything like it. Any aspiring fashion designer would be in heaven here! The school’s high standards in the arts are reflected in its success—King’s Ely pupils regularly win national competitions in photography, fine art, and fashion design. Many go on to study at top creative institutions like Central Saint Martins in London. And it doesn’t stop here. The school’s work is showcased in some of London’s most exciting venues, from Olympia to Alexandra Palace. The school’s creative beating heart is The Arts Quad. Here, the magic happens, with the art and textiles departments, the theatre, dance studios, and design technology spaces all combined in one hub of creativity.
Rowing is huge here!
And lastly, King’s Ely truly has real breadth and depth. It’s an all-singing-all-dancing British boarding school in the best sense. Academically, it shines—especially in STEM, where its offer is particularly strong. As a cathedral school, it’s no surprise that music is top-tier, but even by those standards, it stands out. Sport? The school was recently crowned “School of the Year” for its broad sports provision, boasting over 29 different options, from hockey to rowing. And if that weren’t enough, there are clubs and activities for every interest. Truly, whether in the classroom, on the river, or on stage, King’s Ely caters to all tastes and passions.
Big in MINT!
The Academics
Academically King’s Ely is doing well. 10 years ago, we probably wouldn’t have recommended this school to academically more able pupils. Today we do so without hesitation. In 2024, 47 per cent of GCSE grades were 9-7; nearly 50 per cent of A level grades were As, and 60% of STEM subjects. Results that are all the more noticeable for the fact that King’s Ely is not especially selective.
Study area for 6th Formers in the Old Palace
A key to this success is the quality of the school’s teachers. Our lovely tour guide Amalia here: “One of the reasons I chose King’s was because I love the natural sciences and had heard how amazing the teachers are here. And it’s true! They really take the time to explain stuff, sometimes on a one-on-one basis for a full hour. I’d never experienced this in Germany before”. But it’s not only the science teachers. During our visit we met several teachers we suspect will regularly go above and beyond the call of duty. None more so than the fabulous Head of Art Alison Rhodes, who took a good 15 minutes to explain various art projects and fashion design pieces to us. A true-blood teacher and all-round wonderful person!
Design Technology
STEM subjects are particularly strong here. Latin and Greek are also on offer for the classics enthusiasts. Design Technology, a subject we wholeheartedly recommend everybody take for a little while, can be chosen here as A-Level option without prior experience.
A typical class-room
King’s Ely is keeping up with the times—no lessons on Saturdays, just sports and fixtures, following the nationwide trend.
And for international students, there’s full EAL support to help them thrive.
Fabulous fashion design!
The Extracurriculars
Befitting a school of King Ely’s stature and size, there’s a lot going on outside the classroom here.
Let’s begin with music. Music is a big deal at King’s Ely School. Which is no surprise given its status as a cathedral school. Over 80% of pupils play at least one instrument here and over 500 music lessons are administered here a week. The school has choirs for boys and girls, most notably the 80-strong Chapel Choir that regularly tours the UK and Europe. Choir music too traditional for your taste? Then the King’s Barbers, a top-tier boys’ a cappella group might be more your thing. Orchestras, concert bands, jazz bands—you name it, King’s Ely has got it.
Lots of drama!
“No question, the drama!” is how Amalia answered our question about which extracurricular she rated highest at King’s Ely. And drama at King’s Ely seems to be nothing short of spectacular. With three major productions a year, plus workshops and open mic nights, there’s always something happening on stage. The school even has a ‘Drama Director in Residence’, a real, professional drama director to lend his hand! Pupils can get involved in every aspect of production—acting, set design, costume-making, lighting, and sound. Recent shows were Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, Legally Blonde, and Grease. Whether as a performer on stage or as ‘techie’ behind the scenes, everyone can get involved here.
Sports winners
King’s Ely would probably not make von Bülow Education’s ‘Top 10 UK Schools for Sports’ - list. And yet, sports is still a pretty massive deal here.With an incredible 29 different options to choose from, pupils are spoilt for choice. Alongside the usual favourites, there are some surprises—volleyball, archery, and clay pigeon shooting, to name a few! Hockey is a big strength for the girls, while rugby dominates for the boys. Equestrian, golf, football (for both boys and girls), athletics, climbing, squash, and dance are all on offer too. Rowing is particularly strong, with the school’s own boathouse just five minutes away on a beautiful stretch of river. The facilities are top-tier—two floodlit astros (with a third on the way), a sports hall, a heated outdoor swimming pool, cricket nets, seven tennis courts, and over 50 acres of grass pitches. “The focus is more on having fun than being massively competitive - unless you are a rower of course. They take their sports deadly serious!”, Amalia here.
Dining hall
The Boarding
King’s Ely’s Senior School is home to 635 pupils, with around 200 pupils boarding. Of these approximately 70 pupils are British.
Boarding here has a real family feel—there are seven houses in total, all single-sex except for the junior boarding house, Priory. Many of these buildings are full of history, some dating back to the Middle Ages! Housemasters and mistresses live on-site with their families, making the houses feel warm and homely.
Single room in Hill House
We got to visit Hill House, the Sixth Form girls’ house. Whilst somewhat functional, it struck us as cozy enough. Year 12 girls share double rooms, while Year 13s get single rooms. Unusually, there is no room-switching here between terms. So, roommates for the whole school year here. “If things absolutely don’t work out between two people, a swap is possible, but the requirement is to try first!”, Amalia told us.
Beautiful: old lamps in Old Palace
Weekends belong to the pupils. No school on Saturdays, just sports in the morning. With Cambridge and London close by, pupils can take trips (to London with parental permission only!), and the school organizes fun outings like going punting in Cambridge. On-site, there’s always something happening—bake-off competitions, film nights, and pizza evenings keep things lively. Twice a week, there’s a 20-minute service in the breathtaking Ely Cathedral—one of Amalia’s highlights.
Nooks: a path to old staircase
Food gets an enthusiastic thumbs-up from us. We had a delicious chicken curry and the vegetarians in the team loaded up huge salads at the salad bar. The menu is impressively varied, with international dishes like Japanese fish dishes and curries regularly making an appearance.
Delicious: chicken curry and salad
Socially, Amalia admitted it took her a little effort to settle in. “The beginning was a little challenging, to be honest,” she told us. “It cost me a fair amount of effort to overcome my shyness and get in with the Brits. But I just hung out in the Common Room, and eventually it worked. It just needs a little time, perseverance and patience with the Brits!”
Exeat weekends exist but aren’t compulsory.
Stunning: inside the cathedral
Who we think is suited to King’s Ely
We can see King’s Ely fitting a pretty broad set of pupils. However, we think that the more creatively inclined would probably love it the most. The art, fashion design and drama are absolutely top-notch here!
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Holbrooke House
34 - 38 Hill Rise
Richmond
TW10 6UA
Tel: +44 (0) 203 9534063
Email: info@buloweducation.com