What King's Ely does

King's Ely is a private, co-educational day and boarding school operating continuously since its founding in 1541 as part of Ely Cathedral, providing education to students aged 2-18 across five stages: Nursery/Pre-Prep (Acremont, ages 2-7), Prep School (ages 8-13), Senior School (ages 14-16), and Sixth Form (ages 16-18). The school is structured as a registered charity (Charity Number 802427; legal entity The King's School Ely, Company Number 02440509) and is governed by a board of governors with no parent company. Its core academic offer spans 30+ A-Level subjects, 18+ GCSE/IGCSE subjects, and a one-year IGCSE pathway for international students, supported by ESOL and IELTS preparation, Higher Education guidance, and an extensive enrichment portfolio including the proprietary Ely Scheme outdoor education, Duke of Edinburgh's Award (Bronze through Gold), rowing, drama, music, Model United Nations, and chorister programmes integrated with Ely Cathedral.

The school's revenue model is subscription/recurring, generated primarily through termly tuition and boarding fees across its five educational stages, supplemented by facility hire and the Sir Edward Summer Camp programme. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, but a 1541 Bursary Fund provides fee remissions, signalling a charitable-subsidy component alongside fee income. Go-to-market is sales-led via scheduled Open Mornings, school visits, and an international agent network that recruits students from 40+ nationalities — approximately 250 international students board across five Senior houses (Hill House, Hereward Hall, and others, some dating to the Middle Ages). Distribution channels include direct admissions for domestic day and boarding students, a school transport service extending the Cambridgeshire catchment, and agent-supported international recruitment from source countries including China, Poland, and Uzbekistan.

Operationally, King's Ely employs 251-500 staff and competes in the UK independent school sector, differentiated by 485 years of heritage, Ely Cathedral integration, an 'Old Eleans' alumni network, and recognition through Pearson National Teaching Awards 2026 (Silver for Head of ESOL Melanie Franklin; Bronze for History Teacher James Foster) and Talk Education Awards 2025 (Pastoral Care and Wellbeing winner). Recent strategic emphasis is on academic leadership refresh (Jane Thomas as Head of Senior; Robin Kemp as Deputy Head Academic from September 2025), international pipeline diversification through exchanges with Gymnasium Remchingen and Saint Joseph - La Salle Toulouse, and institutionalisation of a Careers and Futures function. The school maintains memberships across ISC, IAPS, HMC, BSA, BAISIS, and British Council, which serve both as regulatory standing and as marketing channels via independent school directories.

Name

King's Ely

Legal name

The King's School Ely

Website

https://kingsely.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

King's Ely is a private co-educational day and boarding school in Ely, Cambridgeshire, serving students aged 2-18 across Nursery, Prep, Senior, and Sixth Form, with a diverse international community drawn from 40+ nationalities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Educational Services (61)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Instructional Delivery & Pedagogy (School-Led) (EDAJAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Full-Day Nursery Programs (EDACACAD), Early Childhood Development (ECD) & Pre-Primary Education (BPADAKAB)

Keywords

• Independent school education
• Boarding school services
• Day school tuition
• International student programs
• Secondary education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Boarding Fees: King's Ely generates revenue primarily through tuition fees charged to day and boarding students across its Nursery, Pre-Prep, Prep, Senior, and Sixth Form divisions. Additional revenue streams include facility hire and summer camp programmes (Sir Edward Summer Camp).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

King's Ely provides continuous day and boarding education for children aged 2 to 18, organised across four stages: Pre-Prep & Nursery, Prep School, Senior School, and Sixth Form. Core academic delivery covers GCSE/IGCSE and A-Level/BTEC programmes across more than 30 subjects, complemented by extensive co-curricular offerings including the Ely Scheme outdoor education, DofE, rowing, music, drama, and Choristers programmes linked to Ely Cathedral. Supplementary revenue is generated through facility hire and the Sir Edward Summer Camp.

Product overview

King's Ely is a private day and boarding school providing continuous education from ages 2-18 through its Pre-Prep & Nursery, Prep School, Senior School, and Sixth Form. The school offers a comprehensive portfolio including GCSE/IGCSE and A-Level programmes across 30+ subjects, international study programmes with ESOL support, boarding facilities for UK and international students, and extensive enrichment through its Ely Scheme outdoor education, Duke of Edinburgh's Award, Rowing, Drama, Music, Sports, and Choristers programmes. The institution serves a diverse community with students from 40+ nationalities and provides pathways to higher education through dedicated career and higher education support services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Acremont: King's Ely Acremont Pre-Prep and Nursery section for children ages 2-7

Products and services

• Pre-Prep & Nursery (Acremont) Early years education for children aged 2-7, including Nursery and Pre-Prep programmes with play-based learning, enrichment activities, and pastoral care in a nurturing environment.
• Prep School Preparatory education for students aged 8-13 (Years 3-8) offering a comprehensive curriculum across 15+ academic disciplines, sport, extensive co-curricular programme, and optional boarding.
• Senior School Secondary education for students aged 14-16 offering GCSE and IGCSE programmes across 18+ subjects including humanities, sciences, arts, and languages, with extensive co-curricular development and preparation for Sixth Form.
• Sixth Form Post-16 education for ages 16-18 offering A-Level, BTEC, and Extended Project Qualification courses across 30+ subjects, with Higher Education guidance and pathways to top university destinations including Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, and UCL.
• Boarding Boarding facilities for students aged 8-18 across multiple houses including Hill House (Sixth Form girls), Hereward Hall (Sixth Form boys), Prep boarding, and Senior boarding houses, with some buildings dating back to the Middle Ages. Covers full and flexible boarding options with pastoral care.
• International Study Programmes Comprehensive international student support including a one-year IGCSE programme, ESOL instruction, IELTS preparation, international boarding, and cultural integration for students from over 40 nationalities studying in their non-native language.
• Choristers Programme Chorister training programme including Boy Choristers, Girl Choristers, and Sixth Form Choral Scholarships, integrated with Prep School and featuring performances at Ely Cathedral.
• Ely Scheme Outdoor Education
• Model United Nations (MUN)
• Drama & Theatre
• Music Programme
• Sports Programme
• Higher Education & Careers

Quantifiable outcome

• First boys' sweep rowing medal since 1986 at National Schools' Regatta (Bronze, J16 Coxed Boys' Four)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gymnasium RemchingencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKing's Ely runs an annual German Exchange programme with Gymnasium Remchingen in Germany. Students from King's Ely visited their partners' homes in Karlsruhe in December 2025, and German students visited King's Ely in April 2026, participating in school activities including DofE expeditions and day trips to London and Cambridge.
• Fairstead HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFairstead House is listed as an affiliate of King's Ely. It is a separate preparatory school in Newmarket that serves as a feeder school and sister institution within King's Ely's family of schools.
• Independent Schools Council (ISC)minorOthersKing's Ely is a member of the Independent Schools Council, the umbrella body representing independent schools in the UK.
• IAPS (Independent Association of Prep Schools)minorOthersKing's Ely Prep is a member of IAPS, participating in their sporting competitions and events including national swimming finals.
• HMC (Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference)minorOthersKing's Ely Senior is a member of HMC, the professional association of heads of leading independent schools in the UK and worldwide.
• British CouncilminorOthersKing's Ely is affiliated with the British Council, supporting its international student recruitment and English language teaching provision.
• BSA (Boarding Schools' Association)minorOthersKing's Ely is a member of the BSA, the body representing boarding schools in the UK.
• BAISISminorOthersKing's Ely uses BAISIS (British Association of Independent Schools Information Service) for school information management.
• Anglia Ruskin UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKing's Ely runs the Language Leader Award programme through Routes into Languages at Anglia Ruskin University, enabling Senior students to teach their language and culture to younger pupils.
• Routes into Languages (Anglia Ruskin University)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Anglia Ruskin University enables King's Ely students to participate in language leadership activities and outreach programmes with local primary schools.
• Good Schools GuideminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKing's Ely is listed and reviewed on the Good Schools Guide, a leading independent guide to UK schools used by parents researching school options.
• Talk EducationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKing's Ely is listed on Talk Education's platform and was recognised as a 'Top 250 UK School' and winner of the Pastoral Care and Wellbeing category of the Talk Education Awards 2025.
• Saint Joseph - La Salle ToulouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKing's Ely welcomed students from Saint Joseph - La Salle Toulouse for a school exchange visit, fostering international cultural and educational links.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stowe School: Co-educational boarding and day school in Buckinghamshire for ages 13-18. Comparable mid-tier UK independent with similar fee level, boarding model, and competitive positioning for fee-paying families outside the super-premium tier.
• The Perse School: Co-educational day school in Cambridge offering ages 3-18 across Prep and Senior. Closest geographic competitor to King's Ely with similar all-through structure, strong academic outcomes, and Cambridgeshire catchment overlap.
• Oundle School: Co-educational full boarding and day school in Northamptonshire serving ages 11-18 with a strong STEM focus. Highly comparable to King's Ely as a mid-tier UK independent offering both day and boarding across senior and sixth form with international cohort.
• Kimbolton School: Co-educational day and boarding school in Cambridgeshire serving ages 4-18. Direct regional competitor to King's Ely with overlapping catchment, similar boarding offering, and comparable fee tier for East Anglian families.
• Uppingham School: Co-educational boarding and day school in Rutland serving ages 13-18. Direct peer in the mid-tier UK independent segment with full and flexi boarding, comparable international cohort, and overlapping sixth-form competitive set.
• Repton School: Co-educational independent boarding and day school in Derbyshire for ages 13-18 with associated prep school. Comparable mid-tier UK boarding competitor to King's Ely Senior and Sixth Form with similar international cohort and academic positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Cognita Schools: International schools group operating premium private schools globally. Relevant peer as an institutional operator of UK and international independent schools competing for similar fee-paying families, though at significantly larger scale and with a multi-brand portfolio approach.
• Wellington College: Large co-educational boarding school in Berkshire serving ages 13-18 with significant international intake. Comparable to King's Ely as a UK independent boarding school competing for international fee-payers, though at a higher brand tier and with larger scale.
• Tonbridge School: All-boys boarding and day school in Kent for ages 13-18. Comparable to King's Ely Senior/Sixth Form offering, competing for academically oriented UK and international boarders, though single-sex and higher-ranked in traditional metrics.

Emerging players

• Fairstead House: Preparatory school in Newmarket listed as a King's Ely affiliate and feeder. Sister institution within the King's Ely family of schools, providing upstream pipeline of students into the main school — comparable as a prep feeder with aligned educational philosophy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KingsElyOfficial
• Xx.com/Kings_Ely

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about King's Ely