What CATS Cambridge does

CATS Cambridge is a private international boarding school operating from a single campus at 1 High Street, Chesterton, Cambridge CB4 1NQ, UK, under the legal entity Cambridge Arts and Sciences Limited (UK company 15869898). The school serves students aged 14 and above through a portfolio of academic programmes including GCSE, A Level, Pre-A Level, the University Foundation Programme (UFP), a UK High School Term, and Summer Programmes, supplemented by the Key Professions Programme (KPP) for Oxbridge and competitive university application support. Its student body is overwhelmingly international, drawn from feeder markets across East and Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, and its value proposition centres on academic outcomes (81% A*-C at A Level in 2025; 71-80% of university offers from Russell Group institutions) and a pathway to leading UK universities including the University of Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, and LSE. The school is wholly owned by CATS Global Schools, a privately held network of international educational institutions.

The school's technology footprint is conventional for the sector — classroom-based delivery supported by standard educational tools, an online application portal, a 360-degree virtual campus tour, and a teacher research community exploring pedagogical practice. Its primary revenue stream is tuition and boarding fees classified as recurring subscription-style payments, with pricing not publicly disclosed and prospective families directed to the admissions team for fee schedules. The go-to-market model is sales-led and global, with a dedicated admissions team recruiting through international school visits, education fairs, digital marketing, alumni referrals, and the broader CATS Global Schools network. The school holds active memberships with the Independent Schools Association (ISA), Independent Schools Council (ISC), and Council for Independent Education (CIFE), and operates as a UKVI licensed sponsor for international students requiring visas.

CATS Cambridge operates within a stable institutional context. The school traces its heritage to 1952 (with the Cambridge campus specifically operating for 35+ years) and rebranded to the CATS Cambridge identity in October 2022. Recent strategic activity includes a Principal transition (Hugh McCormick to Dominic Tomlin), the establishment of a CamSTAR research partnership with 250+ schools, sustained participation as a finalist in the StudyTravel Secondary School Awards for three consecutive years, and ongoing investment in academic and pastoral leadership. The school's strategic posture is consistent with a mature, reputation-driven educational institution focused on outcome-led differentiation rather than rapid scale or technology disruption.

Name

CATS Cambridge

Legal name

Cambridge Arts and Sciences Limited

Website

https://catscambridge.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CATS Cambridge is a private international boarding school in Cambridge, UK, serving students aged 14+ from feeder markets across Asia and Europe through GCSE, A Level, and University Foundation Programmes, with a value proposition centred on progression to Russell Group universities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Secondary Education / Boarding School

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Overseas Secondary Student Housing, Homestay & Boarding Services (EDAIAHAH), Overseas Secondary School Admissions Consulting & Application Support (EDAIAHAE), Overseas Boarding School Enrollment & Placement (EDAIAHAA)

Keywords

• International boarding school
• Secondary education
• University preparation
• A Level programmes
• GCSE curriculum

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: CATS Cambridge generates revenue primarily through tuition and boarding fees charged to international students for its academic programmes including GCSE, A Levels, Pre-A Level, and University Foundation Programme (UFP).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CATS Cambridge is an international boarding school in the heart of Cambridge, UK, enrolling students aged 14 and above into a portfolio of academic programmes — UK High School Term, GCSE, Pre-A Level, A Levels, University Foundation Programme (UFP) and Summer Programmes — combined with residential boarding. Its core purpose is to prepare international students for progression into top UK universities, including Russell Group institutions and Oxbridge, supported by university application services such as the Key Professions Programme.

Product overview

CATS Cambridge is an international boarding school offering a portfolio of academic programmes for students ages 14 and above. The core educational offerings include the GCSE Programme, Pre-A Level Programme, A Level Programme, University Foundation Programme (UFP), UK High School Term, and Summer Programmes. These programmes are designed as a progressive pathway from secondary education through to university preparation, with the UFP serving as a bridge for international students. The school also provides enrichment through the Key Professions Programme for university application support, extracurricular activities including Model United Nations, and the Duke of Edinburgh Award Society.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• UK High School Term An introductory programme that acquaints students with the British education system, providing a foundation for further studies in the UK. Designed for international students new to the UK schooling environment.
• GCSE Programme
• Pre-A Level Programme
• A Level Programme
• University Foundation Programme (UFP)
• Summer Programmes

Quantifiable outcome

• 81% of A Level grades awarded A*-C (2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CamSTAR (Cambridge, School Teachers and Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCATS Cambridge has partnered with CamSTAR, an international network of over 250 schools dedicated to educational research and professional development. Through this partnership, teachers engage in action research methodologies to improve pedagogical practice. The collaboration supports the school's research community approach, enabling teachers to share findings and benefit from collective expertise in learning and teaching.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Cardiff Sixth Form College: Top UK independent sixth form college offering A Levels to high-achieving international students with strong Oxbridge progression. Competes directly for university-focused international students, particularly those targeting Russell Group and Oxbridge.
• David Game College: London-based independent college offering GCSE, A Level, and University Foundation programmes to international students. Directly comparable in curriculum portfolio and target student mix.
• Bosworth Independent College: UK independent college in Northampton offering GCSE, A Level, and foundation programmes to international students. Comparable in size, target market, and curriculum offering for international secondary students.
• CATS Global Schools (other campuses): Sister schools within the CATS Global Schools network (e.g., CATS London, CATS Canterbury), offering the same international boarding model, GCSE/A Level programs, and university progression services. Operationally comparable in curriculum, target market, and brand.
• Bellerbys College (Study Group): UK-based international college providing GCSE, A Level, and foundation programmes for international students. Operates within Study Group global pathway network, directly competing for the same international student demographic.
• St. Clare's, Oxford: A UK independent international boarding school in Oxford offering IB and university pathways to international students. Directly comparable in model: international boarding, university-focused progression, and small class sizes for global students.
• d'Overbroeck's College, Oxford: Independent sixth form college in Oxford offering GCSE, A Level, and IB programmes to international students. Comparable Cambridge/Oxford university town positioning, similar target demographic, and curriculum mix.
• Abbey DLD Colleges Group: UK independent college group offering GCSE, A Level, and University Foundation programmes to international students across multiple campuses. Direct competitor for international students seeking UK boarding-style education and university progression.

Broad incumbents

• INTO University Partnerships: Global pathway provider partnering with UK universities to deliver foundation, international year one, and English language programmes. Competes with CATS Cambridge's UFP for international students seeking UK university entry, but operating at broader scale.
• Kaplan International Pathways: Major international education provider offering university foundation pathways and English language training. Overlaps with CATS Cambridge's UFP offering and competes for similar international student segments at broader scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/CATSCambridge
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/cats-cambridge
• Instagraminstagram.com/catscambridge

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 CATS Cambridge