The Leys

The Leys school is a co-educational independent boarding school, providing education to pupils aged 11-18 in Cambridgeshire.

Key Information

The Leys school offers GCSE & A Level curriculum. They deliver a strong EAL for international students. Full boarding is offered on site in their Cambridge grounds, catering to both UK & international students. Read more below …

Type of School Boys & Girls
Annual International Boarding Fees FULL BOARDING FEES £37740
Language Support & Qualifications Offered EAL
Dietary Options cfa
Religion/Faith
Qualifications offered gcse,ifp
Location The Leys is set in grounds of 50 acres, on the outskirts of Cambridge, backing onto the River Cam. The nearest airport is London Stansted which is about 30 minutes away by car. Cambridge Station has fast train links into London, the journey takes approximately 50 minutes.
History of the School The Leys was founded in 1875, a time when a large number of schools were founded, especially by the churches. Whilst there were already several leading schools providing an education for the sons of Ministers, Methodists were asking for schools for the sons of lay members.
Pre-16 qualifications In Years 10 and 11, all pupils study the Core GCSE Curriculum, which is: English Language, English Literature, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. In addition, nearly all pupils study at least one Modern Foreign Language (French, German and Spanish) and choose three further options.
Post 16 qualifications The Sixth Form comprises the Lower Sixth and Upper Sixth and only A levels are taught. The majority of pupils start the Lower Sixth with four subjects, but will only take three as qualifications. This allows them to make subject choices from a position of knowledge.
Academic performance
Boarding accommodation The majority of Leysians are boarders and while they live in one House, school-wide activities will find them mixing throughout the day in lessons, sport, after-school activities and social time, ensuring school friendships are widespread. The Leys campus thrives on community life, each House having a strong sense of identity and unity, yet healthy inter-house competition enrich the pattern of daily life, especially in the sporting, arts and debating fora. The boarding day starts at 7:30 am with breakfast; at 6:00 pm boarders have supper then return to their House for evening prep, and participate in a wide range of evening activities on campus.
Pastoral care The primary support to pupils is the Housemaster or Housemistress (HsM). This is the person who will see them throughout the day, who will help them make choices such as what GCSE to study; will speak to them when there are any concerns and celebrate in the little and big successes of daily life.Working alongside the HsMs are the Matrons who look after the day to day physical well-being of the pupils. Instilling habits of tidiness, sorting out school uniform in a hurry and finding lost kit - these are just a few of the essential chores that Matrons face. Meeting on a weekly basis and also working in the house are the Tutors, members of the teaching body, who are tasked with taking care of the academic progress of a number of pupils.Tutors will talk through reports with their Tutees and plan how pupils can make progress from one cycle of reports to another. Uniquely at the Leys, Sixth Form pupils have a dedicated Tutor who will stay with them for two years guiding them through the UCAS process.
Extra-curricular activities The Wider Curriculum has traditionally been one of the main pillars upon which a Leysian education is built and is an integral part of the school week for all pupils, with a significant amount of time in the afternoons and early evenings devoted to it. In their time at The Leys, pupils are actively encouraged to experience a broad range of activities that will bring a wide range of benefits to them. They should offer great enjoyment and fun as well as enable all pupils to identify areas of activity in which they can achieve success and grow in confidence. Indeed, the Wider Curriculum aspires to offer a benefit led programme that is inclusive and provides opportunity, participation, variety and depth, and gives pupils the opportunity to participate and feel good at something they enjoy. In addition to this, excellence is important and pupils with the potential to achieve it should be given that opportunity.
General school facilities

A Day in the Life of

 

    Boarders from across all 9 houses gather in the main dining hall for breakfast from 7.45am before joining the day pupils in classes at 8.35am. There are 6 lesson periods each day with 3 afternoons per week for sports activities and fixtures. Lunch starts at 12.25pm and pupils gather together to enjoy a choice of hot and cold dishes, freshly prepared daily on the premises.On Saturday evenings and Sundays there are a range of trips available so it really is like living in a ‘home from home’. Over 100 activities, clubs and societies take place every week and pupils can take part in these during the day and in the evenings, after supper and after supervised homework/study sessions. Each house offers recently refurbished bedrooms and dormitories along with purpose-designed Common rooms so that all year groups are able to mix and enjoy each other’s company.

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