KE Senior Handbook 2026.27

King’s Ely Senior Information for Parents

Me s s age from the Head

I am delighted to welcome both new and retur ning pupils to the star t of the academic year King’s Ely has a r ic h history, stretc hing bac k over a 1000 year s, yet has an outlook fir mly fixed on the future. I occasionally descr ibe King ’s Ely as a ‘sc hool with a soul’ and I hope eac h student, in different ways, fully benefits from their exper ience as par t of our community

This handbook is designed pr imar ily as a reference document whic h will help you to familiar ise your self with the way we do things here. If you are new, it should help answer some of your questions, but for everyone, it will also act as a source of infor mation regarding many aspects of sc hool life The sc hool website is also a r ic h source of infor mation. You will also receive a House Handbook whic h will provide additional detail from a house per spective.

I look forward to meeting you at one of the many events over the cour se of the academic year. If you would like to contact me at any point in the meantime, please contact my PA, Paula Tr ippett on 01353 660700 or PaulaTr ippett@kingsely.org

With very best wishes,

J Head of KES

People at King ’s Ely S enior

Whilst King’s is located in a wonderful setting, all sc hools are pr imar ily about the people who make up the community At King’s, our aim is to work closely in par tner ship with parents Whilst Tutor s and Housemaster s/ Housemistresses are the fir st point of contact, you are encouraged to be in contact with the Senior Leader ship Team at KES with any concer ns.

John Attwater

Pr incipal

Mr Attwater has overall responsibility for all 3 sections of King’s Ely: Acremont (KEA), Prep (KEP) and Senior (KES) He is also responsible for Fair stead House, whic h is our sister sc hool in Newmarket.

J Head

Mr leads the KES Senior Leadership Team and is responsible for all matters relating to pupils and teachers at KES. Mr teaches .

Academic

Mr oversees all academic matters at King’s Ely At KES leads the team of Heads of Departments. Mr

Charlie Fisher Deputy Head

Mr Fisher over sees the pastoral team and the day to day r unning of KES. He is the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for King’s Ely. Mr Fisher teaches History

Matthew Norbur y Director for Inter national Students

Mr Norbury leads the KES inter national prog ramme Please contact him regarding inter national academic student matter s and in par ticular, the one-year IGCSE prog ramme. Mr Norbury teac hes Geog raphy and ESOL.

Elizabeth Bennell

Head of Sixth Form

Mr s Bennell has specific responsibility for all matter s relating to the Sixth For m (Year s 12 & 13). Mr s Bennell teac hes Frenc h.

Hayley Mor timer Deputy Head Co-Cur r iculum

Miss Mor timer has responsibility for the Co-Cur r icular Prog ramme throughout King’s Ely Miss Mor timer teac hes Physical Education.

Andy Thomas Director of Boarding

Mr Thomas has responsibility for boarding throughout King’s Ely, both at KEP and KES. Mr Thomas teac hes History and Gover nment & Politics.

Contact List

All member s of staff are here to help you. The fir st por t of call for academic matter s is your c hild’s Tutor For pastoral issues, you should contact your c hild’s Housemaster or Housemistress (HsM) or the Head of Year. If you wish to contact any member of staff, please call 01353 660700 or email directly using this for mat for their address: Fir stnameSur name@kingsely.org.

However, there are specific people who can help you with par ticular issues Fur ther details can be found in Appendix 4 and 5.

Academic matters

• Your child’s Tutor

• For other unresolved academic matters, Academic

Pastoral matters

• Your c hild’s Housemaster/Housemistress or Head of Year

• Fur ther unresolved pastoral matter sCharlie Fisher, Deputy Head of KES

Years 9 to 11

• Your child’s tutor/Housemaster/Housemistress

• Scott Mathie (Head of Year 9) ScottMathie@kingsely.org

• • JamesFoster@kingsely.org

James Foster (Head of Year 10)

Sixth Form

• Your child’s Tutor/Housemaster/Housemistress

• Elizabeth Bennell (the Head of Sixth Form & Year ElizabethBennell@kingsely.org

• Peter Thistlethwaite (Head of Year 13) PeterThistlethwaite@kingsely.org

Child Protection and S afeguarding is sues

• Designated Safeguarding Lead - Charlie Fisher

Permis sion for absence

• In the first instance, permission for absence should be directed to the Housemaster or Housemistress. Long term absence requests should be made directly to Mr , the Head of KES.

Daily absentees

To repor t an absence please do one of the following:

• Use the forms on My School Portalkingsely.myschoolportal.co.uk

• Contact Main Reception by emailabsentees@kingsely.org

• Contact Main Reception by telephone01353 660700 JamesFoster@kingsely.org

Michael Batty (Head of Year 11)

Boarding matters

• Your child’s Housemaster/Housemistress

• Andy Thomas, Director of Boarding - AndyThomas@kingsely.org

The First Day

Monday 7th

The first day of school for everybody is Tuesday 8th September However, all Year 9 pupils, Year 11 King’s Ely International (KEI) pupils and all Year 12 pupils are expected to attend school for Induction Day on September. On Monday, please wear full sc hool unifor m/suits for sixth for mer s. As Tuesday is a games day for Y11-Y13, pupils in those year s may wear King’s Ely games kit, including trac ksuit trouser s /legg ings

Induction Day

Monday 7th September is an induction day for all Year 9 pupils, Year 11 King’s Ely International (KEI) pupils and all Year 12. The day is intended to help everyone settle in before school starts properly on T September. Everyone else should ar r ive ready to star t sc hool at 8.25am on Tuesday

uesday 8th

B oarders

Monday 7th

From 2pm onwards, Year 9, KEI Year 11 and Year 12 Boarders should arrive at their boarding houses between 2pm and 9pm on Sunday 6th September (Hereward, Hill House, Etheldreda, Sc hool or Wendreda), where you will be met by your Housemaster or Housemistress. All other retur ning boarders should arrive between 9am and 9pm on September Details will be provided separately by your House. Home Masters will be in each home to help you settle.

Year 9

Term starts with an Induction Day on Monday 7th

September, with boarders arriving on Sunday 6th

September. On Monday, day pupils should arrive in school uniform and register at their Day House by 8.25am. They will be met by their Housemaster or Housemistress (HsM) and their Tutor There will be a ser ies of induction events for all Year 9s, led by Mr Mathie (Head of Year 9). Please remember to br ing any electronic devices (e.g. laptops) so that we can ensure everyone is set up on the King’s Ely network. There will be swim tests and preparation for Stage Camp in the after noon so please br ing Games kit and Swimwear The day will finish at 4pm.

Year 10

Any new pupils in Year 10 are invited to come into school at 2pm on Monday 7th September to meet their tutors and Housemasters or Housemistresses and to set up lap tops before the first day. All other returning Year 10 pupils start school on Tuesday 8th September

Year 11 KEI (One Year IGCSE Programme)

Whether a day pupil or boarder, international one-year IGCSE pupils at King’s Ely Senior have a personalised induction programme over 3 days including orientation to our school campus, our teaching methodology, school expectations and facilities as well as ensuring that your personal school email and online portals have been set up. This starts on Monday 7th September.

Year 12 Day Pupils

On the first morning, Monday 7th September, Year 12 should ar r ive at the Old Palace by 8.30am. You will be met by the Sixth For m team and by your ‘buddy’ who will look after you, make sure you know what you ’ re doing and help you find your feet There will be plenty of other people joining King’s at the same time as you and the Sixth For m exper ience is new to everyone, so try not to wor ry.

The fir st day will focus on helping you to familiar ise your self with King ’s Ely There will be var ious induction activities, including some time to sor t out log istics, timetables and to answer any questions you may have.

We will also get your lap tops set up on the network and so please remember to br ing these with you (fully c harged and with a power cable). Otherwise, please just br ing a pen and remember that you are expected to follow the Sixth For m dress code from day one.

Year 11 and Year 13 (Day and Boarder)

Boarders should arrive on the afternoon of Monday 7th September (or earlier by arrangement with your HsM). Day pupils should register in houses or at the OP by 8.25am on Tuesday 8th September.

G etting to know us

Advice for new pupils

Whether you are ar r iving from the Prep section of King’s Ely (KEP) or are completely new, it is likely that you will be feeling both ner vous and excited.

KES is a very fr iendly sc hool and it is impor tant to remember that we want to do all we can to help you settle in quic kly. There are plenty of people around to help you, these include: your Housemaster or Housemistress, your Tutor and the House Prefects, as well as lots of fellow pupils who can recall just what it is like to be new to the Sc hool.

When you first arrive, your House will become your family. This is par ticularly the case for boarders and pupils in Year 9 to 11 as it is where you will star t and end your day and it will be your “base” at break time and lunchtime. You will be guided through your initial steps at KES by a combination of older pupils, House Tutors and your Housemaster/Housemistress. It is also impor tant to help each other out; you will all be asking the same questions, so share the answers! Day pupils in the Sixth Form will star t and end their day in the Old Palace and this will be your base at break and lunchtimes

If you do get a little lost on the campus or don’t make friends straight away, please remember that this is perfectly nor mal. Adapting to any new environment is a challenge but you will find that there are plenty of people to help. If you are str uggling in any way, the impor tant thing is how you deal with it:

• Go and talk to someone - a friend, your Head of House, Head of Year, your Tutor or Housemaster or Housemistress.

• It takes time to settle fully into a new community but try to focus on what you are doing that day.

Making new friends takes time but you will find KES is a very welcoming and friendly community. Here are a few simple but effective tips to help you in your first few days:

• Be interested… take an interest in your fellow pupils and ask them all about themselves. You may well discover that you have all sor ts of things in common.

• Be helpful… wait for friends from house before heading off to lessons and games Look out for people who are sitting on their own or are a little less confident.

• Get involved in what is going on and try new things; join a session in the Ar t School, the Music School or one of the many clubs.

• Be honest and straightforward in your dealings with everyone; the best relationships are founded on mutual respect and tr ust.

Finally, hold yourself to high standards and expect us to hold you to them as well. Ely is a beautiful city and King’s sits in the middle of the community. Every interaction you have with members of the public is an oppor tunity to improve the reputation of King’s Be polite and considerate in everything you do. Move aside on pavements when walking around the campus, or to and from the station, say “hello” as you pass people and be aware of how your actions are viewed by members of the public Remember you are now joining a long line of pupils who have attended King’s Ely, be respectful of those who have gone before you and commit to improving the school whilst you are here.

Daily Routine 2026 to 2027

It will probably take a few days to get used to the routine. Teac her s will expect students to ar r ive punctually but will be under standing of the c hallenges of navigating a new site in the fir st few days It is impor tant to leave in good time to get to classes and activities There is always a five-minute gap between lessons to allow time to move between buildings and be on time for the next lesson.

8:25am Reg istration

8:40am Cathedral, Assemblies & Tutor ials See below

9:00am Per iod 1

9:55am Per iod 2

10:45am Break

11:10am Per iod 3

12:05pm Per iod 4

12:55pm Lunc h (Per iod 5)

1:55pm Per iod 6

2:50pm Per iod 7

3:45pm Per iod 8

4:30pm End of for mal lessons

4:30pm onwards Co-Cur r icular Clubs and Activities

Mondays: (P3 and P4)

Year 9 (Week B only) and Year 10 have games

Fridays (P3 and P4)

Year 9 have Ely Scheme from 11.55am

Year 11 to Year 13 have games

Tuesdays

P6 & P7 Years 11-13 have games

P8 Enr ichment or Spor ts Fixtures

Thursdays

P6 & P7 Years 9-10 have games

P8 Enr ichment or Spor ts Fixtures

Cathedral, A s semblies and Tutorials

8.25am 8:40am Years 9 to 11 8.40am Years 12 to 13

Monday Tutor time Cathedral Cathedral

Tuesday Tutor time Sc hool Assembly (HT) Tutor

Wednesday Pupils in house / OP House Assembly

Thur sday Tutor time Tutor / PSHE Sixth For m Assembly (HT)

Fr iday Tutor time Cathedral Cathedral

B oarding at KE S

Our vibrant boarding community lies at the hear t of KES Br itish and inter national students live, work and socialise together, shar ing all aspects of sc hool and boarding house life.

Beyond the academic side of sc hool, we want pupils to live their lives to the full. This could be competing in an inter-House spor ts matc h, acting in a drama production or sing ing in a c hoir in Ely Cathedral. Boarder s appreciate what it means to be par t of a highly suppor tive community and actively encourage eac h other to ac hieve their potential.

Weekends g ive boarder s a c hance to both relax and to take par t in a var iety of activities. Many of our boarder s represent the sc hool in spor ts fixtures against local competition Both the Spor ts Hall and the sc hool gym are open on Sunday after noons for strength and conditioning, basketball, five-a-side, volleyball and badminton. Other s opt for a var iety of weekend Ely

Sc heme activities suc h as the Duke of Edinburgh’s award sc heme, climbing, fell walking and kayaking expeditions For those that enjoy the perfor ming ar ts, there are often rehear sals for drama productions and concer ts at the weekend. On Sundays there are both whole boarding community and house tr ips and activities, whic h have included barbecues in Thetford forest, shopping in London or visits to the seaside.

Sixth-for m boarder s may, with per mission from their housemaster s or housemistresses, travel to Cambr idge with fr iends for a meal, shopping, the cinema or, even, all three.

At KES, we are extremely proud that our boarding houses, some of whic h date bac k to the Middle Ages, reflect the world in the 21st century We believe the r ic h cultural diver sity that our students of over 35 different nationalities br ing to our community is a cause for celebration.

King ’s Ely One -Year IGCSE Pro gramme

The one-year IGCSE prog ramme is an integ ral par t of King’s Ely, enhancing the global nature of our sc hool community. In the fir st week, the pupils will have their level of English Language assessed to ensure they have the most appropr iate level of language suppor t. Maths is also c hec ked to ensure pupils are placed in the most appropr iate g roup. There is a 3 day induction prog ramme whic h includes taster sessions for IGCSE

subjects and an or ientation to Ely and Cambr idge. Once pupils feel confident and comfor table with their day-to-day sc hool timetable and life, the fir st few weeks may also offer a c hance to discuss their initial prog ress with their per sonal Tutor and make any necessary academic or pastoral c hanges We will contact parents within the fir st 2 weeks to update them on prog ress.

Sixth Form

The Sixth For m centre is housed in the beautiful and inspiring surroundings of the Old Palace (the OP) which offers plenty of space for both studying and socialising. Pupils eat in their own Refectory or outside in the cour tyard if the weather is fine. The Long Gallery is the largest space and is used as a work space during lesson times and a social space at break and lunchtimes. If you want to chat / relax during study periods, you should use the Common Room which also houses a pool table and table football. The final room is the James Woodford room, which is also known as the ‘Silent Study’ room. You may also work in the Refectory throughout the day and there is also a Sixth Form gym. The OP is a warm and friendly environment where pupils enjoy a strong sense of community whilst remaining fully part of the wider school.

Pupils are suppor ted by the Sixth For m team, including dedicated Sixth For m Tutor s, as they adjust to the greater independence and freedom offered. Mrs Bennell is the Head of Sixth Form with specific responsibility for Year 12. Mr Thistlewaite is Head of Year 13. Mrs Halls (Sixth Form Supervisor) is also based in the Old Palace and is a constant presence to help the sixth form run smoothly. Wherever possible, pupils are encouraged to be responsible for making their own choices, but supervised study is available for those who want or need it. Thanks to this close-knit environment, every pupil is known well and benefits form a bespoke network to support their academic

and pastoral wellbeing. Pupils in the Sixth For m swap sc hool unifor m for a dress code whic h allows for g reater per sonal expression, whilst adher ing to what would be appropr iate for a smar t, professional working environment.

Pupils may initially c hoose four subjects to take in the Sixth For m although the vast major ity will drop to three by Mic haelmas half ter m Some may continue with four if they are taking Fur ther Mathematics In addition to those subjects already offered at GCSE, there are several new subjects including Gover nment and Politics, Economics, Psyc hology and Film Studies. Alongside this there is an expectation of four to six hour s of additional independent study per subject. There is also the oppor tunity to take the Extended Project Qualification whic h is viewed favourably by univer sities.

Alongside their academic subjects, pupils will follow a prog ramme of Extended Lear ning and PSHE to develop leader ship skills and cr itical thinking, broaden their hor izons and deepen their awareness of wider social issues A sc hedule of Higher Education and Career s guidance suppor ts pupils as they make their c hoices about the next stage of their lives. Oppor tunities for co-cur r icular enr ic hment abound with Sixth For mer s often taking on leading roles in the many societies, teams and clubs as well as volunteer ing in the local community

Pastoral Care and Welfare

The happiness, wellbeing and success of eac h individual is central to all we do We believe every pupil should enjoy and make the very most of their lear ning in the classroom. They are also actively encouraged to find their nic he beyond the cur r iculum. A good education will encourage c hildren to take r isks, to par ticipate in new activities and to be open to new ideas They should leave with the confidence and skills to play leading roles in society

At KE S we aim:

• To create a car ing environment where pupils are valued for who they are, not just for what they cur rently contr ibute.

• To ensure every pupil has the self-confidence to tac kle both academic and per sonal c hallenges.

• To provide pupils with oppor tunities for involvement, leader ship and ser vice

• To encourage pupils to exercise individual and social responsibility.

• To ensure that eac h pupil has access to per sonal, vocational and academic guidance and suppor t, where necessary

• To establish and maintain excellent communication with every parent, so that together we can help prepare pupils for adult life.

Resp onsibility

The pastoral care of all our pupils is the responsibility of the whole sc hool community. The way we treat, talk to, interact with and teac h pupils all contr ibute to the quality of our pastoral care.

The main focus for pastoral care for pupils is their Tutor who is responsible for the pastoral and academic oversight of their tutees.

Housemasters and Housemistresses oversee the work of the Tutors within their Houses. They are supported by the Head of Sixth Form and the Heads of Year.

KES has a Wellbeing Co-ordinator and a Lead Counsellor

As Deputy Head, Mr Fisher oversees the pastoral care provision. His door is always open to pupils.

Communication

We believe excellent communication between home and sc hool is integ ral to the wellbeing and prog ress of all pupils. We will do our best to keep you infor med of any concer ns at sc hool and we ask that parents aler t us to any concer ns they may have pic ked up at home.

Counselling

King’s Ely offers a counselling service which is co-ordinated by the They work with a team of a team of BACP qualified counsellors. All pupils may access counselling, of which the first six sessions are free of charge each academic year The counselling service is confidential apart from the rare occasions when there is a safeguarding concern which would be passed onto the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

In the Senior School, we welcome parents being aware of the counselling process and when possible, invite your input at the point of referral. The school counsellors aim to provide a specialised, professional layer of support, complementing the pastoral support offered by Tutors, teachers, housemasters, and housemistresses.

House System

The House system at King’s Ely is central to the life of every student. From the start, students develop a strong allegiance to their House; it’s a place to make friends, a base between lessons and the hub of House competition, whether it be debating, sport, music or outdoor pursuits.

All students are allocated to one of nine day and boarding Houses. Houses take responsibility for leading worship in the cathedral, fund-raising for charity and organising social events. This allows everyone the opportunity to experience the fun and the challenge of working as a team and engaging with students in all year groups, including Sixth Form.

Tutoring

Working closely with parents, Tutors, HsMs and are there for each student, celebrating their achievements and supporting them through the problems that may arise in adolescence.

Personal Development (P SHE)

Per sonal Development provides students with infor mation, skills and attr ibutes to navigate the oppor tunities, c hallenges and responsibilities they cur rently face and will encounter in the future. It includes Per sonal, Social, Health and Economic (PSHE/RSE) education and career s education.

For pupils in Years 9-12, PSHE takes place in form time (once per week) 13 students will have a designated lesson which their tutor will lead throughout the year.

Academic Life

Academic E xp ectations

Lear ning should be a fulfilling and rewarding experience We want our pupils to feel both suppor ted and challenged with their work We encourage pupils to take risks with their lear ning and strive to do their best

Our King’s Ely Lear ning Habits framework under pins our academic ethos. We embolden pupils to be reflective about their work so that they can recognise their strengths and under stand how they can improve. Pupils are actively encouraged to ask questions and to be creative in their responses to tasks We want pupils to develop their abilities to work collaboratively, to know where and when to ask for help and by advocating that pupils take r isks with their work, we develop their resilience. We c hampion the view that pupils should see themselves as being an integ ral par t of a community of lear ning and to respect eac h other as lear ner s.

The cur r iculum is broad and balanced and full details of the prog rammes are found in Cur r iculum Outlines published annually on My Sc hool Por tal for eac h stage of education in King’s Ely Senior (Year 9, GCSE and A Level) The cur r iculum is regularly reviewed to ensure it meets the needs of lear ner s. Pupil voice is very muc h par t of this process.

Rep orting and A s ses sment

We like to keep parents well infor med about the academic prog ress of their son or daughter. In addition to repor ts being sent home, Per iod Grades are also sent whic h record standards of effor t and ac hievement over the previous few weeks These provide the oppor tunity to monitor the effor t put into academic work in eac h subject. Letter s are sent home to cong ratulate the pupils who have made the most improvement or who have done par ticularly well Tutor s also discuss prog ress with their tutees and ag ree on targets for development.

Repor ts contain detailed analysis of academic perfor mance in eac h subject (including instr umental lessons). They may also contain comments on Games and regular co-cur r icular activities, Ely Sc heme, cour ses and camps, par ticipation in Orc hestra, Chapel Choir, Choral Society and any other exter nal activity or ac hievement.

Whilst assessment is an integ ral par t of the day to day teac hing and lear ning process, we do sc hedule a number of for mal exam sessions so that pupils are fully prepared for GCSE and A Level examinations There are inter nal exams for members of Year 9 twice during the course of the academic year, and the dates of the assessment weeks will be communicated to parents in September. Setting at the star t of Year 9 in the Mic haelmas Ter m is provisional and based on the Year 8 examination performance and is subject to confirmation following the first set of internal exams. Subsequent to these, there is some movement in order to ensure that pupils are best placed for their ability. Any move will be made not only on the evidence of examination results, but also upon work throughout the ter m.

Pupils in Year 10 have a set of GCSE style exams in the Summer ter m at the half way point of their cour ses. Year 11 moc k examinations are usually held towards the end of the Michaelmas term and are an important marker point for predicted grades. Year 12 summer exams contribute towards UCAS predictions. Year 13 mock examinations are held in February.

For the intensive one-year IGCSE prog ramme there are a ser ies of tests or exams every 4 to 5 teac hing weeks resulting in either g rade cards or full repor ts Moc ks are held eac h Marc h while final IGCSE exams and language speaking tests commence in late Apr il eac h academic year.

A full sc hedule of exams is published eac h year on My Sc hool Por tal Tutor s advise pupils on revision skills and we r un a number of ‘how to revise’ workshops

Homework/Prep

Prep is considered an impor tant par t of the lear ning process. Pupils are encouraged to establish good habits with prep and Tutor s assist with any organisational issues Pupils in Year 9-11 have a prep timetable for the week; whilst pupils in Year 12 and Year 13 are g iven more independence in organizing their study time. Pupils in Year 9-11 can expect to spend between 1 ½ to 2 hour s on prep eac h evening. In Year 12 and Year 13, pupils are expected to spend 4-6 hour s a week working on eac h subject outside of lesson time All prep tasks are set online so that it is straightforward for pupils to keep trac k of their tasks.

Online Parent s’ Evenings

We offer you the for mal oppor tunity to meet with us at Parents’ Evenings twice each year. These evenings are online to save travel time and to allow parents from overseas to attend These are key evenings for you as parents and ones which we value hugely as staff Such is the nature of the evenings that staff might be speaking to as many as 30 different sets of parents. A time limit is therefore required, with the proviso that we will always make the oppor tunity to organise an additional meeting at a mutually convenient time should it be necessary A schedule of Parents’ Evenings for the year is published on My School Por tal each September. An email will be sent to remind parents of the evening and to provide parents with an oppor tunity to book appointments. We also offer a number of in person workshops for parents throughout the year Where possible we will record these for those parents unable to attend

University Applications, Higher Education and Careers

Advice is given to all students from Year 10 upwards on how best to prepare themselves for the University Application Process which begins in ear nest in Year 12 Gill Smith (Higher Education), Elizabeth Bennell (Head of Sixth For m) and the team of Tutors give one-to-one advice to all pupils in Year 12 to help them in their decision-making process regarding the next steps after King’s. UCAS preparation workshops take place in June 12.Dr Emily Fishpool is Head of Careers and gives gui dance to pupils on non-university pathways such as degree apprenticeships, internships and work experience, or even star ting their own business. Within the one-year IGCSE programme Mr Norbury ensures that all the Year 11 students at King’s Ely are fast-tracked through A level options and higher education advice on par with all other KES students

Information Technolo gy, BYOD and Use of L aptops

The use of ICT is integ ral to work at King’s Ely Every student has their own email account and is expected to use this for regular communication. Any attempt to misuse the sc hool IT systems will be treated as a ser ious disciplinary offence. The use of sc hool computer s to obtain, view or pass on inappropr iate mater ial is also forbidden.

Pupils using a laptop in sc hool, must complete the BYOD for m to reg ister the device in school. Pupils must also have read and signed the BYOD procedure. All user s of computing facilities are required to ag ree to the Acceptable Use Polic y (AUP), ag reeing to comply with the statutory regulations and other provisions applicable to computer systems and the infor mation stored in them.

All pupils in Year s 9 to 13 must have a laptop to use in

lessons. Details regarding suitable laptop specifications can be found in our BYOD Polic y whic h is issued to all pupils before they join the sc hool It is a pupil’s responsibility to ensure it is c harged eac h day

Librar y

The Library houses more than 13,000 books to suppor t reading for both pleasure and the cur r iculum up to and beyond A Levels, as well as offer ing access to a wide ar ray of dig ital content, including eBooks, dig ital databases, and magazines. It is open throughout the sc hool day. Pupils are encouraged to have a reading book and can c hoose from a wide selection of up to date fiction

Our Librar ian, Mr s Bowes, works with pupils to help them c hoose books and pupils are encouraged to recommend titles to be added to the collection. The non-fiction stoc k, in pr int as well as dig ital for mat, is up to date and is used dur ing project-based and researc h tasks, both in lessons and homework.

In addition, the library houses a colour pr inter, computer s, comfor table seating and desk space. Board games are available at break and lunc htimes and for many it provides a comfor table place in whic h to relax and read dur ing the busy day Mr s Bowes works closely with the English Depar tment to ensure a range of relevant reading lists and topical displays to promote reading for pleasure.

Learning Habit s Framework

Resilient Lear ners:

• seek effective alter native strateg ies when the solution to any aspect of work is not immediately obvious

RESILIENCE

COLL ABOR ATION

• are prepared to r isk exper imenting with new approac hes and try new things in order to improve

• will try again if not successful the fir st time, showing patience and per severance

Collaborative Lear ners:

• know that it is advantageous to work with other s and consider other viewpoints

• respect and value the input of other cultures, nationalities and relig ious per spectives

• seek out the resources needed for a task, whether they are electronic or more traditional sources of knowledge

Creative and Cur ious Lear ners:

• are able to ask relevant questions to extend their under standing and satisfy their cur iosity

CRE ATIVIT Y & CURIOSIT Y

REFLECTION

• want to find out the answer s beyond the work set or expected

• generate ideas, explore possibilities and consider alter native ways of presenting infor mation.

Reflective Lear ners:

• take time to think about how their own work can be improved and act upon it

• seek out advice from teac her s when necessary

• listen to, consider and act upon feedbac k from teac her s and peer s.

Learning Supp ort

The Lear ning Suppor t Depar tment is committed to helping all pupils become independent and confident lifelong lear ner s.

We offer suppor t and exper tise to any pupil who may need help with their lear ning, in close par tner ship with teac her s, parents, Tutor s and boarding house staff to provide all-round suppor t.

Working with pupils to identify their strengths and individual lear ning styles, we help them to develop strateg ies to maximise success and minimise bar r ier s to lear ning We enable pupils to take r isks with their lear ning in order to develop an under standing of how they lear n.

The Lear ning Suppor t Depar tment is a calm and nur tur ing environment, enabling pupils to work individually with the LS team on hand to suppor t when necessary We offer study skills help to a wide range of pupils as and when they need it, and we advise staff about lear ning difficulties and the best approac hes to employ in suppor ting the pupils in their classroom through differentiation and inclusive strateg ies The depar tment trac ks pupils’ prog ress and var ies the suppor t they receive accordingly, liaising with teac hing and pastoral staff to identify difficulties so that we can provide the r ight level of suppor t.

At KES, we suppor t students with a range of mild lear ning difficulties, including dyslexia, dyspraxia, ADHD and some ASD profiles Some pupils will have sc heduled Lear ning Suppor t lessons as par t of their cur r iculum, whilst other pupils will attend ‘drop-in’ sessions before sc hool, at lunc htimes or after sc hool.

There will be a few instances where a pupil does not make the expected prog ress, despite the above provision and inter ventions. In these instances, we will suggest individual lessons for Year 9 to 11 pupils who require longer ter m suppor t as an extra to the core suppor t that the sc hool already offer s. This 1:1 inter vention will be optional and at an additional cost to parents. It will be provided by an exter nal qualified Specialist Teac her who will work with our existing Lear ning Suppor t Depar tment to deliver bespoke individualised inter vention The exter nal Specialist Teac her will meet and liaise with parents on a ter mly basis. The 1:1 lesson will be timetable and delivered on rotation in line with the sc hool per ipatetic teac her approac h.

Academic Enrichment

Beyond the core curriculum, there is a wide range of academic enrichment opportunities. These include; Ancient Greek, Avicenna (Medics Society), the DaVinci Club (Engineering Society), History Café, Model United Nations, the school newspaper (KESTrel), The Existentialist Café (Philosophy and Religion) and the Language Leader programme. Many of our clubs and societies are run by pupils and there is always an opportunity to get involved. We also invite some of our most able students in Years 10 and 11 the opportunity to complete the nationally recognised Higher Project Qualification, an independently researched and produced project on a topic of their choice.

Co- curricular

It is our intention to offer an education that develops the whole per son that both seeks to c hallenge and ignite the passion of eac h individual student. To that end we offer a large range of activities beyond the sc hool day designed to encourage par ticipation and to offer students the c hance of success in areas other than the classroom.

We encourage students to try new things so that they can discover their talents and passions, wherever they may lie The quality and range of activities enables all students to find their nic he as well as making new fr iends. Ms Hayley Mor timer (Deputy Head CoCur r icular) over sees all aspects of the Co-Cur r icular Prog ramme

Clubs and Activities

In addition to the academic enrichment activities, many interest groups, catering toa wide variety of tastes, operate at lunchtimes and after school. This includes Warhammer and Dungeon and Dragons, Chess, Christian Union, Cultural Crafts Club, ouldering, Debating and King’ s Unity (LGBTQ support).

Sometimes these are teac her led; at other times it is the students themselves who initiate the activity Either way, there is no doubt that the myr iad of oppor tunities on offer play a large par t in the life of a KES student.

Art

The Ar t depar tment is a thriving, inspiring environment where all students are encouraged to engage fully with the state-of-the-art facilities available. Specialist teachers encourage adventurous creativity and students realise ambitious outcomes, regularly achieving some of the highest exam marks in the country

The depar tment specialises in Fashion and Textiles, Fine Ar t, Sculpture and Photography and everyone has the oppor tunity to study within a suppor tive environment to produce individual ar twork of the highest calibre. All the specialist studios are well-equipped for the development of ambitious outcomes, including sculptural fashion design, digital photography, large scale canvas work and installation pieces. Students are ambitious in their approach to project requirements and consistently aim to achieve success.

Oppor tunities for co-cur r icular work take place after sc hool eac h day This includes work for major exhibitions at Olympia, Alexandra Palace, The Apex Gallery, Business Design Centre and the Babylon Gallery, as well as national, reg ional and local competitions. Our outstanding successes include fir st pr ize in the National Fashion and Textiles awards at the Business Design Centre 2026.

The lear ning exper ience is fur ther enhanced by visits to high-profile exhibitions and par ticipation in lectures and workshop activities. Popular c hoices include the Victor ia and Alber t Museum, Royal Academy, National Portrait Gallery, Tate Modern and the University of Cambridge Museums.

Drama and Dance

Drama and Dance are impor tant par ts of sc hool life for many pupils. Sc hool productions have been favourably compared to professional productions and are a highlight of the sc hool calenda r In addition to acting, they provide many bac kstage and tec hnical oppor tunities, essential to building self-confidence and developing theatr ical skills.

Theatre Masterclasses, Monologue Tuition and Dance Clubs stretc h our most able and deepen their under standing of the subject, whilst educational visits and tour s provide oppor tunities to exper ience professional theatre, both as perfor mer s and audience member s We regularly perfor m at the Edinburgh Festival and have been awarded four and five star s for or ig inal pieces of theatre. Tr inity Speec h and Drama lessons are available to those seeking additional individual c hallenges with many secur ing the highest awards available dur ing their time at King’s

Pupils who wish to study Drama or a related deg ree at univer sity or who are auditioning for a place at drama sc hool are well prepared with one-to-one coac hin g. Many pupils have gone on to successfully audition for drama sc hools and are now working as professional actor s, designer s and tec hnicians

If you have any questions regarding drama, please contact the Director of Drama and Theatre, Mrs Jane Parker

Music

We are extremely proud of our musical tradition. Music at King’s Ely is vibrant, engaging and inclusive. Each pupil is guided by a team of specialist teachers to find their own musical journey through an imaginative and stimulating curriculum, with the option of learning an instrument and by participating in an all encompassing range of extra-curricular musical activities. Situated in the heart of KES, the Gibson Music School provides opportunities to perform in many diverse vocal and instrumental ensembles at a variety of levels. Every pupil competes in the eagerly contested House Song Competition. King’s Ely musicians also have the opportunity to tour regularly.

After King’s Ely, many of our musicians have gone on to secure places at Conservatoires in London (Guildhall, RCM, RAM and Trinity Laban), Birmingham and Manchester (RNCM), along with places at the Glyndebourne Youth Academy and Choral or Organ Scholarships at Oxbridge. Many go on to become music professionals. If you have any questions regarding music, please contact the Director of Music, Mr Neil PorterTha

Spor t is a major par t of sc hool life and encompasses both team and individual spor ts. All pupils are expected to par ticipate fully in the comprehensive spor ting prog ramme that is on offer and represent the sc hool Spor t and exercise play a vital role in a healthy active lifestyle and positive mental and social health The c hoice of spor ts and exercise available increases in Year 11 and the Sixth For m, as pupils find the spor t or for m of exercise they most enjoy. A full list is available on SOCS.

King’s Ely has excelled in several spor ts over recent year s with success being recognised through selection at distr ict, county, reg ional and national level in a number of spor ts Spor ts tour s are also organised to expose pupils to new cultures and global competition. Year 9 and Year 10 pupils must c hoose from one of the following options:

Girls

Mic haelmas

Boys

Lent Ter m

Athletic Development

Sports Carousel

Netball

Rowing

Dance

Athletic Development

Football

Cross Country

Sports Carousel

Summer Ter m Cr ic ket

Tennis

Athletic Development

Sports Carousel

Football Rowing

Dance

Athletic Development

Hoc

Cross Country

Sports Carousel key

Athletics Swimming Cr ic ket

Tennis

Athletics Swimming

Rowing Rowing

From Year 11 onwards, pupils can opt for a wider range of spor ts and activities in addition to the major spor ts. There is a wide range of c hoices suc h as basketball, badminton, golf, hoc key, table tennis, squash, strength and conditioning, boulder ing, yoga, Pilates and Zumba.

There are fixtures on Tuesday (11-13) and Thur sday (9-10) and also on a Saturday, these are sent out to parents via KingsPost on a ter mly basis or can be found in the sc hool calenda r. Children who are pic ked to play for a sc hool team are expected to be available to play. Exceptional circumstances should be communicated to the Director of Spor t as soon as possible

If there is a medical reason why pupils are not able to par ticipate in a spor t session or a sc hool fixture or activity, please send an email to the Director of Spor t. If your c hild is ill or injured and is thus ‘Off Games’, please use My Sc hool Por tal and complete the ‘Off Games Request’. Notes for boarder s are issued by the Medical Centre Staff. In the cour se of the day, an Off Games note may be issued at the discretion of the medical staff.

For those pupils who wish to take their spor t more ser iously, there is a Spor ts Masterclass ser ies to c hallenge and develop their passion.

If you have any questions regarding sport, please contact the Director of Sport, Alex Meddl

Ely Scheme

The Ely Sc heme offer s oppor tunities for pupils to explore and lear n through outdoor education. A comprehensive and prog ressive prog ramme of outdoor activities r un throughout Year 9 on Fr iday mor nings This provides the lead-in to g reater adventures on the roc k face, r iver s and mountains. Outdoor education at King’s Ely offer s pupils the c hance to lear n self-reliance, teamwork, creative thinking and a deter mined attitude towards all c hallenges in life

Our unique prog ramme is facilitated by specially selected and trained pupil instr uctor s who deliver our activities and learn to become leaders. From guiding pupils for walking in Wales, the Camino Trail, the Lake District and Dartmoor, to exploring more mountainous regions in Morocco. The clubs and trips are run by highly technical staff, some of whom were once pupil instructors at KES.

All of our trips and expeditions are run from within the Ely Scheme so that each individual’s abilities and skill can be monitored carefully to guarantee a tailored programme of independent learning on their journey through our

If you have any questions regarding Ely Scheme, please contact the Director of Outdoor Education, Mr James Houlston

Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

KES is committed to providing students with access to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award sc heme. The Duke of Edinburgh Award sc heme is a voluntary noncompetitive prog ramme of practical, cultural and adventurous activities It is designed to suppor t the per sonal and social development of young people, regardless of gender, bac kg round or ability. It offer s an individual c hallenge and encourages young people to under take exciting constr uctive, c halleng ing and enjoyable activities in their free time Fur ther more, many organisations suc h as employer s and univer sities value the Award and what it says about the per son who has ac hieved it.

There are three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold and for eac h one, students need to complete activities in four different sections: Volunteer ing, Skills, Physical and Expeditions KES r uns all three awards At Gold level, students also take par t in a residential project.

Nor mally students star t the Bronze Award in Year 9 and the Silver Award in Year 10, whic h should be finished by the end of Year 11. Pupils can then star t the Gold sc heme on their 16th bir thday Several King’s Ely Inter national students also star t the Award in Year 11. Tim Wyndham-Smith (TimWyndhamSmith@ kingsely.org) leads the Duke of Edinburgh Award at King’s Ely and can usually be found in the Ely Sc heme office, near the spor ts hall. He can be contacted with any questions regarding this award.

Trips

We aim to offer a wide a range of tr ips and expeditions, both dur ing ter m-time and in the holidays.

Ter m-time cur r iculum-based tr ips have recently included Cambr idge Univer sity lectures, ar t galler ies, theatres, parliament, field study centres,the Norfolk coast and fur ther afield to France and Ger many and also the annual Battlefields tr ip for Year 9 Histor ians. Tr ips are also organised for boarder s at the weekends. For example, the Cambr idge Aqua Park, Paintballing and Go-Kar ting are popular tr ips The Ely Sc heme r uns a number of expeditions at home and abroad for kayakers, canoeists, and climbers.

Dur ing the holidays, depar tments often ar range regular visits and tour s over seas. Recent tr ips have included a football and hockey tour to the Netherlands, a choir trip to and a History trip to Berlin and Krakow. ECGC and Choral Scholars recently visited Umbr ia, in Italy. Eac h October there is an annual Sixth For m volunteer ing tr ip to Kenya.

Ely Cathedral Girls’ Choir

Ely Cathedral’s Girl Chor ister s sang their fir st cathedral ser vice in November 2006 and are now fir mly established as a central par t of the cathedral community, with full par ity of duties, esteem, and financial award as the boy c hor ister s The g irls sing four cathedral ser vices eac h week, and they have also made several cr itically acclaimed recordings, and regularly broadcast live on BBC radio.

The sc hool is committed to making lear ning accessible, stimulating, c halleng ing and inspir ing, and, in tur n, it encourages all pupils to engage with the oppor tunities around them. Chor ister s receive a specialist musical education and are treated as professional musicians from the beg inning, perfor ming with professional singer s, organists, and conductor s daily

For mer c hor ister s (both boys and g irls) who are successful in auditioning for Sixth Form Choral Scholarships continue to sing in the athedral choir, alongside the professional lay clerks. By the time they leave the sc hool, they will have gained the exper tise and exper ience needed to car ry on to univer sity c horal sc holar ships (recent Sixth For m Choral Sc holar s have received c horal sc holar ship offer s from Cambr idge, Oxford, Royal Holloway, and Durham), professional musical career s or any other path they might wish to follow.

A-Z of Imp or tant Additional Information

Absence

Alternatively you may call the School Office after 8.30am (01353 660700).

Buses

Bus services are available to bring your children to school The routes we have at present terminate/collect from: •

Cars and car parking

With per mission, Sixth For m pupils may dr ive to sc hool. Per mission is gained via the Head of Sixth For m or the Sixth For m super viso r Pupil vehicles can only be dr iven to and from sc hool, at eac h end of the working day. They must not be dr iven around the sc hool or town dur ing the day or with any pupil passenger s unless specific per mission has been g iven for a par ticular reason and only then also with parental consent Pupil passenger s (including siblings) require parental author isation on the dr iving for m from both par ties. Parking for students on site is subject to availability.

Chaplaincy and worship in Ely Cathedral

Chr istian inspiration is fundamental to King’s Ely The sc hool recognises that pupils may come from homes whic h follow other faiths or have no strong relig ious affiliation. The Chaplainc y is fully involved with pastoral care of the sc hool community. We are blessed that Ely Cathedral is our spir itual home. King’s Ely Senior students meet in the Cathedral eac h Monday and Friday

Our School Chaplain is available to meet all members of the school community. Each year provides the opportunity for pupils to prepare for Communion and Confirmation and leads the School Retreat.

Communication & Email addres ses

Email is the pr imar y method of communicating between home and sc hool. We aim to email on Tuesday and Fr iday evenings in order to avoid overloading parents with emails throughout the week. Emails are sent via KingsPost

. Please feel free to email your child’s Tutor, HsM or Head of Year, if you have concerns or questions. Each Friday you will also receive a KES Newsletter which includes highlights of the past week and also signposts upcoming events.

Parents will also be emailed automatically via iSAMS (the Management Information System) if their son or daughter receives an Alpha, a erit (a metaphorical pat on the back) or any form of Detention.

Charity

At King’s Ely, we pride ourselves on the contributions we make to the wider community. Primarily run by the students but headed by a member of the teaching staff, the has been responsible for raising vast amounts of money. The students in all sections of the school generate, plan and carry out fundraising events with good humour and enthusiasm in support of their chosen charity. Most KES houses also sponsor a child as part of their regular giving We are very proud of the many contributions our students have made to the wider community.

Counselling

(see page 15)

Damage and los s of scho ol prop er ty

Any damage to school proper ty as a result of inappropriate behaviour will be charged to pupils. School equipment, textbooks and library books which are lost by pupils will also incur a replacement fee Parents are informed in advance that a charge is to be made

Ely S cheme (see page 29)

First

Aid (See Medical Centre page 33)

Lost Prop erty

All items of per sonal proper ty should be clearly labelled Any named items that are found will be retur ned via the relevant Housemaster or Housemistress. Unnamed items can be collected from the Domestic Ser vices Office (the old Medical Centre, situated near the Spor ts Hall), whic h is open 6am to 2.30pm, Monday to Fr iday A weekly log of unclaimed items is also sent to pupils

Librar y (see page 18)

07:30-08:05 09:00-09:45 (Continental breakfast) 09:00-09:45 (Continental breakfast)

Lunc h 12:55-13:50 10:30-13:15 (Br unc h) 10:30-13:15 (Br unc h)

Health and Wellb eing Centre and Medicine

We have many fir st aid trained staff, one of whom may well be the per son who attends to your c hild in the fir st instance. We are very for tunate to have a Health and Wellbeing Centre on site in Bishop Woodford House Whilst our team of medical staff are not able to be consulted by day pupils for known medical needs whic h should be directed towards their GP, they will g ive initial attention to pupils if something ar ises in the cour se of the day.

If your c hild has been prescr ibed medicine that needs to be taken dur ing the sc hool day, these will be over seen by the Health and Wellbeing Centre. Pupils must attend the Health and Wellbeing Centre at the necessary time

Mobile phones and tablet s

Electronic devices of any kind that are brought onto site are always the responsibility of the user. The school accepts no responsibility for the loss, theft, damage or breach of security of such items on school premises. Mobile phones or personal electronic devices will not be used by pupils during lessons or formal school time unless as part of an approved, directed and supervised curriculum-based activity with consent from a member of staff. Such use will be purpose-specific and time-limited.

From September 2026, all pupils from Y9-Y11 will be issued with ‘Yondr’ pouches. Phones will be turned off and locked into these pouches during tutor time (08.25) and will be able to unlock the pouch at the end of the school day (from 16.30). Staff taking sports fixtures and trips will be issued with a portable unlocking station so that pupils can unlock their phones on completion of the school activity.

6th Formers are allowed to use their phones in the Old Palace Common Room and Long Gallery. Such use is expected to uphold the spirit of the whole-school policy in encouraging face-to-face interaction and breadth of activity and 6th Form pupils will be sanctioned for using their phones in sight of younger pupils.

We want people to look up and talk to each other. Any pupil who chooses to bring a mobile phone to school must:

• accept full responsibility for looking for looking after the phone. It is also recommended that it is clearly named.

• not photograph, video or use the audio recording component without the permission of the person being photographed or recorded.

• never take the phone into an examination room.

Using mobile phones to harass or upset other people in any way is an offence punishable by law and by the School. Interfering with, hiding or taking someone else’s mobile phone will be regarded as theft and possibly bullying as well. The use of someone else’s phone without their permission, particularly if that use incurs some cost to the owner, will be regarded as theft.

If a pupil deliberately or negligently disregards these guidelines, he/she must accept that a teacher will confiscate the phone.

• The phoned may be collected at the end of the day from the School Office, the HsM or Head of Year.

• For repeat offences a pupil should, in the first instance, expect to receive a school detention and then will be required to hand the phone in each morning.

• If it is suspected that the phone has been used to take photographs or to film without permission, the school reserves the right to search the phone in the presence of the pupil. (See section 5 below)

If a pupil needs to contact his/her parents or carers they will be allowed to use their mobile phone or a school phone, as long as they have permission from a member of school staff. Parents are advised to contact their child via the school office during school hours.

Mobile phones and personal devices must not be taken into examinations. Pupils found in possession of a mobile phone or personal device during an exam will be reported to the appropriate examining body. This may result in the pupil's grade in that examination or all examinations being nullified.

Separate arrangements are in place for boarding pupils outside the normal school day.

Naming of prop erty

It is essential that clothing, shoes and property are named.

Rewards and S anctions

(see Appendix 2)

Road S afety

Whilst King’s Ely’s classrooms are in a idyllic setting in the shadow of the Cathedral, it does mean pupils have to regularly cross public roads during the school day. There is a 20mph speed restriction on these roads and a zebra crossing between the main school site and the Porta. It is essential that pupils take care when crossing and are courteous to both members of the public and car drivers.

S afeguarding

Our g reatest pr ior ity is our shared responsibility to keep your c hild safe. As well as the obser vance of r igorous Health and Safety policies and the maintenance of secur ity at sc hool, there is our statutory obligation and desire to follow r igorous Child Protection procedures.

The Safeguarding polic y is available to parents on the website, or in pr inted for m, if requested. Str ingent staff and volunteer recr uitment c hec ks are car r ied on everyone who works at King’s Ely Charlie Fisher (Deputy Head) is the Designated Safeguarding Lead for the whole school (KEA, KEP and KES). J (Head of King’s Ely Senior), Hayley Mortimer (Deputy Dead Co-Curriculum) and Andy Thomas (Director of Boarding) are Designated Safeguarding Officers at King’s Ely Senior They keep appropriate records and liaise with external authorities, as required. Should you wish to share a child protection concern, please contact one of these designated members of staff in the first instance.

S o cial Media

Parents and families are reminded that it is not appropr iate to use social networking sites, suc h as Facebook, Instag ram or Twitter, to comment openly on sc hool issues If at any time you have a concer n or complaint, your fir st por t of call should be your c hild’s teac her or Tutor. If the issue remains unresolved then please consult the head of the relevant section of the sc hool or the Pr incipal of King’s Ely, John Attwater. If you are still dissatisfied then you should put your complaint, in wr iting, to the Chair man of Gover nor s The For mal Complaints Polic y is summar ised on the website.

Fur ther more, any conver sation that is not protected by a high pr ivac y setting is open to the world. Any negative remarks on social media can be seen as defamation of c haracter, harassment or libel, whic h means that those responsible for posting suc h comments could be sued by agg r ieved per sons or even prosecuted by the police.

The sc hool also advises parents not to upload photog raphs or video clips of your c hild whic h include other c hildren onto social networking sites without the per mission of other parents

Valuables and Money

The School cannot accept responsibility for valuables or money that pupils bring onto the campus. Should pupils choose to bring in valuables, lockers should be used for their storage, where practical.

Parents should ensure that any valuable items brought into school are covered by their own home insurance policy or individually covered. This includes musical instruments, computing equipment, sports equipment and mobile phones.

Weekends

Whilst we no longer have academic lessons on a Saturday, the weekends are still a busy time. Pupils are expected to be available for sporting fixtures. Play rehearsals and additional study mornings for public exam year groups often take place. There is also a range of optional activities available for boarders at weekends.

Withdrawal or moving on from King ’s Ely

If there are circumstances that lead you to c hange your c hild’s sc hool, there is a for mal procedure to follow All parents are urged to infor m the Head of King’s Ely Senior in advance of a c hild taking an admission test for another sc hool. The code of conduct between HMC sc hools requires liaison between the sc hools before an offer of a place can be made and, for this reason, it is impor tant that we are aware of your plans as soon as possible.

One full ter m’s notice is required in wr iting to meet the ter ms and conditions of the sc hool. Whenever possible, before the final day of the ter m preceding the one whic h will be the c hild’s final ter m at King’s Ely, your wr itten notice needs to reac h the Head of King’s Ely Senior. Your notice will be ac knowledged in wr iting and the Accounts Depar tment will prepare the necessary final invoice for the end of the ter m concer ned.

Please note that, should your notice not be received one full ter m in advance of your c hild’s leaving date, one ter m’s fees will be payable in lieu of notice.

Uniform regulations

New Uniform

Nearly New Uniform Shop

Uniform regulations (Years 9 -11) Students must be clean-shaven.

• Please ensure all uniform and kit is securely named.

• Any item with a * is only available from .

• Some items may be available at the King’s Ely Nearly New Uniform Shop.

S cho ol Uniform

Essential

• Navy pinstripe suit* (skirt or trousers)

• White shirt or collared blouse

• KES school tie* (needed with white shirt)

• Black ankle socks or navy / black tights

Optional

• Navy jumper*

• Plain dark coat (options are available from Stevensons)

• Plain dark scarf Year 9

• School sports kit plus a navy or black waterproof jacket

Essential

• Mid-layer (1/4 zip) top and tracksuit bottoms*

• Navy PE t-shirt*

• Navy PE shorts* or skort*

• Navy and duck egg games socks* / white socks

• Sports trainers (not fashion trainers)

• Bricklayer match shirt

(ONLY STEVENSONS/PLAYER LAYER KIT ONLY)

Optional

• King’s Ely hoody* (not worn for games/matches)

• Reversible match shirt*

• Navy leggings (black no longer allowed)

• Navy base layer top* & base layer shorts*

• Football/rugby/astro footwear (as required)

• Shin pads (compulsory for hockey/football)

• Gum shield (compulsory for hockey & rugby)

• Sports specific kit as encouraged by Heads of Sport

Stevensons or Nearly New Shop only

Please note that pupils have games at least 2 per these place in all .

Dress Regulations (Sixth Form)

Student s are required to wear the following: •

In addition:

•

• Jewellery, if worn, must be inconspicuous. Facial piercings are not permitted. Necklaces should not sit on top of uniform.

• Make-up, if worn, should be subtle (e.g. neutral colours, no heavy eye liner/mascara).

• Nail varnish, if worn, must be clear. False eyelashes and false nails are not permitted.

• Students must be clean-shaven.

Sp ort s kit :

You must wear King’s Ely sports kit for games (see Year 9 to Year 11 list). From September 2026, this can only be Stevensons or Player Layer kit.

In the Sixth Form, you will need the following kit as a minimum: Mid-layer top and tracksuit, PE tshirt, shorts or skort, school games socks, bricklayer match shirt and sports trainers.

If girls wish to wear leggings, they must be navy fitness leggings (mesh panels are NOT permitted). They can be worn for games or matches.

If you are playing representative sport, you will need to wear the appropriate King’s Ely kit, as prescribed by the sport.

B oarding re quirement s KE S/KEI (All B oarders Years 9 - 13)

• All items brought into school must be clearly named.

• Boarders may be required to take their belongings home or to guardians at the end of the Michaelmas and Lent Terms.

• All boarders have access to a lockable wardrobe. Boarders need to provide their own padlock for these.

• Electrical adapters are supplied by the School for international appliances.

• Boarders should not bring cash into the boarding houses - if they do it should be locked away.

• They should ensure they have arranged a UK bank account, if from overseas, before commencing school. Where setting up a UK Bank account is a problem, the school may be able to assist in this.

• 2 duvet cover s

• 2 pillowcases

• 2 single sheets (fitted)

This can be brought from home or from stores in town, upon arrival, before term begins

Although the School does provide pillows and duvets, pupils may prefer to bring their own.

Senior boarders will require the necessary number of uniform items to replace those being laundered. This also applies to sports kit. At weekends and in the evenings, boarders may dress in their own clothes. As with uniform, please ensure that any casual clothes that will be laundered by the school are named.

The school laundry operates a frequent collection and delivery service. All clothing must be colourfast and suitable for machine washing if it is to be accepted by the school laundry. Shirts should be of polyester/cotton material for easy care.

There is no laundry charge but items which require dry cleaning will be charged to pupils’ accounts.

Each Senior boarding house has facilities for pupils to do their own laundry if they so wish.

School Trunk

We're partnered with School Trunk, a convenient service designed to take the stress out of moving your child's belongings at the end of the Summer Holidays. School Trunk's DBS-checked team will collect your child's items, securely store them either off-site or on campus where possible, and then deliver everything directly to their new room ready for the start of the next term. They handle all the heavy lifting, labelling, administration, and communication with students, leaving you with one less thing to worry about. This service is only available for the summer holidays period.

To find out more or register head to: www.new.schooltrunk.org

Rewards and S anctions

Rewards

• Merits are a metaphorical ‘pat on the back’ for recognising pupils’ work, effort, contribution to school life, good deeds etc.

• Alphas are given to pupils in Year 9-11 (exceptionally also in Year 12-13) when they perform particularly well academically in terms of effort by producing an excellent piece of work for a pupil of his/her ability.

• Commendations are awarded to the pupils in Years 11 who receive the best effort grades or show the most improved effort. A letter is sent home by the Head.

• Throughout the year, Heads , HsMs, tutors and teachers award Prizes celebrating success in various curricular or co-curricular categories. At the end of each year, at a ceremony in Ely Cathedral, prizes are awarded recognising effort and achievement across all aspects of school life.

• School colours are awarded for performing arts, games and Ely Scheme. Junior Colours (a blue badge) are awarded to pupils in Years 9 and 10 Half and Full Senior Colours (silver or gold badge) are awarded to pupils in Year 11 to Year 13. These are recommended by the staff and announced in assembly. In addition, there are Major School Colours (framed citation) which are awarded by the Head for an exceptional contribution to school

• King’s and Queen’s Sc holar s are admitted to the Cathedral Foundation every November, c hosen from the pupils who obtained the best GCSE results the previous Summer. This is the highest academic accolade whic h can be confer red on our pupils and it br ings to the wearer s of the coveted red gowns both pr ivileges and responsibilities. At the same time, the two most highly ac hieving King’s Ely Inter national students will become King’s Ely Inter national Sc holar s and receive blac k gowns faced in red.

• Heads of Sc hool, Sc hool and House Prefects are posts of responsibility that are awarded following the demonstration of consistent good behaviour and strong leader ship potential.

S anctions

We expect all pupils to adhere to sc hool policies, r ules and standards. When this does not occur, our fir st response is to look into the reasons behind the unacceptable behaviour This will nor mally be car r ied out by the Tutor or Class Teac her with the HsM being kept infor med. Continuing unacceptable behaviour will be dealt with by the HsM or Head of Year with involvement from the Deputy Head. Parents will be kept infor med, so that they may work with the sc hool to provide a consistent framework of behaviour Where appropr iate, counselling or lear ning suppor t will be offered.

Academic s anctions

• Academic Detentions are used occasionally to enable a pupil to catc h up on work dur ing a lunc htime. Ser ious academic shor tfall will result in a Detention after sc hool on Fr iday after noon.

• If a pupil’s academic prog ress is per sistently poor through lac k of effor t parents will be infor med. One possible outcome will be that the pupil will be g iven a Repor t Card, to be completed by the teac her after eac h lesson.

• Repr imands are occasionally g iven when we are concer ned about a pupil’s level of effor t It should be noted that a ‘ repr imand’ should not be seen as a punishment, but is a way of recording the fact that an inter vention has taken place that is aimed at helping the pupil to improve their perfor mance.

• For Sixth For mer s, there is a ‘Cause for Concer n’ process to identify any students who are falling behind in their work. This is over seen by the Head of Sixth For m.

• Pupils whose academic perfor mance and results g ive more ser ious cause for concer n may be placed on Vice-Pr incipal’s Repor t Weekly repor ts from subject teac her s are monitored by the Head and sent for tnightly to parents.

B ehaviour

• A quiet word suffices in most situations, but sanctions are an option, if poor behaviour per sists. In the fir st instance, this is likely to take the for m of a shor t ‘Daily Detention’, for per sistent low-level incidents or incor rect unifor m These detentions last for 10 minutes (Single) or 20 minutes (Double) for minor disr uption to lear ning in the classroom. Parents are infor med automatically through iSAMS.

• School Detention: This is issued for more ser ious offences or an accumulation of Daily Detentions. Again parents are infor med off this, usually via HsMs. This takes place after sc hool on a Fr iday. Very ser ious breac hes of discipline are likely to result in a Saturday Detention, whic h takes place in the Old Palace on a Saturday mor ning

S cho ol Rules

Member s of the Sc hool are expected to display good manner s and common sense at all times It is the duty of eac h member of the Sc hool to be familiar with the Sc hool Rules, copies of whic h are found in the Polic y Section of the Sc hool Intranet. The Pr incipal is in loco parentis of all pupils while they are at Sc hool, whether Boarder s or Day pupils; eac h HsM is responsible for the welfare and safety of all in the House

King ’s Ely S enior Co de of Conduct

All involved with King’s Ely are expected to foster a community where kindness, inclusivity and encouragement are witnessed in all of our interactions Bullying or prejudice, in any for m, is unacceptable. The sc hool expects the very highest standards of cour tesy and commitment from all involved in King’s Ely. Therefore, as a pupil, please:

• Ar r ive punctually for all commitments

• Be polite and cour teous to everyone Hold door s open for eac h other and guests, look up as you walk around, say hello, thank people; it costs nothing.

• Infor m your teac her in per son or via email (and g ive as muc h notice as possible) if you are aware that you have to miss a lesson, activity or other commitment.

• Always be available to represent the school. If there is an exceptional circumstance, please seek per mission from the relevant member of staff well in advance so alter native arrangements can be made.

• Look for oppor tunities to represent the best of King’s Ely in all your interactions (e.g. on the spor ts pitc h, on sc hool tr ips, on Bar ton Square or on public transpor t).

Remember that we are par t of a larger community in Ely and we will be judged by the standards we hold. Be cour teous on the train, allow member s of the public space on the pavements around sc hool, thank car dr iver s who stop to allow you to cross, be mindful of other s on Bar ton Square and polite and respectful in the shops.

Prohibited items

It is not possible to wr ite an exhaustive list of items that are not allowed in sc hool Clearly br ing ing any illegal item, offensive weapon or items with age restr ictions into sc hool would be treated as a ser ious breac h of discipline. Examples would include alcohol, cigarettes, vapes and knives (including penknives). Highly caffeinated energy dr inks suc h as Monster and Red Bull are also prohibited on the sc hool site

Smoking, Vaping and Drinking

Smoking and vaping are forbidden at sc hool, and whilst a pupil is wear ing sc hool unifor m and when travelling to and from sc hool Alcoholic dr inks, highly caffeinated energy dr inks or other substances designed to affect a pupil’s behaviour, whether cur rently illegal or not, may not be brought into Sc hool. Any illegal act, suc h as the taking of dr ugs, will be treated as a ser ious breac h of discipline.

Damage, Break ages and Theft

Damage of property and theft must be immediately reported to your Head , HsM or Tutor on duty. Deliberately downloading any document containing a vir us will be considered to be a ser ious offence

Motor Vehicles

Members of the school are not allowed to drive, or be passengers in on, any motor vehicle during the term unless accompanied by a member of staff, a parent or guardian or unless written per mission has been received by the school for such an arrangement to take place.

Day Pupils who are required by their parents to dr ive a motor vehicle to and from sc hool must apply to the Head of Sixth For m or the Sixth For m Super visor for the necessary application for m and a set of guidelines. Pupils must not beg in to dr ive to sc hool until the for m has been satisfactor ily completed and retur ned to the Sixth For m Super viso r. Parking may only take place in areas stipulated Boarding Pupils must fir st gain per mission from their HsM, before following the process above. Motor vehicles may be used for travel only between sc hool and home. Exceptions to these r ules may be g ranted only by the Head of Sixth For m, the Deputy Head or Head.

Attendance at scho ol and scho ol commitment s

It is a pupil’s responsibility to attend mor ning and after noon reg istration. Anyone ar r iving late for sc hool must sign in, at Main Reception (near the Spor ts Hall) or the Old Palace Reception (near the

Cathedral), immediately. Failure to do so will involve parents receiving a telephone call to deter mine your whereabouts. Failure to attend any sc hool commitment e g a class, games, activity or Cathedral ser vice without per mission will be considered to be a ser ious offence.

It is a pr ivilege to be allowed to miss an academic lesson in order to attend a music or drama lesson. It is your responsibility to seek, well in advance, the per mission of the member of staff whose lesson you will miss

B ounds

Boarder s must sign out when visiting town. They should retur n to house by 6pm and sign in before going to tea. Boarder s may not visit the houses of local residents without first consulting their HsMs. Day pupils returning to school in order to attend Sixth Form events in the evening/weekends are under school discipline before and during the session. Cherry Hill, after dusk, is out of bounds to all pupils.

Personal S ecurity

Although Ely is a fr iendly and safe place, it is essential that pupils take the necessary precautions to safeguard themselves Avoid enter ing isolated areas of Ely after dusk. When walking to and from town, always walk in g roups of two or three. Avoid verbal exc hanges with anyone looking suspicious or who might cause trouble.

Signing Out on Weekdays

Boarder s must not leave the sc hool after tea without per mission. After 4.30pm all day pupils must be signed in, if they wish to remain at sc hool.

Dres s and App earance

Pupils must dress smar tly at all times, adher ing to the unifor m regulations Sc hool dress must be wor n when travelling to and from sc hool on public transpor t. Sc hool games kit may be wor n on public transpor t following a games practice after sc hool.

Hair should be of a natural colour and not at the extremes of fashion.

Mobile phones

All pupils Year 9-11 are issued with a Yondr pouch. Phones must be switched off and in the pouch from 08:25 till 16:30.

Sixth Form can use phones in certain designated sixth form only spaces.

Cycling

Bic ycles may not be r idden around the campus dur ing the sc hool day. Extreme care must be taken when r iding to and from sc hool and down Bac k Hill in par ticular. It is strongly recommended that c ycle helmets are wor n.

Bic ycles, scooter s and skateboards are not allowed on pavements in/around sc hool.

App endix 4

Additional Contact s

Reception

• Reception@kingsely.org

• Bar ton Road Reception - 01353 660700

• Old Palace Reception - 01353 660500

Health and Wellbeing Centre

• MedicalCentre@kingsely.org - 01353 662225 / Extension 3501/3523

John Attwater

Jane Thomas

Charlie Fisher

Hayley Mortimer Pr incipal

Matthew Norbury

Head of King’s Ely Senior Academic

Deputy Head and Designated Safeguarding Lead

Deputy Head Co-Cur r iculum

Director for Inter national Students

Andy Thomas Director of Boarding

Elizabeth Bennell

Peter Thistlethwaite

Michael Batty

James Foster

Scott Mathie

Jane Parker

Neil Porter-Thaw

Alex Meddle

James Houlston

Jane Halls

Stuart Thomson

Head of Sixth For m and Year 12

Head of Year 13

Head of Year 11

Head of Year 10

Head of Year 9

Director of Drama

Director of Music

Director of Spor t

Director of Outdoor Education

Sixth For m Super visor and UCAS Administrator

Sc hool Chaplain

Liz Stear n Examinations Officer

Elizabeth Tur ner Academic and Co-Cur r icular Operations Manager

Paula Tr ippett PA to the Head and Deputy Head

Principal@kingsely.org

JaneThomas@kingsely.org

CharlieFisher@kingsely.org

HayleyMortimer@kingsely.org

MatthewNorbury@kingsely.org

AndyThomas@kingsely.org

ElizabethBennell@kingsely.org

PeterThistlethwaite@kingsely.org

MichaelBatty@kingsely.org

JamesFoster@kingsely.org

ScottMathie@kingsely.org

JaneParker@kingsely.org

NeilPorter-Thaw@kingsely.org

AlexMeddle@kingsely.org

JamesHoulston@kingsely.org

JaneHalls@kingsely.org

StuartThomson@kingsely.org

LizStearn@kingsely.org

ElizabethTur ner@kingsely.org

PaulaTr ippett@kingsely.org

Sophie Lane PA to the Deputy Head Academic and SophieLane@kingsely.org

Deputy Head Co-Cur r iculum

B oarding House Contact s

Etheldreda

Housemistress Melanie Hughes

Resident TBC

Hereward

Housemaster James Houlston

Resident

Hill

Daniel Allen

Housemistress Sharon Jac kson

Resident Molly Ar mstrong

School

Housemaster Devin Oliver

Resident TBC

Wendreda

Housemistress Phoebe Bradbury

Resident Kacey Tuck

Day Houses

Osmond

Housemaster Paul Lott

Torfr ida

Housemistress Georg ina Thor pe

Wilkinson

Housemaster Harrison Palmer

Withburga

Housemistress Helen Br iggs

Deputy Housemistress Olivia Worker

MelanieHughes@kingsely.org

JamesHoulston@kingsely.org

RoseBurnett@kingsely.org

SharonJackson@kingsely.org

MollyArmstrong@kingsely.org

DevinOliver@kingsely.org

PhoebeBradbury@kingsely.org

KaceyTuck@kingsely.org

PaulLott@kingsely.org

GeorginaThorpe@kingsely.org

HarrisonPalmer@kingsely.org

HelenBriggs@kingsely.org

OliviaWorker@kingsely.org

Michaelmas Term 2026

King’s Ely Acremont Ter m Beg ins and Nur sery Opens

Fairstead House Opens

Pupils’ Orientation Day+

All King’s Ely Prep and Senior Pupils Return Exeat Weekend*

Mid-Term Holiday Begins

Term Resumes

Exeat Weekend*

King’s Ely Term Ends

Nursery Closes

Lent Term 2027

Nursery Opens

King’s Ely Term Begins

Mid-Term Holiday Begins

Term Resumes

King’s Ely Term Ends

Nursery Closed for Easter

Summer Term 2027

King’s Ely Term Begins

Exeat Weekend*

Early May Bank Holiday

Mid-Term Holiday Begins Term Resumes

King’s Ely Term Ends

Nursery Closes

+Pupils’ Or ientation Day

Or ientation Day is for the following pupils:

• All new pupils joining King’s Ely Year 4 upwards;

Monday 7th September 2026

Monday 7th September 2026

Monday 7th September 2026

Tuesday 8th September 2026

Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th October 2026

Friday 23rd October at 4:30pm

Monday 9th November 2026

Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd November 2026

Wednesday 16th December 2026

Friday 18th December 2026

Monday 4th January 2027

Wednesday 6th January 2027

Friday 12th February 2027 at 4:30pm

Monday 22nd February 2027

Thursday 25th March 2027

From Friday 26th March 2027 to Tuesday 30th March

Monday 19th April 2027

Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd May 2027

Monday 3rd May 2027

Friday 28th May 2027 at 4:30pm

Monday 7th June 2027

Thursday 8th July 2027

Friday 13th August 2027

• All pupils who will be in Year 7, Year 9, Year 11 (one year Inter national prog ramme) and Year 12;

•

*Exeat Weekends

•

•

•

• All Sc hool Prefects to assist Staff with Pupils’ Or ientation Day.

Senior boarding houses will remain open during the 2026-2027 Exeats for pupils wanting to stay. On-site catering will be available as the school kitchens will remain fully operational.

The cost is £125 per night - £250 per weekend, except May when it is £375: cost is inclusive of VAT. The school may consolidate boarding houses during these periods to ensure efficient staffing.

POSTCODES

Amherst Field: CB7 4BS

Bar ton Road Entrance/Parking: CB7 4DG

Campus/Brand Fields: CB7 4DT

Choir House: CB7 4DS

Church Lane: CB7 4JG

Etheldreda House: CB7 4DL

Hayward Theatre: CB7 4DH

Hereward Hall: CB7 4DG

Hill House: CB7 4DA

King’s Ely Acremont: CB6 1AE

King’s Ely Prep: CB7 4DB

King’s Ely Nursery: CB6 1AE

Main Reception: CB7 4DB

Medical Centre: CB7 4DX

Monastic Barn: CB7 4DL

New Field: CB7 4DG

Old Palace: CB7 4EW

Priory House: CB7

School Field: CB7

Spor