King's Ely

The Porta, housing the King's Ely library

Many of Ely's monastic buildings are leased to the school by the cathedral. The imposing Porta is the gateway into the monastic buildings of the cathedral, and now houses the school's library, classrooms and a conference room, as well as its archive.[19][20] The monastic barn is situated directly adjacent to the Porta. At one time, this long barn housed the abbey's crops, but it is now the school's dining hall.

Prior Crauden's Chapel was built in 1324, and, unlike many churches, still retains much of its original wall decorations. It is used by the school for smaller congregations and private prayer. The small organ is also used by pupils and staff.[19][20] The Queen's Hall is situated next to Prior Crauden's Chapel, and was finished at roughly the same time in the 1330s. This serves as the residence of the Head of School.[19][20] The Infirmary is one of the oldest surviving of the monastery's buildings, constructed in the 12th century.[21] Located on Firmary Lane near the south transept of the cathedral, the building once housed sick monks, but is now the boarding house for the Ely Cathedral boy choristers.[22] School House is part of the monastery, and the religious studies department is housed in the Hermitage buildings. The school uses the cathedral as a place of worship three times a week, and for major school services.[23]

In 2001, the Gibson Music School opened, moving the entire music department from the Hereward Hall building to the purpose-built centre adjacent to the Hayward Theatre. The new building contains a recital hall, several practice rooms, a classroom and two music technology rooms.[24] There a number of music groups, chiefly the Chapel Choir; an Orchestra, Jazz Band and Concert Band. There is also a barber shop chorus, formed almost exclusively by boys who were choristers in the Ely Cathedral Choir. In 2006, the Ely Cathedral Girls' Choir was formed, comprising 18 girl choristers from the Senior School.[25]

The school holds an annual music festival, where pupils represent their houses in a competition, culminating in a Finalists' Concert. There is also a major school musical each year, in which the music and drama departments collaborate. A less serious music competition is held in the Michaelmas term, when all senior school houses represent themselves in a unison and ensemble class. The school offers music scholarships to pupils who show an aptitude in at least one musical discipline, and who can contribute to the school's music groups. The music department has a Concert Society, which showcases visiting professional musicians and holds concerts several times a term.[26]

King's Ely also has many sports facilities, including an artificial turf pitch, swimming pool, tennis courts, sports hall and several outdoor pitches. In June 2002, the Principal Richard Youdale aroused media interest and criticism with an announcement that the school would be phasing out rugby.[27] The school reinstated the sport in 2005. The Principal, Richard Youdale cited, among other reasons, the increasing popularity of football.

Other sports played include football, sculling, hockey, netball, basketball, squash, golf, and rounders.[28]

Teams and individuals from the school frequently represent the school and county in their discipline. Recent successes have been seen in show jumping,[29] football,[30] and cross country running,[31] among others. British olympic javelinist Goldie Sayers began the sport whilst at King's.[8]

The school also has its own boat club which is affiliated to British Rowing (boat code KSE)[32] and its own boat house which is next to Cambridge University's on the River Great Ouse. The river is famed for being especially wide, straight and uninterrupted.[33] Sculling is open to Senior School pupils, and has produced teams and single sculls that have competed at regional and national level,[34] including James Scott, who won the Junior Inter-Regional Regatta in 2007.[35] The club's blade design is duck egg blue with dark blue cheque.[36]

At the 1987 British Rowing Championships the club won the men's U-16 single sculls.[37] In 2017 at the British Rowing Championships the women's J16 quad sculls won the national title at the 2017 British Rowing Junior Championships.[38]

The Ely Scheme has been running as an alternative to the Combined Cadet Force for over 30 years. Since its inception, it has developed into a unique outdoor adventure programme with its own timetabled activities for Years 9. Its aim is to develop self-confidence, team-working, problem-solving and personal skills in a variety of activities.[39] Pupils have the opportunity to become Ely Scheme leaders as they move up the school. Many choose to embark on The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.[40]

King's Ely has a dedicated climbing wall and all-terrain course, as well as access to an even larger obstacle course at nearby Braham Farm. In recent years, the school's climbing club has travelled to Corsica, the Alps and the Himalayas.[39]

In November 1999, a 14-year-old pupil was kidnapped as he left the school premises, and held by three men. Police were able to stop the kidnappers' vehicle as the victim was being driven away from a hotel in Essex three days later; it is thought the boy was about to be drowned in the River Thames, as a 20 ft length of cable, ropes ties, handcuffs and a 56 lb weight were found in the gang's vehicle.[41] The parents of the boy received mobile phone calls demanding £250,000, which the police were able to trace. The men were found guilty of false imprisonment and blackmail and sentenced to custodial terms of 11–12 years.[42]

In line with other public schools, children in year groups up to Year 5 (age 9) do not have Saturday school. Year 5 and 6 children have optional activities. Pupils in Years 7 to 11 have compulsory Saturday school while there are activities for the boarding community. However, this policy is due to be changed in the academic year starting September 2015, with lessons previously held on a Saturday being moved to the regular working week, while Saturday morning will be left free for non-academic activities.[43]

Up to 12 of the top scholars in Year 12 are nominated as King's Scholars (boys) or Queen's Scholars (girls). They become members of the Cathedral Foundation and also qualify for other privileges. King's Scholars were inaugurated by Henry VIII in 1541 and Queen's Scholars at the request of Queen Elizabeth II in 1973. There is no application process for these honorary scholarships, the positions instead being awarded based on pupils' GCSE results.[53]

The Hoop Trundle is performed to mark the re-founding of the school by King Henry VIII, in 1541. After he dissolved the monastery, he bestowed a royal charter on the new school and introduced the first scholars. The bowling of wooden hoops within the precincts of the cathedral, along with other games, was one of the privileges that they were afforded. Female competition was added when Queen Elizabeth II introduced Queen's scholars to the school, who have taken part since. There are both male and female heats leading to a final for which a separate tankard is awarded to both sexes.[54] The course is a 75-yard dash to a post and back along the east lawn of Ely Cathedral, all whilst bowling the hoop with a wooden stick.[55][56][57]

There are four boarding houses in the senior school, 2 for boys and 2 for girls, one of which is for the girls choir. Hereward Hall is a boys' boarding house, previously sited opposite the Porta, it is now situated on Barton Square in Ely, on the site of an old Cambridge theological college. It contains about 55 boys.[58] School House is the other boys' boarding house, based along The Gallery – the road up to the west end of Ely Cathedral. It houses approximately 60 boys. According to the school's official website, it is the "oldest inhabited residential building in Europe"[11] although the veracity of this is uncertain. Etheldreda, previously called Canonry is a girls' boarding house, established in September 2006, for the Girls Choir of Ely Cathedral, all of whom are pupils in senior school. The house is located very close to the cathedral itself for ease of access for practice and performance (in evensong each Wednesday and every other Monday).[59] Hill House, situated on the corner of Barton Square and Back Hill, was until recently a boy's boarding house, being converting to housing girls as their numbers swelled. Two houses were formed on the introduction of girls into the school; Etheldreda and Withburga; the latter to house day pupils. Until September 2006 when the girls choir house was formed, Etheldreda (later to be called 'Hill House') was the only girls' boarding house. It is now the largest of all the boarding houses. Originally situated on Cambridge Road, it relocated to Hill House (which was renamed), reverting to 1970's name of 'Hill House' in recent years.[60][61]

In the most recent Ofsted report of boarding at the school, inspectors reported that "the school provides very good care and support to boarders and there was an obvious caring culture within the boarding houses" although they said that "the school would benefit from harmonising boarding practices across the entire boarding provision."[62]

The Gallery, with Withburga house on the left, and School House garden to the right, with the Cathedral in the background

There are four-day houses in the senior school. Students are assigned into studies, usually with 3 or 4 others, although the number usually decreases as the pupil moves into higher years. In these studies there is a work space and storage area. There are various activities annually between houses, including sports and Ely Scheme competitions. There is also a debating competition, quiz and popular house music competition. Pupils in each house meet weekly for a meeting, and also have a personal tutor who guides them throughout their time at the school.[63]

The school has its own junior school, which is separate from the senior school, although shares many of its facilities. It has around 357 pupils[1] from Year 3 (approximately 7) to Year 8 (aged 13). The junior school has its own faculty of staff, own administration and management and a self-contained block of classrooms. This was complemented in 2003 by a new building which contained classrooms and other facilities, primarily for Year 7 and 8 pupils. The majority of Year 8 pupils can expect to transfer into King's Senior School. The Head of the junior school is R Whymark.[64]

Like many independent schools, the junior school has a house system, with each pupil belonging to one. It forms an integral part of life at the school and there are frequent inter-house events in sports as well as the arts. All boarding pupils in Priory and Choir House are also affiliated to a day house for everyday school activities, such as house meetings and competitions.

King's Acremont Nursery and Pre-Prep occupies a Georgian-style house on Egremont Street,[65] a ten-minute walk from the main campus.[66] Children are admitted to the nursery from age one and almost all pupils transfer into Year 3 of King's Junior School at age seven.[67] Acremont pupils join the rest of the school for major events in the cathedral where they stage their annual Christmas production. Acremont received an 'excellent' rating in its 2003 Ofsted inspection, with inspectors saying "Young children are given an excellent start to their education ... the warm, welcoming environment promotes learning and there is an excellent relationship between children, parents and teachers."[65]

Information about income and expenditure for the last five years is available to the public on the Charity Commission website.[77] Expenditure has steadily increased over recent years.