Data profile

The Perse School

Independent co-ed all-through school in Cambridgeshire for ages 3–18. Selective entry.

  • Rank #21
  • ISI met
  • Fees £27.2k/yr
  • co-ed
  • Cambridgeshire

01 · Module

Outcomes

Where leavers go after sixth form.

Cohort
199

Class of 2025

Oxbridge
23
Russell Group
150
US Ivy
2
Medicine
23

Top destinations

  • Durham23
  • University College London17
  • Warwick13
  • Cambridge12
  • Oxford11
  • Edinburgh10
  • Imperial College London10
  • York10

02 · Module

Exam results

A-level top grades and GCSE 9–7, post-2026 methodology recalibration.

A-level A*–A
94%

Recalibrated

GCSE 9–7
86%
Oxbridge rate
12%
Russell Group rate
72%

03 · Module

Entry points & fees

Ages, deadlines and annual fees per route.

EntryYearPlacesAssessmentDay fee (max)
11+school_own_exam, interview£27.2k
13+Year 9school_own_exam, interview£27.2k
16+school_own_exam, interview£27.2k
3+school_own_exam, interview£27.2k
7+school_own_exam, interview, verbal_reasoning, non_verbal_reasoning£27.2k
9+MAINYear 9school_own_exam, interview, verbal_reasoning, non_verbal_reasoning£27.2k

04 · Module

Houseroom Index

Composite score blending owned data with external consensus.

Index score

82

/ 100

National rank #21

Academic87
Destinations87
Future-ready55
Pastoral82
Value-add79
Access & breadth90
Parent70
External consensus95

05 · Module

Inspections

Latest inspection rating and report.

ISI

met

Inspected 2026-01-01

The Perse School met all regulatory standards in 2026 ISI inspection. Personal development programme identified as significant strength. Previously rated Excellent in all areas (2023 EQI).

Read full report →

06 · Module

Key people

Head, senior leadership and governance.

  • Head Of The Perse Prep

    James Piper

    Head of Perse Prep since September 2014. Educated at Repton School and Durham University (Classics). Completed PGCE at Pembroke College Cambridge and MEd at University of Buckingham.

  • Head Of The Perse Pelican

    Francesca Heftman

    Head of the Pelican since August 2020. Educated at Benenden School and University of Manchester (Psychology). Joined Pelican in 2012, became KS1 Leader in 2015.

  • Bursar

    Alison Shakespeare

    Joined Perse in 2018. Geographer from Fitzwilliam College Cambridge, qualified Chartered Accountant (PricewaterhouseCoopers). Previously Business Director at Leicester Grammar School Trust for 12 years.

  • Head Of School

    Ed Elliott

    Head since September 2008. Educated at Royal Grammar School Worcester and St Anne's College Oxford (Geography, First Class). Previously Director of Studies and Head of Sixth Form at The Perse. Author of 'University Applications, Making a Success of Them' and 'Leading Schools in the Twenty First Century'.

08 · Module

Compare with peers

The schools a family applying here would also be considering — chosen by sex, boarding, entry phase, geography, fees, tier and outcomes, with an admissions-adviser AI re-rank.

  • Fees £31.6kA*-A 80%Oxbridge 16%Rank #14

    Highgate School is co-educational day school with overlapping entry phases, located within a reasonable commute (71km), and shares a similar selectivity tier and fees bracket.

  • Fees £32.5kA*-A 75%Oxbridge 9%Rank #42

    The Haberdashers' Boys' School is a selective boys' day school with overlapping entry phases, located within a 66km commute, and in a similar fees bracket.

  • Fees £30.1kA*-A 75%Oxbridge 11%Rank #27

    Bancroft's School is a selective boys' day school with overlapping entry phases, located within a 63km commute, and in a similar fees bracket.

  • Fees £27.6kA*-A 67%Oxbridge 4%Rank #45

    Channing School is a selective girls' day school with overlapping entry phases, located within a 71km commute, and in a similar fees bracket.

  • Fees £30.6kA*-A 85%Oxbridge 30%Rank #1

    North London Collegiate School is a selective girls' day school with overlapping entry phases, located within a 70km commute, and in a similar fees bracket.

Peers refreshed annually plus on-write. Filters: sex, boarding, entry phase, geography, fee band, tier. Scoring: 0.45 outcome similarity + 0.25 structured + 0.10 embedding + 0.20 AI re-rank.

Looking for open days, prospectus, bursaries or to apply? Visit the The Perse School school profile →