Regular excursions into the Cambridge environment inspire the creative work of younger Leysians, connecting classroom learning to the city’s artistic heritage.

Each year, Year 7 pupils explore Grantchester Meadows, one of Cambridge’s most picturesque literary sites, to inspire descriptive and scene‑based writing. Year 8 pupils visit the Fitzwilliam Museum, engaging with world‑class art and artefacts to spark imagination and develop narrative and analytical writing skills.

These trips enable pupils to understand how place, history, and culture shape storytelling, while strengthening their connection to Cambridge as a centre of creativity.

Regular trips across Cambridge provide meaningful, subject‑specific enrichment for pupils across year groups.

Highlights include:

• Physics at Work Exhibition at the Cavendish Laboratory
• A Level Drama Theatre Trip to Corpus Christi Playroom with post‑show Q&A
• Year 7 Coding Day at Abbey College
• COP30 Reflections Lecture at Cambridge’s Department of Engineering
• Maths Inspiration Programme at West Road Concert Hall
• Windrush Exhibition Visit at the Museum of Cambridge for the Affinity Group

These experiences immerse pupils in Cambridge’s academic and cultural offerings, deepening subject knowledge and connecting them with the wider community.

The English Department benefits from deep academic ties to Cambridge’s literary community, offering pupils unique opportunities in poetry, criticism, and university‑level study.

The Leys collaborates with Professor Mark Wormald of the University of Cambridge through the Elemental Poetry initiative. The school has both hosted and attended workshops led by Professor Wormald, who also served as a Minerva Prize judge. A highlight of this collaboration was the publication of a poem by a Leys pupil, selected from a highly competitive field of young writers across Cambridge.

The department also engages with Murray Edwards College, attending lecture series linked to A Level texts such as The Handmaid’s Tale, The Great Gatsby, and Chaucer. These sessions introduce students to undergraduate-style academic thinking, bridging the gap between school and university.

The Leys’ proximity to Cambridge’s world‑leading academic, medical, legal, and technological sectors allows pupils to access a uniquely rich careers programme.

The Careers Department partners with numerous Cambridge institutions to deliver high‑quality workshops and real‑world learning experiences, including:

• Surgical Skills Workshop: Delivered with the Cambridge University Surgical Society for Y11 and Sixth Form pupils considering medicine.
• Medical Ethics Workshop: Led by Cambridge University medical students and an Associate Professor of Medical Ethics and Ageing.
• Legal & Finance Workshops: Run with Cambridge firms such as Tees Law and PEM.
• Great Hall Lecture Series: Featuring leading Cambridge academics, including Professor Hugh Hunt and Professor Sir David Spiegelhalter.

The annual Careers Forum brings together organisations such as the University of Cambridge’s Departments of Psychiatry, Engineering, Astronomy, and Cognition & Brain Sciences, as well as major employers including AstraZeneca, Mott MacDonald, ARM, and the British Antarctic Survey.

This broad engagement ensures pupils benefit from Cambridge’s exceptional professional ecosystem.

The Leys maintains a strong sporting relationship with the city of Cambridge through ongoing rugby partnerships that enrich pupils’ athletic development and sense of community involvement.

Leys pupils and staff regularly engage with Shelford Rugby Club, where coaching and refereeing support are provided by Director of Rugby James Clark. This partnership offers pupils access to a broader rugby network and opportunities for match play and development.

The school also proudly supports one of Cambridge’s most historic annual fixtures, the University of Cambridge vs. Steele Bodger’s Match, by providing ball teams from Moulton House. Through these close ties, our pupils experience sport at a high level and become part of Cambridge’s vibrant rugby tradition.