We learn together We play together We grow together
We believe that if a child is happy and has a sense of belonging, they are in the best place to learn. When your child comes to us, we will help them discover and develop their unique skills and talents to make sure they can be the best they can be. We are on this journey together.
Richard Settle Principal
Our Core Values at Sancton Wood School
All-through education: 9 months –16 years
Excellent extra-curricular opportunities
Small class sizes
Based in the heart of Cambridge Co-educational
International outlook
family
Highest ratings from Ofsted and ISI
Exceptional pastoral care
This is us
We are a small independent, family orientated school. We are co- educational and offer allthrough schooling for pupils aged nine months to 16 years. We work closely with you and your child to ensure they develop in the best way, socially, emotionally and academically. Our small class sizes and exceptional pastoral care leads to excellent academic results.
What the Inspectors say about us
Early Years Foundation Stage (Ofsted)
• The quality of education is outstanding.
• Behaviour and attitudes are outstanding.
• The personal development of children is outstanding.
• Leadership and management are outstanding.
"All children make excellent progress relative to their starting points and are extremely well prepared for the next stages of their eduction”
Reception - Year 11 Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) Excellent
• The quality of pupils' academic and other achievements is excellent.
• The quality of pupils' personal development is excellent.
"Pupils make excellent progress over their time in the school."
"Well-managed tracking, monitoring and support arrangements contribute to significant value being added to pupils' progress and academic outcomes."
To view the full report, please visit https://www.isi.net/reports.
nurture
Your child, their journey
Our small class sizes (on average about 18 students per class) means we can offer your child a tailored education.
Your child’s skills
We can identify your child’s strengths early on and ensure these are nurtured and grown. We can also identify any challenges they need help with overcoming and offer individual support. We want every child to be aware of their personal qualities and skills.
Your child, their school
We can really get to know and spend time with each individual child. We understand what motivates them, what pace they work at, and which approach suits their personality.
Our students play a brilliant role in creating a warm, welcoming, and happy environment. New students are partnered with buddies for an immediate way to make friends.
On the rare occasions when it is necessary, our wellbeing team is on hand to provide advice and meaningful action.
"Pupils' academic achievements are strong as a result of a nurturing approach on the part of all members of the school community." - ISI
Your child, their happiness
We care about the wellbeing of our students, their families and our staff. We support everyone's health and wellbeing in a number of ways including:
• a series of talks from experts on current issues affecting children.
• activities, talks and events aimed at improving self-esteem and helping parents support the growth of their children.
• ‘Girls on Board’ programme helps negotiate the complexities of girls’ friendships.
"There is more to school life than tests and exam results. We ensure we provide children with a memorable and happy school life. Our team helps them navigate the obstacles they face in life so they feel secure and cared for. If we do this, the results follow."
Hannah Settle (Vice Principal - Pastoral)
"A culture of kindness and care permeates the school." -
ISI Nov 2022
Nothing is more important than your child's happiness
Our pastoral care is outstanding, and this means pupils thrive and achieve great results.
Your child, their results
We don’t select pupils academically. We want to ensure Sancton Wood is the right place for your child to achieve and be happy. 93% of achieved five or more GCSEs at grades 4-9.
• 97% pass rate of Science GCSEs
• 93% pass rate of English GCSEs
• 91% pass rate of Maths GCSE
• Prep children achieving well above national age-related expectations.
"Our approach works. We are hugely proud of the difference between students’ expected grades when they arrive at Sancton Wood and the actual results they achieve."
Julia Cottam (Vice Principal - Academic)
Your child, their future: A real world education
A high percentage of the jobs of the future do not currently exist. This presents an interesting educational challenge which our teachers face head on.
Your child needs to be taught in a creative way that helps them develop characteristics like creativity, leadership, problem-solving and kindness (to name but a few). Skills that will stand students in good stead for the future.
A love of learning and curiosity will be key as students go on to establish long-lasting, successful and happy careers.
With the world we are living in changing at an ever-increasing rate, it is our job, and joy, to instil a passion for life-long learning in our pupils.
Students who care for the global environment
In 2025 we were awarded the Eco School’s Green Flag award with distinction.
This accreditation acknowledges, rewards and celebrates the ecological achievements of our young people and staff. It provides them with confidence and motivates them to continue to engage with environmental issues throughout their lifetimes.
The award also highlights that we are a forward-thinking school which promotes youth-led environmental education and action.
We have designed lessons to keep environmental issues at the forefront of discussions and students regularly present whole school assemblies highlighting themes and actions needed.
Your child, their world
Our school is home to students from across the globe and we embrace opportunities to celebrate all cultures.
We are hugely experienced in handling international applications and can guide families smoothly through the process. We also offer English as an Additional Language (EAL) specialist support when needed.
Beyond the classroom
"Education is about more than what happens in the classroom. A well-rounded school life develops versatile and creative young people, ready to face the future. We offer a wide range of opportunities alongside the academic curriculum, and we do this in style."
King (Vice Principal - Co-Curricular)
Debra
enrichment
Your child, their opportunities
Our Prep and Senior students have an afternoon each week to explore a wide range of enriching activities. There’s something for everyone.
These new experiences help students to develop a range of interests and skills and build a sense of confidence which will stay with them. Our emphasis on co-curricular learning supports Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural personal development and enhances cultural capital.
Creativity in the curriculum
Within the school timetable we have lessons designed and dedicated to ensuring students learn skills and acquire knowledge in addition to the academic curriculum.
We believe in co-curricular learning. This supports Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural personal development and enhances cultural capital
Developing responsible humans
By actively promoting participation on school committees, students learn the power of teamwork, organisation, communication and advocacy. They initiate ideas and are responsible for their implementation. They learn about the importance of giving to others and of being global citizens.
Learning outside of the classroom
Our regular educational visits are designed to bring learning in the classroom to life. There are rich learning resources right here in Cambridge.
We also offer residential opportunities further afield and international trips to places such as New York, Iceland, Japan, Spain and Italy.
We aim to develop the full potential of every student at Sancton Wood. Our enrichment programme is designed to complement our young people’s interests and enhance their abilities.
Enrichment Programme
Examples of recent enrichment opportunities include:
STEM Programming Artificial Intelligence
Robotics Greenpower Racing Rocketry Heart
Start Scientific Journalism Young Medics
Dinosaur Club Engineering Creative Arts and English Creative Writing and Publishing Young Writers Blog Writing Journalism and Podcasts
Fashion Design Costume Design Special Effects
Make-Up Set Design Technical Theatre School of Rock Young Voices Orchestra Instrumental Song
Writing Modern Dance and Movement
Commercial Dance LAMDA Ukulele Ceramics
Club Crafting Mural Design Crochet Illustration
Topical talks Sport Self-Defence D of E
Equestrian NSEA Climbing Strength and Conditioning Trampolining Yoga Golf Chess
Dance Humanities Philosophy Introduction
History of Art Time Travel Tours Ancient Civilizations Herstory: Great Women of Time
Eco Club Archaeology and Mineralogy
Cambridge Chronicles: Local History Club
Environmental Ethics Sport Through the Ages Fashion Through the Ages Politics Exploring Earth’s Extreme Environments Languages and Culture Chinese Calligraphy Flamenco Dance
Cultural Studies Debating and Discussion
Debating Club Introduction to Feminism TEDx Club Plus… Food and Health Big Bake Off Mindfulness Art Therapy and Reflection
Gardening Club Touch Typing Construction and Teamwork
Your child, their future
We have an award-winning careers programme designed to help our senior students meet outside experts across a range of industries.
Leadership – we are developing leaders for the future and many key skills are embedded at school. The leadership positions and committee memberships available to students all play a key role in this.
Millie's Mark
Sancton Wood Nursery is delighted to have received national recognition for going above and beyond the minimum requirements in paediatric first aid. We have been awarded ‘Millie’s Mark’ by the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) in collaboration with the Department for Education and Millie’s Trust.
Purnima Tanuku, Chief Executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) adds: “Achieving Millie’s Mark is a great achievement for the nursery. It shows that all staff are fully trained in paediatric first aid and that they have reflected on their current practice to improve competence and confidence. Becoming a Millie’s Mark’s nursery is a clear indicator for parents that this nursery has met the highest standards and gives them the reassurance that their children are safe.”
nursery
Your child, the start of their journey
Children learn best through play and first-hand experiences.
Our nursery staff ignite children’s enthusiasm for learning while building their capacity to learn, form relationships and thrive.
In your child’s early years, we focus on their personal, social and emotional development, communication and languages. We then work to expand children’s knowledge of Literacy, Maths, Creative Arts and Design.
We believe that best practice stems from knowing and understanding our children.
Family room
ISI rated ‘Outstanding’ Qualified teachers
Close to Cambridge train station
Large garden Forest school
"The excellent relationships that children have with adults around them are built on strong, secure attachments."
nursery
"Our wide range of activities enable your child to: discover their passions, challenge themselves and learn to succeed and fail in a safe environment. We invite curiosity, promote mastery and nurture your child as they discover the world around them."
(Clara Furmaniak – Head of Nursery)
It’s not only traditional learning - we offer enrichment opportunities in Makaton, pottery, Spanish, music, STEM activities, yoga, baking and much more.
Our large, walled back garden is the perfect place for your child’s imagination to take flight and to discover a natural, cooperative way of playing.
Our outdoor play equipment is the perfect stage for taking off to faraway places, whether as pirates on boats or astronauts in spacecraft.
Our Forest School is full of creativity. Our avid bird watchers encourage birds with their feeders, budding chefs cook up mud pies, musicians fashion wooden violins and bongos from tree stumps and those with green fingers tend to their peas. Our youngest children have plenty to do on their own exclusive, extensive decking area.
"The stimulating experiences that the children receive provide them with a solid foundation on which their future learning can be built." - ISI
We use the children’s interests to inform our planning, allowing learning to be meaningful, exciting and impactful.
(Kylie Hodges – Head of Prep
School)
Your child, their next steps
Our Prep School, set in an elegant Victorian house, provides a beautiful environment where children’s young minds can learn without pressure.
We offer specialist teaching in subjects such as Art, Music, Drama, Modern Foreign Languages and PE. Our facilities include a top class STEM lab, an art studio and a dedicated music room.
A well-planned programme enables our Year 5 and Year 6 students to become familiar with the Senior School. This ensures their transition to Seniors is one full of excitement, familiarity and reassurance.
prep
Our curriculum offers a programme of study that encourages our students to build upon their skills and look to their future.
senior
Core GCSE Subjects:
English Language English
Literature Mathematics Science
Option choices: Art & Design Business
Studies Classical Civilisation
Computer Science Design and
Technology Drama French Geography History Latin
Mandarin Music Physical
Education Sociology Spanish
All students are taught by specialist PE teachers each week and weekly PSHCE lessons delivered by their Form Tutor.
Sancton Wood’s aim is to develop young people who are knowledgeable, caring and successful, with bright, enquiring minds.
Your child, their continuing journey
Our Senior School offers students a calm, stimulating and purposeful environment in which to study. We have first class specialist facilities for Science, Art and Drama.
We are proud of the success we have in ensuring students make exceptional progress. We also take great pride in the success our students have in securing the post-16 routes of their choice.
We offer a wide range of GCSEs and each year we tailor the options to suit the cohort. We are very flexible and won’t limit a child to one humanities, language or arts subject; their choices depend on their passion.
Our young people are free to explore their interests in a creative way, helping them to develop into confident, resilient learners. This, alongside our further education and careers partnerships, ensures our students are ready to embrace the next stage of their journeys.
(Ed Batty – Head of Seniors)
thriving minds
Our approach to teaching Able, Gifted and Talented students is the approach that underpins all our teaching.
Our Thriving Minds Learning platform for Able, Gifted and Talented students accelerates academic development. Students work with their academic mentor and gain a number opportunities.
The termly programme of events consists of talks, visits and challenges. These are arranged with our various friends and partners across Cambridge and the Dukes Education team including Academy Learning, Anglia Ruskin, The Faraday Institute, The Sanger Institute, The Medic Portal, The Lawyer Portal and A-List Applications.
Our Able, Gifted & Talented Programme includes:
The Thriving Minds Study Programme Be Inspired. A Termly Programme of Talks and Events
Optional Summer School Study Enrichment Activities
Annual Dukes Symposium: Young Scholars
Your child, their voice
We are keen for our children to participate actively in school life and are very proud to encourage ‘student voice’ at Sancton Wood. Listening to our children impacts real change at school.
Our Student Leaders Programme gives pupils an active role in influencing decisions as well as in the implementation of them.
Charity Committee
Anti-Bullying Ambassadors Prefects
Student Council Student Forum
Literacy Leaders Eco Club
House Leaders
Your child, their future steps
We encourage and develop our students to be the very best they can be so that they thrive beyond Sancton Wood. We offer a variety of programmes supporting our students in thinking about their aspirations and futures, working with partners such as InvestIN who deliver immersive career experiences, the Medic Portal and the Lawyer Portal.
Our Careers Convention welcomes guest speakers from a wide range of professions from Finance, Architecture and Medicine to Fashion and Filmmaking. Not only do they give context to their learning in industry, but they offer inspiration for our students when considering their own careers paths.
Lotions, potions, whizzes and bangs
We love all things Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths.
STEM
We are in the heart of STEM here in Cambridge and STEM Week is a highlight of the school year. The Prep School comes alive with all manner of lotions, potions, whizzes, bangs, colours and discoveries.
At the Senior School, the students undertake investigations and experiments and are inspired by talks from guest speakers from Cambridge University and local industries.
Our impressive Science teaching team, lead by Mrs Ainscough is strengthened by our very own award winning STEM ambassador Mrs Angelillo.
discover
Football Cricket Rounders Hockey Rugby
Swimming Netball Dodgeball Long Ball
Lacrosse Basketball Badminton Athletics
Strength and Conditioning Rowing Cross
Country Table Tennis Trampolining Climbing
Sport
Inclusivity is central to our philosophy. Talented students are given the chance to thrive and every student has the opportunity to participate in team or individual events.
Our timetabled sporting events, enrichment opportunities and competitive fixtures gives students the opportunity to discover and develop in sport while keeping fit and healthy.
We use professional standard facilities right on our doorstep, including CANTABs Rugby Club, Cambridge University Athletics Sports Ground, Cambridge University Cricket Club’s indoor sports facilities, Cambridge Tennis Club, Fenners Cricket ground, Kelsey Kerridge gym and sports centre, Parkside swimming pool as well as our own MUGA on Station Road.
"Physical development is excellent, as seen in various sporting activities."
- ISI
create
Your child, their creativity
The Arts
Whether your child sees their future as a poet, performer or particle physicist, an education in the Arts is invaluable. It helps them see life from different angles and encourages conceptual thinking. We have specialist teachers and working spaces for Art, Music and Drama, providing our students with the perfect creative environments to immerse themselves in their craft.
The Arts
Our productions are a whole school event. They create a buzz with children who are thrilled to take part as actors, musicians, technicians, scenery painters and make-up artists.
Our shows are incredible displays of our they students’ talent and hard work, they are testament to the encouragement given by those staff working within the arts team.
As a Sancton Wood alumni myself, there wasn’t a question where I was going to send my daughter to school. She joined at 3-years-old in Baby Unicorns and is now thriving in Year 4 at the Prep School. Sancton Wood has always kept a strong ethos from when I attended, around pastoral care.
My daughter’s mental health is particularly important to me and every day I collect her she has a beaming smile on her face: she loves being at school! The teachers are approachable and friendly and the smaller class sizes mean more fine-tuned attention to the children’s strengths and passions with great support in any academic areas they may need. The school continues to grow as do their facilities and the enrichment programme has been well received by my daughter and her peers.
I would recommend Sancton Wood to any parent looking for a smaller independent school with a very nurturing approach to learning.”
Prep Parent
My son joined Sancton Wood at the beginning of Lent term in Year 8. He had not been happy at his previous school. I was immediately impressed with the pastoral care and acknowledgement of the approach “one size does not fit all”. The ethos at Sancton Wood - if your child is happy they will learn and thrive - proved true for my son.
He is now in the Senior School –Year 11 about to embark on his GCSEs. He is predicted excellent grades and I have no doubt this is down to the excellent teaching staff and support he has received at Sancton Wood.
Any interactions I have had with teachers or the leadership team have always been positive. My personal experience with the school has been overwhelmingly one of care and mutual respect. My son has made some wonderful friendships and met teachers that I know will have a huge influence on him for years to come.”
Senior Parent
Our son joined Sancton Wood in Year 5 from a village primary school. He was one of the younger students (born in the Summer), and despite being quite bright, he had consistently been in a mixed year group with 30 children in a class. He had lots of friends but he was bored and struggled to engage.
As parents, we were slightly intimidated by the whole process of looking at fee-paying schools. We looked around all the local schools but never felt like we had the right “fit” … Until we found ourselves outside Sancton Wood.
Almost immediately, we knew that this was the school for him! The staff were friendly and welcoming and the children were happy, enthusiastic and well rounded. We got the feeling that the students were the best versions of themselves without being in a pressure cooker environment (that we had observed elsewhere).
Our families
We know how important it is choosing the right school for your child so we thought it might be useful for you to hear from the families who are currently with us.
We looked at the school’s exam successes and this supported our belief that this was the right school for him. A big worry for us was “Are we doing the right thing? Should we be taking him away from all his friends?” Our worries were completely unfounded. He made friends and was welcomed by his classmates immediately. He is thriving at school and is excelling in all his GCSE subjects. He is happy, enthusiastic, confident and loves life, just like the children we saw all those years ago at the open morning.”
Senior/Prep Parent
Discover Sancton Wood
If you would like to find out more about our caring and happy school, we’d love to hear from you.
To find out more about our Open Days, visits and applying to the school visit our website or contact admissions@sanctonwood.co.uk.
Nursery School
17 Station Road, Cambridge CB1 2JB Pre-Prep & Prep School
Members of the Dukes Education family of schools and educators are brought together by a common purpose: to give children the foundations for an extraordinary life.
Why are we part of Dukes Education?
Parents ask why schools join Dukes Education, and what it means for their child’s daily experience. The answer is simple: by being part of a network of over 50 schools across the UK and Europe, we benefit from shared expertise, innovation, and good practice.
Dukes also ensures our financial stability and provides ongoing capital investment, allowing us to enhance our facilities continually and offer exceptional learning opportunities for each child.
