Age Range. 9 months–16.
Number of Pupils. 365.
Fees per term (2024-2025). Nursery £5,125 (5 days/week); Reception–Year 2: £5,292; Years 3–6: £5,824; Years 7–11: £7,028. Fees include VAT where applicable.
Sancton Wood is a small independent, family-orientated co-educational day school in the heart of Cambridge, for pupils aged 9 months to 16 years. They believe that a happy child is a learning child. An innovative and creatively enriched curriculum and exceptional pastoral care allows each child to thrive. Their nurturing approach to academic excellence delivers impressive GCSE results, proven by a final outcome of a 1.5-2 grade increase on predicted grades given on entry to the school, and regularly feature in top GCSE results tables. Sancton Woods’ recent inspection awarded the highest ratings in every category and they have been named as a finalist in the Independent School Awards for three years running.
Their class sizes offer an excellent teacher: pupil ratio. Staff can really get to know and spend time with each individual child. They understand what motivates them, what pace they work at, and which approach suits their talents and personality. This is key to a philosophy focused on providing a tailored educational journey for each child. It facilitates the early identification of strengths to be nurtured and challenges to be overcome with individual support.
With the world we are living in changing at an ever-increasing rate, Sancton Wood pride themselves on instilling a passion for life-long learning in their pupils. A love of learning and intellectual curiosity will be key to the continuous educational development needed as their students forge long-lasting, successful careers. They don’t just teach towards tests: they are creative about their pupil’s learning and nurture the characteristics of creativity, leadership, problem-solving and kindness (to name but a few) which will help them navigate a different career structure.
Clever timetabling allows for an enrichment programme to be offered as part of the school day. The breadth and diversity of the programme gives students access to a whole host of new experiences, helping them to develop a range of interests and skills and to build a sense of confidence to support them in the classroom and beyond.
Students are offered opportunities to explore and discover in a wide range of activities across STEM, Sport, The Arts, Humanities, Culture, and Debate and Discussion, as well as wider advanced qualification opportunities, a careers programme and pupil leadership positions.
Learning is regularly brought to life with school trips. There are plenty of rich learning resources right on their doorstep in Cambridge as well as offering international trips to places such as New York, Iceland, Japan, Spain and skiing destinations.
Sancton Wood offers specialist facilities and truly inspirational teaching. In sport they take advantage of the best professional standard facilities the city has to offer. Talented students are given the chance to thrive through their affiliation to a selection of outstanding local and national sports organisations, but every student has the opportunity to participate in team or individual events.
Scholarships. Scholarships at Sancton Wood are prestigious awards available to students demonstrating outstanding talent and ability in the spheres of Academic Study, STEM, the Creative Arts or Sport.
Pupils are offered exciting programmes and opportunities to develop their skills to the maximum and are also expected to act as role models, promoting their area of excellence and encouraging others to follow their example. All scholarships are won in open competition and are awarded solely on merit. Candidates must be registered with the school prior to entering the scholarship process or must going through the application process with our admissions team.
Scholarships are available to pupils entering Sancton Wood at Y3, Y7 and Y9. The application process is open in September for the following academic year. The school reserves the right to vary the number of awards according to the strength of applications and all scholarships awarded are reviewed at the start of a new key stage.
Scholarships are usually awarded at a fee reduction of 5%. In the interests of inclusivity, no student will be awarded more than two scholarships although applicants may apply for more than two.
In addition to a fee reduction, scholars receive support in their area of talent from an assigned academic mentor. Scholars also act as role models to their peers and contribute to wider school life, and in doing so will benefit from additional enrichment opportunities in their chosen area. Pupils with scholarship awards meet regularly with their scholarship mentor, and all those on the Gifted and Talented Register, to offer support with time-management, study-skills and other pressures and challenges beyond the academic sphere.
With their mentor, pupils explore and identify their academic and vocational aspirations. Mentors will then alert them to the opportunities available to them, helping them to expand their horizons and fulfil their potential, ensuring that their CVs are strong for their chosen sixth form, and exposing them to their academic competition.
When to apply. Year 3, Year 7 and Year 9 scholarship applications are open from 11th September and close on 19th January. Interview day is on 15th March and offers are made on 27th March.
The benefits of being a scholar:
•5% reduction in school fees
•Free consultation session with Oxbridge Applications in Y9
•25% reduction in all consultancy fees with Oxbridge and US Applications
•Free Summer School place for one of the school’s Summer Courses
•Priority access to appropriate elements of the school’s Accelerated Learning Provision
•All scholars are part of the Dukes’ Scholars programme
•Scholarship opportunities at Cardiff 6th Form College (Cambridge)
Scholarships are offered to both internal and external candidates in Y3, Y7 and Y9. Interviews and Scholarships Days are competitive. Candidates may apply for more than one scholarship. All external candidates wishing to apply must complete a Scholarship Application Form together with a completed Registration Form and pay the Registration Fee (unless already on roll).