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Impington International College

United Kingdom, Cambridge

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 11 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 250
Type Co-educational
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (MYP), IB (DP), IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme), British Curriculum
Typical class size 10
Strengths Academic Enrichment, Languages, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Cultural and Language, Community and Service
Stages Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

Impington International College (formerly Impington Village College) is a state co-educational day school on the outskirts of Cambridge, serving students aged 11 to 18. It is the first state school in the UK to offer the full IB continuum of MYP, Diploma Programme, and Career-related Programme for ages 11 to 18. The school was named UK Comprehensive School of the Year 2025 by the Sunday Times and is rated Outstanding by Ofsted in all areas. Students consistently perform in the top 5% nationally, with over 50% achieving grade 7 or above at GCSE. In the IB Diploma, the school achieves a 100% pass rate, with one third of students scoring 40 or more points. Around 10% of sixth formers regularly secure Oxbridge places. The school holds the Gold Carnegie Medal for Mental Health, awarded twice.

Impington International College, New Road, Impington, Cambridge CB24 9LX

The Essentials

Impington International College has 250 pupils, typical class sizes of 10, instruction in English.

Location
Impington International College is located on New Road in Impington, a village on the northern outskirts of Cambridge. The school is easily accessible from Cambridge city centre and surrounding villages. Cambridge has excellent rail connections to London King's Cross (under an hour) and Stansted Airport is nearby, making it convenient for international families.

Stages
The school is organised into Key Stage 3 (Years 7-9) following the IB Middle Years Programme, Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11) for GCSEs, and the Sixth Form (Years 12-13) offering the IB Diploma Programme and IB Career-related Programme. The MYP was introduced in September 2021.

Type
Impington is a state-funded co-educational day school. There are no tuition fees as it is part of the state sector. The school is part of the Eastern Learning Alliance Trust.

Pupil Nationality Mix
The student body speaks over 30 languages, reflecting the diversity of the Cambridge area. The school promotes an international outlook through its IB curriculum and inclusive ethos.

Additional learning support
The school provides SEND support for students with identified needs. As a fully inclusive school, it aims to support a wide range of learning requirements.
Diving Deeper

Governance and Ownership
Impington International College is part of the Eastern Learning Alliance Trust (registered number 07899393). It operates as a multi-academy trust school within the state sector. The school has its own governing body as part of the trust structure.
Academics

Impington International College teaches IB (MYP), IB (DP), IBCP (International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme), British Curriculum for students aged 11 to 18.

Curriculum
The school follows the IB Middle Years Programme in Years 7-9, which was implemented in September 2021. Students take GCSEs in Years 10-11 with five language choices available. The Sixth Form offers both the IB Diploma Programme and the IB Career-related Programme, making Impington the first state school in the UK to deliver the full MYP-DP-CP continuum for ages 11 to 18. The IB approach emphasises inquiry-based learning, international-mindedness, and the development of well-rounded individuals.

Exam Results
At GCSE, 20% of students achieve grade 9 and over 50% achieve grade 7 or above. The school consistently performs in the top 5% nationally for student progress. IB Diploma students achieve a 100% pass rate, with one third scoring 40 or more points, equivalent to four A*s at A Level.

Higher Education Progression
Approximately 10% of sixth form students regularly gain places at Oxford or Cambridge. Nearly 50% of applicants receive offers from Russell Group universities. The school provides careers guidance to support students in their post-18 choices.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The school prioritises student wellbeing and has been awarded the Gold Carnegie Medal for Mental Health on two occasions. The IB learner profile promotes values including being caring, principled, and reflective. The school describes itself as a fully inclusive community that celebrates individuality.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
SEND support is available for students with identified needs. As an inclusive school, Impington works to ensure students with a range of learning requirements can access the curriculum.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
With over 30 languages spoken by the student body, the school has experience supporting students for whom English is an additional language.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental health support is a strength of the school, recognised by the Gold Carnegie Medal for Mental Health (awarded twice). The school has dedicated wellbeing programmes to support students' emotional and mental health.
Parent Experience

History
Impington Village College has a long history as a community-focused school on the outskirts of Cambridge. It has been offering IB programmes for over 25 years. In September 2021, it became the first state school in the UK to offer the full IB continuum (MYP, DP, and CP), cementing its position as a leader in international education within the state sector.

Community
The school serves as a community hub in Impington, offering adult education alongside its secondary provision. With students speaking over 30 languages, the school community reflects the diversity of the Cambridge area. The school promotes inclusive values and celebrates individuality.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The campus includes a sports centre and academic facilities to support the IB curriculum. A 1:1 device scheme ensures every student has access to technology. The school also runs adult education programmes, reflecting its role as a community resource. The campus is set in Impington, a quiet village just outside Cambridge.

Sports Facilities
The school has a sports centre that is used for physical education and extracurricular sport. Further details about specific sports facilities were not published on the website.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The IB curriculum encourages independent research and critical thinking. Students have opportunities to participate in academic enrichment activities as part of the MYP and DP frameworks.

Cultural & Language
With over 30 languages spoken by the student body and five language choices at GCSE, languages and cultural awareness are central to school life. The school's international education programmes reflect its commitment to global perspectives.

Community & Service
Community service is embedded in the IB framework, particularly through the CAS component of the Diploma Programme. The school promotes the IB learner profile values of being caring, principled, and reflective.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The school has been awarded the Gold Carnegie Medal for Mental Health twice, reflecting its commitment to student wellbeing. Physical education is part of the timetable, with access to the on-site sports centre.
Languages

Language Provision
English is the language of instruction. Five language choices are available at GCSE level. Over 30 languages are spoken by students across the school, reflecting the diverse community. Language acquisition is a core component of the IB Middle Years Programme.
Reputation

Awards
UK Comprehensive School of the Year 2025 — Awarded by the Sunday Times Parent Power, recognising Impington as the best comprehensive school in the country.
East Anglia Comprehensive School of the Year — Won four times since 2020 in the Sunday Times regional rankings.
Top 100 State Schools — Ranked in the Sunday Times top 100 state schools in the UK.

Accreditations
IB World School — Authorised to deliver the IB MYP, Diploma Programme, and Career-related Programme. First state school in the UK to offer the full MYP-DP-CP continuum.
Ofsted Outstanding — Rated Outstanding in all areas in 2025.
Gold Carnegie Medal for Mental Health — Awarded twice, recognising excellence in supporting student mental wellbeing.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Year 7 applications are made through the Cambridgeshire County Council admissions process. Families should apply by the national deadline in October for entry the following September.
2. The school follows the standard state school admissions criteria, including catchment area and sibling priority.
3. Sixth Form applications are made directly to the school. Strong GCSE results are expected for entry to the IB Diploma Programme.
4. International families should contact the school directly to discuss entry requirements and any visa considerations.
5. Open evenings and tours are available for prospective families to visit the campus.

Waitlist
As a state school, waiting lists are managed according to Cambridgeshire County Council admissions procedures. Places may become available during the academic year.
School Events
The school has not added events
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