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Sancton Wood School

United Kingdom, Cambridge

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees £17,580 - 23,370
Ages 0 - 16 years
Pupil numbers 351
Type Co-educational
Opened 1976
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum
Taught languages Spanish, French
Typical class size 12
Strengths Outdoor Education, Languages, STEM
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies
Stages Infant/Toddler Care, Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction

Sancton Wood School sits in Cambridge with a Nursery campus at 17 Station Road and Prep and Senior campuses at 2 St. Pauls Road and 57 Bateman Street. The school delivers EYFS and British Curriculum for ages 0 to 16. The Nursery welcomes children from age 1 to 4 in Squirrel, Otter and Robin classes, with hours 8:00 am to 6:00 pm, 48 weeks a year, and progress via Famly App. A smooth transition into Reception supports continuity of learning. Victorian building provides environment, and Sancton Wood is part of the Dukes Education group with Early Years arm Little Dukes, offering EY conferences to improve staff performance and pupil outcomes. Outdoor learning is central through a garden and a Forest School program, with enrichment including Makaton, Spanish, music, STEM, yoga, baking and more. The school emphasises personal, social and emotional development alongside literacy and maths, within a safe, supportive setting.

Nursery campus: 17 Station Road, Cambridge, CB1 2JB; Prep & Senior campuses: 2 St. Paul's Road, Cambridge, CB1 2EZ and 57 Bateman Street, Cambridge, CB2 1LR

The Essentials

Sancton Wood School has 351 pupils, typical class sizes of 12, instruction in English.

Location
Located in Cambridge, Sancton Wood Nursery is housed in its own Victorian building in the heart of the city. It has a central Cambridge location. It is open all year round from 8:00am to 6:00pm, 48 weeks per year.

Stages
Squirrel Class — Babies (1–2 years); Otter Class — Toddlers (2–3 years); Robin Class — Pre-Reception (3–4 years).

School day structure
Open all year round from 8:00am to 6:00pm, 48 weeks per year.
Diving Deeper

Governance and Ownership
The school is part of the Dukes Education group (Little Dukes).
Fees

Annual tuition at Sancton Wood School ranges from GBP 17,580 to GBP 23,370 for 2026/27.

Application & registration fees
- Nursery registration fee: GBP 100 (non-refundable). Please note a registration fee is not required if you are accessing a fully funded place with no additional hours.
- Prep / Senior registration and acceptance: an online card payment of GBP 100 is taken at application. If an offer is made, the acceptance contract must be returned with a non-refundable acceptance fee of GBP 250. A holding fee of GBP 500 is invoiced once a place is accepted; this holding fee is refunded when a student leaves provided the correct notice period has been given and no fees remain outstanding.

Tuition fees (by year group) — Academic Year 2026/27
- Reception – Year 2: GBP 5,860 per term. Amounts are termly.
- Years 3 – 6: GBP 6,450 per term.
- Years 7 – 11: GBP 7,790 per term.

Nursery fees (fees effective from 1 September 2026)
- Under 3 years old (monthly and day rates):
- Full time (each day 8:00–18:00): GBP 2,010 per month. Fee with early years funding (15 hours): GBP 1,607 per month. Fee with early years funding (30 hours): GBP 1,204 per month.
- 4 days: GBP 1,688 per month. With 15h funding: GBP 1,285 per month. With 30h funding: GBP 882 per month.
- 3 days (minimum booking pattern): GBP 1,266 per month. With 15h funding: GBP 863 per month. With 30h funding: GBP 460 per month.
- Day rate: GBP 105 per day.
- Over 3 years old (monthly and day rates):
- Full time (each day 8:00–18:00): GBP 1,887 per month. Fee with early years funding (15 hours): GBP 1,609 per month. Fee with early years funding (30 hours): GBP 1,331 per month.
- 4 days: GBP 1,594 per month. With 15h funding: GBP 1,316 per month. With 30h funding: GBP 1,038 per month.
- 3 days (minimum booking pattern): GBP 1,195 per month. With 15h funding: GBP 917 per month. With 30h funding: GBP 639 per month.
- Day rate: GBP 100 per day.

Billing schedule & payment terms
- Main school (Reception–Y11): termly fees are payable as cleared funds before the commencement of the School Term to which they relate. Fees are payable by direct debit on the first day of the term; fees may also be paid by bank transfer or cheque. Cash is not accepted. Premium Credit / SFP instalment arrangements may be available under separate agreement.
- Nursery: fees are charged on a 48-week model, calculated across the year and divided by 12 so that the same monthly amount is paid each month. Nursery fees are due monthly in advance prior to the 1st day of each month. An administration charge of GBP 100 plus an additional GBP 100 for each whole week that the amount remains unpaid will be added if nursery fees are not received on time.
- Late payment and recovery: the school may charge interest on overdue sums (Terms & Conditions set an interest provision up to 1.5% per month), reserve the right to exclude a pupil for overdue fees, and to recover fees in lieu if notice requirements are not met.

Notice periods and cancellation
- Main school (Prep / Senior): one full term's written notice to the Registrar is required to withdraw a pupil; failing to give the required notice will render the parents liable for one term's fees in lieu of notice (subject to the terms in the acceptance contract).
- Nursery: notice to cancel a nursery place must be received by the Admissions Manager as follows: 2 full calendar months for all year‑round attendance; 1 full term for term‑time only attendance. Where the child is accessing fully funded or Free Entitlement only hours, the notice period is 4 weeks. Failure to give the required notice will ordinarily lead to forfeiture of the deposit and/or fees becoming due in lieu.

Boarding fees
- No boarding provision exists at Sancton Wood; boarding fees are not applicable.

Other costs & common extras
- English as an Additional Language (EAL): GBP 600 per term for one one‑hour weekly session.
- School lunches and mid‑morning snack: hot lunches and the mid‑morning snack are included with school fees and invoiced in advance where applicable.
- Extra‑curricular clubs: the majority of extra‑curricular clubs carry no charge; chargeable activities (if any) or residential visits will be notified in advance.
- Nursery "Extras and Essentials" (consumables) charges: while full‑time nursery fees include many essentials, where Government funding applies there is an optional consumables charge during funded hours. Daily illustrative charges (where applicable) are listed as: for under‑3s — food/drinks/snacks GBP 7.50/day, extracurricular activities GBP 6.50/day, hygiene consumables GBP 5.50/day, other educational supplies GBP 1.20/day; for over‑3s — food/drinks/snacks GBP 7.50/day, extracurricular activities GBP 23.25/day, hygiene consumables GBP 2.50/day, other educational supplies GBP 7.85/day. These elements are described in the nursery fee sheet and are applied according to the child's booking pattern.
- Uniform and school shop items: uniform is supplied through the school supplier (Stevensons). Examples of listed costs: school bag (small Pre‑Prep) GBP 14 and (large Prep) GBP 16. Additional uniform items, sports kit and footwear are required but specific prices for individual items (beyond those listed) are set by the supplier.
- Deposits and holding fees: for an accepted nursery place the deposit is GBP 500; the deposit is returned without interest after the child's final day provided notice requirements have been met and no balance remains. For Prep / Senior intake a GBP 500 holding fee is invoiced on acceptance (refundable on leaving subject to correct notice and no outstanding fees). Registration/acceptance fees are non‑refundable as noted above.

Refunds and exceptional refund circumstances
- General fees refund policy for the school: fees are not normally refunded or waived for absence through illness, term shortening or vacation extension, early release for examinations, temporary closure due to adverse weather, or for other routine changes; refunds or waivers are only made exceptionally and at the Head's discretion in cases of genuine hardship or where legal liability requires a refund. Specific contractual provisions apply to deposits and cancellations prior to entry.
- Visa/CAS exception: where a pupil requires a Certificate of Sponsorship (CAS) and, following payment of deposit, the family fails to obtain the relevant visa the school will refund fees paid in advance and may refund half the deposit as set out in the Terms & Conditions.

Accepted payment methods & payment administration
- Main school payments: direct debit (first day of term), bank transfer, or cheque. Cash is not accepted. Instalment/finance options may be available through third‑party providers under separate agreement.
- Nursery payments: monthly invoicing in advance (same amount each month, 12 equal payments across the year). Tax‑free childcare is accepted as a payment method; childcare vouchers from most major providers are accepted — parents should contact Admissions to confirm specific voucher schemes. An administration penalty applies for late or unpaid nursery fees.
Academics

Sancton Wood School teaches EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum for students aged 0 to 16.

Curriculum
The Nursery welcomes children from 1 to 4 years old with Squirrel Class (1-2), Otter Class (2-3) and Robin Class (3-4). Children learn through play, exploration and first-hand experiences in small groups with experienced staff. Outdoor learning is a priority, with a large back garden and a Forest School program. Sancton Wood is part of the Dukes Education group with a dedicated Early Years focus and strong EYFS results. The Nursery operates 8:00am-6:00pm, 48 weeks per year, and uses the Famly App to share progress; there is a smooth transition into Reception.

Exam Results
EYFS results are strong.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Small groups and experienced staff ensure every child is known, valued and supported; children learn through play, exploration and first-hand experiences, building confidence, independence and a love of learning.

Mental Wellbeing
Forest School offers outdoor experiences to explore and understand the outdoors using natural resources; it seeks to encourage, motivate, engage and inspire children through positive outdoor experiences.

Safeguarding
A warm, welcoming environment where children feel safe, supported and inspired to learn.
Parent Experience

History
The school has its own Victorian building in the heart of Cambridge, providing a warm environment for early learning. The nursery welcomes children from age 1 to 4 in small groups with experienced staff who support development through play, exploration and first-hand experiences. Sancton Wood is part of the Dukes Education group, with a dedicated Early Years arm called Little Dukes, which offers Early Years conferences to enhance staff performance and pupil outcomes. This approach is reflected in strong EYFS outcomes. The Forest School provides outdoor learning using natural resources as part of the overall education.

Community
The school has a large, walled back garden for outdoor imagination, including a dedicated decking area for the youngest children, a sand pit and a wooden den. Forest School provides outdoor learning using natural resources and encourages exploration, imagination and collaboration. Bird watching, mud pies, wooden instruments and gardening activities are part of daily life at Sancton Wood Nursery. The Famly App is used to communicate children's progress with families, sharing learning experiences from home.
Facilities

Academic Facilities
Nursery learning is built on learning through play and first-hand experiences, with many explorative activities to ignite curiosity and support children's ability to learn, form relationships and thrive. In the early years the focus is on personal, social and emotional development and communication and languages; as children progress, literacy, maths, creative arts and design are developed within a broad, stimulating curriculum. Access to a wide range of activities helps children discover passions, challenge themselves, succeed and learn from mistakes in a safe environment, while gaining breadth of knowledge and nurturing curiosity. Enrichment opportunities include Makaton, Spanish, music, STEM activities, yoga, baking and more. Provision is planned with individuals in mind, using information from parents/carers, observations and prior settings to identify needs and tailor the Early Years curriculum. A balanced mix of planned and child-initiated activities provides a bespoke learning journey.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Enrichment opportunities include Makaton, Spanish, music, STEM activities, yoga, baking and more.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school provides a carefully structured environment for children aged 1 to 4 years, designed to support every stage of early development. Small groups and experienced staff ensure every child is known, valued and supported. Children learn through play, exploration and first-hand experiences, building confidence, independence and a love of learning. Robin Class prepares children for school with a focus on confidence, communication and early learning skills.

Arts & Creative
Forest School and outdoor learning encourage creativity through making and exploring with natural resources. Musicians fashion wooden violins and bongos from tree stumps, and children enjoy imaginative play outdoors. The back garden supports creative exploration with a sand pit and natural materials for art and sculpture. Outdoor activities and nature-based projects provide opportunities for creative expression.

Social & Hobbies
The large, walled back garden supports cooperative play and social interaction. Children take part in group activities such as den building, bug hotel exploration and collaborative games in Forest School. Bird watchers and budding chefs engage in shared tasks, developing teamwork and communication. The environment fosters social skills, confidence and a love of collaborative learning.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Wellbeing is prioritised in a warm, nurturing environment where children feel safe and supported. Forest School and outdoor learning promote physical activity, resilience and positive mental health. Small groups and experienced staff personalise support, helping children build independence and confidence.
Admissions

Admissions
The school is housed in a Victorian building in central Cambridge and welcomes children from 1 to 4 years old in three age groups: Squirrel Class — Babies (1–2 years); Otter Class — Toddlers (2–3 years); Robin Class — Pre-Reception (3–4 years). The environment is small and personalised, with experienced staff who know each child and support learning through play, exploration and first-hand experiences to build confidence, independence and a love of learning. The school has an outdoor space including a large back garden, a decking area with a sand pit and wooden den, plus Forest School for outdoor learning. The school is open 48 weeks per year, from 8:00am to 6:00pm. Communication with families is via the Famly App. To learn more, families can enquire to arrange a personal visit or attend Open Morning events.
School Events
The school has not added events
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