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The Cavendish School

United Kingdom, Cambridge

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees Fees not listed
Ages 7 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 116
Type Co-educational
Opened 2021
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), British Curriculum, SEN focussed
Taught languages French, Spanish
Typical class size 10
Strengths Sport, STEM, Outdoor Education
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies
Stages Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form
Introduction

The Cavendish School is a state-maintained special free school in Impington, near Cambridge, serving autistic pupils aged 7 to 18. It delivers an adapted curriculum that blends the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme with the British curriculum, with a strong SEN focus to meet individual learning needs. The school operates on a co-located campus with Impington Village College, enabling access to a wider sixth-form environment as Post-16 provision launches in 2025-26. Facilities are designed for sensory needs and accessibility, including calm sensory breakout rooms, a horticultural room, wider corridors without dead-ends, and sensory-friendly classrooms. A Pupil Learning Area provides EfL and an Online Library ePlatform for personalised study. The Cavendish School is collaborating with IB on an inclusion project, aiming to become the world's first IB-special autism school. Sport, STEM activities and outdoor education feature prominently through football, Coding Club, Maths Circles, Construction Club and Forest School initiatives for pupils.

The Cavendish School, Park Drive, Impington, Cambridgeshire, CB24 9LY

The Essentials

The Cavendish School has 116 pupils, typical class sizes of 10, instruction in English.

Location
On the outskirts of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England

Stages
Pupils range from Year 3 to Year 10 (ages 7–14); Post-16 provision planned for 2025–2026.

Type
State-maintained special free school provision for autistic pupils

Additional learning support
All pupils have Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and receive provision additional to or different from that provided in mainstream schools. Provision covers autism-related communication and interaction difficulties (all pupils have an autism diagnosis), Selective Mutism, speech and language difficulties; cognition and learning needs; social, emotional and mental health needs (including attachment issues, anxiety, PTSD); ADHD; OCD; hypermobility; sensory and/or physical needs. The SENDCo is Stephanie Smith; learners have individualised learning programmes and provision maps; progress is tracked against EHCP targets and reviewed termly; Evidence for Learning is used for assessment; parental involvement is encouraged through EHCP reviews.

Country affiliation
England, United Kingdom
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
The school has a uniform; orders are via the Online Uniform Shop (Total Clothing Shop).

Food Options
Catering provides rotating weekly menus; there are three menus that rotate; a weekly menu cycle is published (Summer 2026).

Governance and Ownership
The Cavendish School is part of the Eastern Learning Alliance (ELA). ELA has ultimate responsibility for all academies and schools within the Trust. Members, Trustees and Local Governing Bodies are voluntary positions. The Local Governing Body supports and challenges the Head of Academy, and reports to the Trustees who report to the Members. The Scheme of Delegation governs academy operations, and governance information such as Terms of Reference, Declarations of Interest, and Governors' Attendance records are published.
Fees
Application fees
- There is no application fee for admission to The Cavendish School. Admissions are handled through the Local Authority consultation process in conjunction with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

Tuition fees (by year group / per term)
- The Cavendish School does not charge tuition fees for any year group. Education provided during normal school hours, including the supply of materials, books and equipment, is provided without charge for pupils in all year groups on the school roll (Years 3–Post‑16 provision as applicable to the school's age range). No termly or annual tuition invoices are issued for statutory education.

Billing schedule and payment terms (for chargeable items)
- Chargeable items are limited to optional extras and specific circumstances described below. When a charge is levied for an optional activity or item, parents are notified in advance and parental agreement is obtained for the charge. The school will offer the option to pay in instalments for trips and other optional activities where possible. At the end of a trip or paid activity, any surplus will be calculated; parents will be offered a refund where the surplus per pupil is 10% or more and the refund value is £5 or greater. Payments for school meals and other online collections are recorded against each pupil account in the school's ParentPay system.

Boarding fees
- The Cavendish School operates as a day provision; there are no boarding places and therefore no boarding fees.

Other costs and fees (items that may be charged)
- School meals: meals are charged and paid for via ParentPay; free school meal entitlements are credited to pupil accounts as appropriate.
- Optional school trips and residential visits: parents may be asked to pay for optional extras, board and lodging for residential visits where legally permitted; remissions or subsidies may apply for eligible families. Instalment payment plans will be offered where possible.
- Instrumental or vocal tuition: music tuition requested by parents (individual or group tuition that is an optional extra) may be charged.
- Materials and take‑home items: where parents wish to retain items (for example craft, design or food products), the cost of materials may be charged. Textbooks required for the curriculum are supplied without charge.
- Examination entry fees: entry for prescribed public examinations is not charged if the pupil has been prepared for them at school; in defined circumstances (for example entry at parents' request where the pupil has not been prepared at the school, or where a pupil fails to attend without good reason) an examination fee may be charged.
- Damage and loss: a charge will be levied to cover the cost of repair or replacement for wilful damage, neglect or loss of school property.
- Voluntary contributions: the school may request voluntary contributions for activities; such contributions are genuinely voluntary and non‑payment does not result in discrimination, although activities may be cancelled if insufficient voluntary contributions are received.
- Uniform: uniform is available for purchase through the school's online uniform shop (Total Clothing). The school does not charge for compulsory curriculum clothing beyond the normal cost of purchasing uniform.

Refund information
- If a trip or paid activity ends with a surplus, parents will be offered a refund when the surplus per pupil is 10% or more and the refund value is £5 or more. Surplus/deficit reconciliation is confirmed against ledger records at the end of each visit or journey. Remissions (partial or full subsidies) may be provided for eligible pupils (for example those eligible for free school meals) for some chargeable activities.

Fee payment options
- The school uses ParentPay for online payments and meal accounts. ParentPay supports multiple payment channels including card payments, bank transfer and PayPoint cash payments where the school enables those options; ParentPay also supports account top‑ups and instalment arrangements as configured by the school. Parents' payments are recorded against the individual pupil account in ParentPay. The school may offer specific invoicing or payment arrangements for particular optional services as required.

Summary statement of charge policy
- No charges are made for admission, for education provided during school hours, for transport where the Local Authority has a statutory obligation, or for curriculum activities that take place in school time. Charges are limited to optional extras, materials where parents wish to retain items, certain examination entries in specific circumstances, extended day services, and similar optional services. Remissions and instalment options are available where set out in the charging and remissions policy.
Academics

The Cavendish School teaches IB (PYP), British Curriculum, SEN focussed for students aged 7 to 18.

Curriculum
The Cavendish School is a specialist provision for autistic pupils. Pupils range from 7 to 14 years old (Year 3 to Year 10), with inclusive plans to extend to Post-16 in the 2025-2026 academic year. The school opened in August 2021 on the outskirts of Cambridge and is Cambridgeshire's first state-maintained special free school provision for young autistic people. The curriculum and teaching methodology support each student through dedicated programmes and qualifications, balancing holistic and academic needs. The school is collaborating with the International Baccalaureate (IB) on an inclusion project to bring the IB curriculum to special schools worldwide.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The Cavendish School delivers a bespoke Enabling-the-self curriculum with a Careers and PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) component. The mission is for pupils to enjoy learning, achieve their potential and develop the key social and emotional skills to thrive as independent, emotionally and socially confident young adults. This holistic framework supports wellbeing and social development through structured personal development and life-skills programming from the early years through Post-16.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The Cavendish School provides SEND information and support through its TCS SEND & Local Offer, outlining provision for pupils with SEND. The admissions documentation confirms onsite therapists to support developmental needs, including Occupational Therapists, a Speech and Language Therapist, an Educational Psychologist, Psychotherapists and an Art Therapist, enabling holistic, individualized learning.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The Admissions Policy states the School is experienced in helping pupils with English as an Additional Language (EAL).

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing is supported through signposting to mental-health resources (e.g., CAMHS Live, Kooth and other services) and a range of coping strategies, including relaxation techniques and structured activities. The school emphasises safeguarding and wellbeing through partnerships such as Operation Encompass to identify and provide appropriate support when domestic abuse is involved, and provides a range of coping strategies and self-help tools for students.

Safeguarding
Safeguarding is a core responsibility with four main elements: Prevention, Procedures, Supporting Children, and Preventing unsuitable people from working with children. The school has a named safeguarding lead and a deputy safeguarding team, an online-safety lead and a Domestic Abuse lead, with safeguarding policy aligned to Keeping Children Safe in Education and published for stakeholders. Students have reporting routes (SHARPs) and the school engages in multi-agency safeguarding activities with partner agencies.
Parent Experience

History
The Cavendish School is planned to be accessible to families not served by current state provision in Cambridgeshire. It will be co-located with Impington Village College and its sixth form, offering opportunities for students throughout their time at The Cavendish School. Relationships between students, staff and families are at the heart of the approach to support each child's growth. On entry, students will be assessed to identify met and bypassed developmental milestones, guiding tailored relationship development support. The Cavendish School aims to remove limits faced by autistic pupils, celebrate neurological diversity, and remove barriers to inclusion in the wider community, drawing on the latest autism research to shape its strategy.

Community
The Cavendish School hosts an Autism Celebration Event that brings professionals, parents and other members of the community together to discuss autism education and support strategies. The event features expert speakers, practical sessions, Q&A and networking opportunities that enable attendees to exchange ideas and approaches. In 2026, the event was held on 10 April at The Cavendish School in Impington, Cambridge, and covered topics such as mental health and emotional wellbeing, curriculum design for autistic students, post-16 provision, and building an inclusive culture. The event has historically included sessions, refreshments, and opportunities to share good practice among attendees.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
Calm sensory breakout rooms and a horticultural room were planned as part of the new Cavendish School site to support vocational and sensory needs. The corridors are designed to be wider and without dead-ends to help pupils navigate the building more easily, with natural light factored into classroom design. Classrooms are described as sensory-friendly and arranged to minimise distractions, creating a safe, nurturing environment for learning. A Pupil Learning Area provides access to EfL (Evidence for Learning) and an Online Library ePlatform to support individualized learning.

Sports Facilities
Cambridge United Football training takes place after school with wellbeing sports sessions, and pupils have the opportunity for extra-curricular activities with the Cambridge United football club. Equipment and resources support a range of activities including rounders, table tennis, badminton, and associated gear. Lunchtime and after-school sports clubs are targeted to increase participation and engagement in physical activity, with external coaches and Forest School opportunities also available. Some activities are invite-only depending on attainment levels.

Academic Facilities
Classrooms are designed to minimise distractions and provide sensory-friendly spaces for focus. From Key Stage 4, pupils move between a small number of classrooms, forming a scaffolded secondary transitioning model that familiarizes them with post-16 environments. The school aims to deliver an IB-based program as part of its ethos, marking it as the world's first IB special autism school, with the IB learner profile at the heart of the curriculum. The curriculum includes pathways that combine IB elements with UK qualifications and life-skills components, including access to an Online Library/ePlatform for learning.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Football Club with Cambridge United is offered for skill development and wellbeing sessions, with pupils able to participate in this external coaching. Additional activities include Secondary and Primary Art Clubs, Construction Club, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, Coding Club, and Maths Circles, with some activities being invite-only based on attainment. Sporting and enrichment programs are supported by external coaches, including Forest School offerings.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The Cavendish School offers extra-curricular activities that develop academic and intellectual skills, including Coding Club, Maths Circles, and Construction Club. Coding Club teaches coding and programming, Maths Circles explore advanced mathematical concepts, and Construction Club provides hands-on building projects. Some activities are invite-only due to attainment requirements.

Arts & Creative
Secondary Art Club and Primary Art Club provide creative spaces for pupils to explore different artistic techniques and media. They support development of artistic talents across age groups and encourage creative expression. Art activities broaden pupils' creative horizons as part of their education.

Social & Hobbies
Football Club with Cambridge United enables pupils to develop football skills with professional coaching from Cambridge United. It offers opportunities for social interaction with peers through team-based activity. Participation supports teamwork, communication, and wellbeing.

Community & Service
Duke of Edinburgh Award offers a structured programme involving volunteering, physical activities, and skills development. The award includes an expedition that builds teamwork and resilience. Participation supports personal growth and community involvement.

Leadership & Professional
From September 2025, Post-16 Provision launches with eight allocated Sixth Form spaces. The post-16 curriculum blends life skills with academic study. Pupils work toward Open University Certificates of Higher Education or Year 1 Open Degrees. The provision supports independent pathways for further study and potential employment.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The school day includes dedicated therapeutic learning and Zones of Regulation to support emotional wellbeing. The environment provides sensory-friendly spaces and calming areas for pupils with sensory needs. On-site therapists include Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, an Educational Psychologist, Psychotherapists and an Art Therapist.
Reputation

Awards
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Accreditations
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Admissions

Admissions
1. The Cavendish School is a specialist provision for autistic pupils in Cambridge. To be considered for a place, a pupil must have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) with Autism identified as the primary need. Pupils must be working within two academic years of their peers. The admissions criteria are applied to determine suitability for the school's specialist provision and programmes. The school uses a Local Authority-led admissions process to ensure alignment with the pupil's EHCP. 2. Admissions process: All admissions are completed through a consultation process via the Local Authority in conjunction with the child's EHCP. The Local Authority coordinates discussions with families and submits the consultation to The Cavendish School for consideration. 3. Capacity and spaces: The Cavendish School is currently at full capacity and unable to accommodate additional placements due to health and safety limits. When spaces become available, the relevant Local Authorities are notified and can submit or resubmit consultations for consideration. The Department for Education has completed a Net Capacity Assessment for The Cavendish School indicating minimum workplaces of 77 and maximum 103, with potential to extend to 124. As of September 2024, KS2 has 40 pupils, KS3 has 41 pupils, KS4 has 35 pupils, allocated Post-16 places for 2025 total 8, bringing overall capacity to 124. 4. Post-16 provision and curriculum: In Years 3–8 the curriculum follows the International Baccalaureate (IB); in Year 9 a hybrid English exam curriculum is used; in Years 10–11 pupils follow a mainstream English Qualifications curriculum; Post-16 pathways include life skills and Open University certificates of higher education or Year 1 open degrees. There are 8 allocated Post-16 places for 2025.
School Events
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