The Stephen Perse Foundation, Cambridge
The Stephen Perse Foundation is an independent school for pupils aged 2 to 19 in Cambridge. It is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted; its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in September 2025.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Stephen Perse Foundation in detail
The Stephen Perse Foundation in its own words
In its own words: "We are a family of independent schools based in the city of Cambridge, United Kingdom and the surrounding area, educating girls and boys from ages 1-18. Our schools date back as far as 1522, and we have a proud history of educating some of the world's highest achievers."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for The Stephen Perse Foundation can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other independent schools to The Stephen Perse Foundation are Heritage School (0.1 miles); Mander Portman Woodward (0.1 miles); St Mary's School (0.1 miles, selective); and The Leys School (0.1 miles, selective).
Heritage SchoolMander Portman WoodwardSt Mary's SchoolThe Leys School
Where pupils go next
Of the 88 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 71% went on to university or other higher education and 8% into work.
Who goes there
In 2026, 141 pupils (9.5%) received SEN support and 3 (0.2%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Cambridge Rail Station, about 880 metres away (roughly a 11-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Brookside (opposite), 200 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 765 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Cambridgeshire (57), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASISI Inspection Reports
Independent schools in England are inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), not Ofsted.
Routine Inspection
9 September 2025
Short Visit
22 May 2023
Educational Quality / Focused Compliance
12 October 2021
Regulatory Compliance
22 February 2017
Integrated
11 March 2014
About
The Stephen Perse Foundation is a family of private schools in Cambridge and Saffron Walden for students aged 1 to 18.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
Fees for 2026/27
Day fees, per year
£17,385 to £27,435
depending on year group
Boarding fees, per year
£59,595
| Cambridge Shaftesbury Road (Reception Age 4-5) | £18,555 a year |
| Dame Bradbury's Junior School (Reception) | £17,385 a year |
| Dame Bradbury's Junior School (Year 1, Year 2) | £18,645 a year |
| Dame Bradbury's Junior School (Year 3, Year 4) | £21,645 a year |
| Dame Bradbury's Junior School (Year 5, Year 6) | £22,485 a year |
| Cambridge Junior School (Year 1, Year 2) | £18,555 a year |
| Cambridge Junior School (Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6) | £23,685 a year |
| Senior School (Years 7-11) | £27,435 a year |
| Sixth Form (Years 12-13) Day Pupils | £27,435 a year |
| Sixth Form Boarding (Includes Tuition) | £59,595 a year |
From the school's own fee schedule; check with the school before you rely on it.
Private school fees in Cambridge - 5 schools' published fees side by side
At a Glance
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for The Stephen Perse Foundation can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 1 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby all-through schools
Latest from The Stephen Perse Foundation
European Day of Languages with Guild Member, Gwen Clayton (AG68)
28 Sep 2026
Students at Stephen Perse Cambridge Celebrate Outstanding GCSE Results
20 Aug 2026
Stephen Perse Cambridge Celebrates Outstanding A Level Results
14 Aug 2026
Miss Rosemary Tice, 1930 - 2026
22 Jul 2026
Principal's 11-18 Newsletter - Edition 29 - July 2026
8 Jul 2026
New book edited by Anne Lee (AG39) and Janet Fife, with foreword by Rowan Williams, "Bullies and Bystanders"
1 Jul 2026
From The Stephen Perse Foundation's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with The Stephen Perse Foundation
Before and after school care
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near The Stephen Perse Foundation.
- Cambridge Kids Club @ St PaulsAt the school · Not yet graded
- Citykids Playcentre CIO160m away · Not yet graded
- Premier Wraparound Care at Heritage School Cambridge170m away · Not yet graded
- PAC Performing Arts Club230m away · Not yet graded
- Active Camps - The Leys230m away · Not yet graded
- Ultimate Activity Camps at Sancton Wood School410m away · Not yet graded
Getting There
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 82
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 22
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 82 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 22 serious and 60 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
16 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Cambridgeshire is 5 (the median across 312 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
74%
Available places
1,482 pupils
2,000 places
518 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
Area Demand Pressure - Cambridge
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Cambridge
Across Cambridgeshire council
Places available
7,228
Applications
6,755
Got 1st preference
88.3%
Got preferred school
96.6%
All secondary applications across Cambridgeshire council (2026/27), not just this school.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
141
SEN Support
3
EHC Plans
9.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Key Indicators
1,482
Total Pupils
754
Boys
728
Girls
2026 academic year
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Stephen Perse Foundation
Showing 10 of 13 linked schools
Questions parents ask about The Stephen Perse Foundation
What are GCSE results like at The Stephen Perse Foundation?
The Department for Education's GCSE measures do not count IGCSEs, which many independent schools take instead of GCSEs, so the Attainment 8 and English and maths figures it publishes for The Stephen Perse Foundation can understate its results. We do not rank or compare them; ask the school for its own GCSE and IGCSE results.
When was The Stephen Perse Foundation last inspected?
The Stephen Perse Foundation is inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) rather than Ofsted. Its most recent ISI inspection was a routine inspection in September 2025.
How many pupils go to The Stephen Perse Foundation?
The Stephen Perse Foundation has around 1482 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to The Stephen Perse Foundation?
The Stephen Perse Foundation is an independent school and runs its own admissions rather than going through the local authority. Contact the school directly for entry requirements, assessment dates, fees and any bursaries.
Does The Stephen Perse Foundation have a breakfast club or after-school club?
Ofsted's childcare register lists an out-of-school club at the school: Cambridge Kids Club @ St Pauls (registered, not yet graded). There are 5 more within a kilometre. The school may also run its own clubs, which don't have to register with Ofsted.
How many road collisions happen near The Stephen Perse Foundation?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 82 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 22 serious and 60 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 16 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Cambridgeshire is 5 (the median across 312 schools, same distance and years).
Where is The Stephen Perse Foundation?
The Stephen Perse Foundation is at Union Road, Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1HF.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)