Cumnor House School (Croydon) A GSG School

What The Good Schools Guide says

Head of School

Since 2021, Emma Edwards BA QTS NASENCo SEN Dip. Previously senior deputy head, having risen through the ranks after joining as a reception teacher nearly two decades ago. Made the move to Surrey to be nearer her family after two years cutting her teeth in Bradford following her BA in early childhood studies with QTS at Leeds. Went into teaching because ‘my own experience of school wasn’t great - I had just a couple of really caring teachers and wanted to be like them.’ Her warm and easy-going demeanour suggests she’s achieved her goal – she’s as far from a scary, authoratitive headmistress as you could imagine. ‘Not your typical head – she’s incredibly comfortable with the children, they utterly adore her,’ concurred a parent. ‘I watched her doing an online assembly with 50-odd boys this week and it was remarkable watching the way she picked up on those not listening and engaged them so that they all enjoyed it,’ said another.

With the school having gone through five heads in five years, she certainly has her work cut out. Parents reckon she’s (a) a keeper and (b) more than capable because, as one put it, ‘she knows the school so well after so many years – she lives and breathes it.’ It says something about the senior leadership team that no parent we spoke to even seemed that bothered about the multiple heads – ‘Because the next layer down has kept the school going so well, we haven’t really felt the shifts in headship,’ voiced one mother, though she acknowledged ‘some parent grumbles about it’.

Works long hours – always in by 8am to pitch in with something or other, reading with pupils in the nursery on the day of our review. Still teaches (currently English to year 7s), still keeps a hand in with SEN (‘my passion’) and is currently working on an MEd. Out of school, she’s often found with her large extended family – ‘I get to spoil the children then go home to peace and quiet with my cat,’ she laughs.

Entrance

Three-form intake with 18 boys maximum in a class. Automatic entry from the school's two nurseries – one over the road (open 8-6 all year round) and one in Purley (term time only), which parents told us they found a very attractive feature of the school (note that both are undergoing a rebrand as preschools in 2021 ‘so the focus is firmly on education not day care’). Otherwise, boys come in at 4+ for a taster day, which for most is nothing to worry about. Maths and English are checked to ascertain if the child will cope at Cumnor, but not formally assessed. Other entry points at 7+ and 11+.

Exit

Given the school's non-selective admissions process, Cumnor's exit record is truly remarkable. Vast majority to Trinity or Whitgift, with Royal Russell, Cedars, Caterham, Epsom, Brighton, Lingfield, Bishops, Challenor and RGS also featuring recently. ‘The school used to say it wasn’t an 11+ school but they’ve started to embrace the idea of supporting on us on that journey that many were doing anyway and the shift in provision has been really welcome,’ said parent. Those who opt for 11+ are put in a dedicated class and in 2022, nine of them got places at local selective grammar schools. Those that join Cumnor at 11 often pass at 13 with scholarships into schools which turned them down two years previously. Booster sessions, after school classes and drop-in clinics (one-to-ones and small groups) all available for both 11+ and 13+. ‘Very much a personalised approach.’ In 2022, 47 scholarships.

Our view

Despite being non-selective, this is not a school for the faint of heart. The day is long – 8am to 4pm – and the boys work extremely hard. But – and this is the school’s magic ingredient – the boys barely notice because, quite frankly, it’s such fun. Everywhere we saw evidence of lively and careful teaching, and the boys were vociferous about how much they enjoyed lessons. The kind of school where boys use pizza to learn about fractions and football teams to get their heads round percentages. 'History is my favourite, because it's all about old things, and did you know that Henry VIII died because his bottom exploded on the toilet!' cried a year 2 lad enthusiastically. The older boys were more conservative in their praise, but no less warm. 'The teachers are very kind', 'They're inspirational!', 'Lessons are always fun', 'Because of my science teacher, I want to be a scientist,' we were told. Work we saw was imaginative and of a consistently high standard. Strong SEN team supports the 10 per cent of boys in need of extra help for mainly dyslexia, dyspraxia and ASD; the school welcomes all learners (including EHCPs when we reviewed the school) although acknowledges that boys with more than moderate learning difficulties would struggle here. We were impressed with the six-week nurturing groups on eg improving self-esteem and self-regulation as part of the wider SEN provision.

The school runs on the ethos that ‘boys are very different than girls in their learning styles,’ with the single sex education valued equally by school and parents. ‘The boys don’t have to live in fear of the girls doing better in, for example, handwriting which can really knock confidence.’ Uniform is very traditional – grey shorts, long socks, tie, blazer and cap – swapped for long trousers from year 3. Manners are astonishingly good. Everywhere we were greeted with courteous smiles and handshakes; in one instance, even with a bow. While they hurled themselves around the playgrounds at break-time (most use the time to play football), they were nonetheless well behaved and considerate, both to each other and to us. ‘They go outside in all weathers – they need the fresh air and to burn off energy,’ says school – one of the reasons outdoor learning also looms large (they have a lovely garden area with fire pits and are looking into building a log cabin).

Parents in search of flashy facilities might initially be nonplussed by Cumnor's honeycomb, let's-patch-on-another-annexe-here school campus, although it’s fair to say the school has worked hard on the curb-side appeal in recent years. The main Victorian site used to be residential, and the impression is still of a large, rambling house full of staircases and inglenooks. Reasonably no-frills décor-wise, although the school has done upgrades here too and the displays lining the walls brighten the place up with colour and inspiration for learning. The classrooms are all well resourced, the boys radiate contentment and their achievements speak for themselves. And there's nothing second-rate about the sports facilities: the huge sports ground boasts cricket nets, clubhouse, sports hall with the warm, light and inviting swimming pool block the cherry on top. Reception teachers were all in the water with their young charges when we visited; Cumnor's swimming is very successful (the swim squad practises from 7am), with the school having won national as well as local competitions. Football and cricket are strongest, say parents, but rugby and athletics also good – all nurtured by a team of very dedicated PE teachers who provide two triple sports lessons a week. ‘Sport is the reason we chose the school,’ said more than one parent. ‘They have amazing sports teams and although it used to be more elite, everyone gets a look in now, with A-G teams.’ All-singing-all-dancing cricket tours – Barbados is up next, we heard. The weekly live fitness lessons (with awards for eg the fastest, the biggest number of burpees) has something of a cult following during lockdown. Old boys include Mark Butcher, Alistair Brown, David Sales, Chris Robshaw and Elliot Daly.


Plenty of fare on offer for non-sportsmen too. Music is flourishing, with most boys from year 3 up learning one or more instruments. Four choirs to pick from, along with lots of ensembles and bands. The school's choral singing is particularly impressive - previous fixtures include Salzburg Cathedral and the Barnardo's National Choir Competition (which they won). Annual choir tour sees the boys singing at eg Disneyland Paris and Menin Gate. ‘When my son was in year 4, they realised he had a bit of a flair for music – something I’d never have picked up – and they’ve encouraged him to do the violin and since then the bassoon and piano, as well as singing. It’s typical of the school in really getting to know your child and what they shine at,’ said one parent.

Drama is lively, with at least two productions a year. ‘They put a lot of work into them,’ a parent told us. ‘All the boys getting involved – it’s not one of those schools where you see the same old kids getting the lead roles.’

Nobody could argue that art is side-lined here, with head of art doing weekly assemblies on different artists (including as part of online learning during lockdowns), as well as working closely with other departments to ensure cross-curricular learning. We heard how boys had been drawing how they felt about a particular piece of music they’d been studying, as well as colouring and doodling to their hearts’ content to mark wellbeing week during the pandemic. Parents love the gallery, where they have the chance to choose and buy the children’s framed artwork.

Oodles of clubs and societies (again, running through online learning where possible). LEGO and current affairs particularly popular. ‘Like winning the lottery if you get a place, so I do wish spaces weren’t so limited,’ grumbled one parent. The boys are encouraged to try new things – the school tells them, ‘If you haven’t auditioned for the school play, why not? If you aren’t learning an instrument, why not?’

Parents told us they were ‘blown away’ by the school’s online provision via Teams during the pandemic. Lots of eg quizzes in lessons and offscreen work to do creative things. From the outset, school admitted ‘we know we can’t get everything right,’ so parents, staff and pupils get fortnightly surveys during lockdowns to welcome ideas and ensure good balance, engagement etc. ‘We are a pretty demanding lot and aren’t afraid to speak out, so it works well,’ said one parent, while another raved about ‘the morning sessions before classes that mimic the handshake they’d usually get from the head on the way into school.’


Since joining the Cognita schools group, the school has increased its financial clout in a very competitive locality. The Lodge Schools on the other side of the Purley Way declined and fell during the financial crisis, whereupon Cognita bought up most of the site and asked Cumnor to open a girls' school (see our separate entry) and expand the Cumnor House nursery. Reception boys are also housed on this Purley site in Woodcote Lane, and we wondered if that didn't provoke grumbles from parents dropping off more than one child. But no: the school runs a shuttle service between the two sites, and parents can choose to which one they deliver both sons and daughters, knowing that the school will safely ferry their children to where they need to be.

The Croydon area is multicultural, and one of Cumnor's greatest successes is the way that it takes a highly diverse group of boys. All come out polished and very likeable young gentlemen.

The last word

A hard-working school that’s known for its sport and music as much as its full-bodied academics. And no review of Cumnor House would be complete without a mention of the family feel too – there’s a real team spirit here. However, we hope the current head will bring stability and have a longer reign than her recent predecessors.

Special Education Needs

Provision for SEN pupils In the Pre-prep, Learning Support Assistants help in each class with general day to day learning. They hear pupils read, targeting especially those who appear to be experiencing difficulties and work with them on other areas such as comprehension and times tables. Pupils are given an Individual Education Plan if their needs are such that it is thought that they should be highlighted. Twice yearly reviews of IEPs are held with parent /the class teacher /Head of Learning Support. Withdrawal lessons are provided individually and in small groups by the Head of Learning Support for all pupils in the Pre-prep who are having difficulties with their learning of whatever nature. In the Prep school, pupils are given an Individual Education Plan if their needs are such that it is thought that they should be highlighted. Withdrawal lessons are provided by the Head of Learning Support for all pupils who have had an Educational Psychologist’s assessment and report.Subject teachers monitor pupils’ progress through IEP targets. Work is differentiated within the classroom according to the specific needs of the pupil. Twice yearly reviews of IEPs are held with parents and the Head of Learning Support. Pupils on the Cause for Concern Lists are monitored by subject staff/Head of Learning Support. Work is differentiated within the classroom according to the specific needs of the pupil. Those in the Prep school who have an Educational Psychologist’s assessment and report are provided with withdrawal support from the Head of Learning Support. Pupils with Emotional and Behavioural difficulties are usually monitored by the Head of the Pre-prep/Head of Lower School/form tutors