Stephen Perse Senior School A GSG School
- Stephen Perse Senior School
Union Road
Cambridge
Cambridgeshire
CB2 1HF - Head: Mr Richard Girvan
- T 01223 454762
- F 01223 454707
- E admissions@stephenperse.com
- W www.stephenperse.com
- A mainstream independent school for boys and girls aged from 11 to 16 with linked feeder schools and 6th form.
- Boarding: No
- Local authority: Cambridgeshire
- Pupils: 651
- Religion: Non-denominational
- Fees: £21,384 pa
- Open days: Please see school website for open day dates and personal visits
- Review: View The Good Schools Guide Review
- ISI report: View the ISI report
- Linked schools: Stephen Perse Junior School Dame Bradbury's, Stephen Perse Junior School Fitzwilliam Building, Stephen Perse Sixth Form
What The Good Schools Guide says..
Pupils and their parents reflect the nature of Cambridge – international and highly intelligent… emphasis on independent thinking, academic rigour and a progressive environment. ‘It’s not pushy and doesn’t need to be – pupils themselves provide so much drive!’ commented a parent. Parents feel listened to, they trust the school, even when they may disagree about a policy. While acknowledging the importance of AI, the principal maintains there is ‘no substitute for gifted teaching, face to face.’ Well-equipped hall with seating for 360 also has a galleried lighting and sound control room under the direction of a full-time theatre technical manager…
What the school says...
Our school buzzes with activity from dawn ‘til dusk – as students pursue their ambitions in the classroom and beyond.
In our close community each individual student shines – supported and encouraged by committed, brilliant teachers. We feed curiosity, encouraging our students to pursue their interests, and crucially, we teach young people to think for themselves.
Our approach to learning has both breadth and depth. Pupils excel academically, but that’s not the whole picture. From sporting victories and dazzling stage performances, to the creative arts, clubs and societies – there’s plenty of time dedicated to igniting new interests and exploring talents, through enriched learning.
From our Visual Arts Centre to our rooftop sports pitch and STEM (Science Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) provision – our students learn in a dynamic setting, whilst also receiving a high level of academic support and pastoral care.
I warmly invite you to come and see us in action. ...Read more
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Curricula
International Baccalaureate: diploma - the diploma is the familiar A-level equivalent.
Cambridge Pre-U - an alternative to A levels, with all exams at the end of the two-year course.
Other features
All-through school (for example 3-18 years). - An all-through school covers junior and senior education. It may start at 3 or 4, or later, and continue through to 16 or 18. Some all-through schools set exams at 11 or 13 that pupils must pass to move on.
Sports
Rowing
Fencing
What The Good Schools Guide says
Head of senior school and principal
Principal: Since 2020, Richard Girvan, previously surmaster (head of senior school) at St Paul’s School in London for eight years. Raised in Belfast, he read engineering at St Catherine’s College, Cambridge, completed his PGCE and got a rugby blue before spending seventeen years as a maths teacher, boarding house tutor and coach of athletics and rugby. Having met his wife at Cambridge, ‘We were very happy to return.’ They have three children, all at various stages of the school, and a Labrador puppy. ‘I am an early riser (4.30am!) and walking the dog first thing is my main relaxation in term time.’ Is responsible for taking the strategic decisions for all the seven schools of the Stephen Perse Foundation and has negotiated a number of changes since he arrived,...
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Overall school performance (for comparison or review only)
Results by exam and subject
Subject results
Entry/Exit
Special Education Needs
Dyslexia At the Stephen Perse Foundation there are a number of pupils who have been diagnosed with dyslexia. All staff have received inset training in strategies for teaching pupils with dyslexia. Extra time is provided in tests and examinations as required. English A number of the pupils have extra support lessons to help them with English and for some pupils, English is a second language. Nut allergies and epilepsy All staff have training in administering an Epipen as there are a number of pupils with nut allergies. Staff have also received advice on teaching pupils with epilepsy. School nurse A full time school nurse advises staff on pupils with special medical needs, eg asthma or diabetes, and the school liaises with local specialist diabetes and asthma nurses. Parents of pupils with special medical needs are encouraged to speak to the school nurse.
| Condition | Provision for in school |
|---|---|
| ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder | |
| Aspergers | |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders | |
| CReSTeD registered for Dyslexia | |
| Dyscalculia | |
| Dysgraphia | |
| Dyslexia | Y |
| Dyspraxia | |
| English as an additional language (EAL) | Y |
| Genetic | |
| Has an entry in the Autism Services Directory | |
| Has SEN unit or class | |
| HI - Hearing Impairment | |
| Hospital School | |
| Mental health | Y |
| MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty | |
| MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment | |
| Natspec Specialist Colleges | |
| OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability | |
| Other SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | |
| PD - Physical Disability | |
| PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty | |
| SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health | |
| SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication | |
| SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty | |
| Special facilities for Visually Impaired | |
| SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty | |
| VI - Visual Impairment |
Who came from where
| School | Year | Places | Scholarships | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Faith's | 2023 | 8 | 3 | Music Scholarship; Academic Scholarships (2) |
| St John's College School | 2023 | 13 | 4 | Drama Scholarship; Academic Scholarships (2); Sports Scholarship |
| Stephen Perse Junior School Dame Bradbury's | 2023 | 28 | ||
| Stephen Perse Junior School Fitzwilliam Building | 2023 | 33 |
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