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Photo of Stephen Perse Junior School Dame Bradbury's
Reviewed

Stephen Perse Junior School Dame Bradbury's

Independent school · Saffron Walden, CB10 2AL
  • Primary/prep
  • Co-ed
  • Ages 1-11
  • From £16,560 pa
  • 260 pupils
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A friendly small-town prep combining rural charm with forward-looking educational opportunities as part of a successful and sizeable foundation.

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Unlike other websites, schools can't pay to be included in The Good Schools Guide. This means our review of this school is independent, critical and fair, and written with parents' best interests at heart.

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Overview & data

Pupil numbers
260 ·
Religion
None
Fees
£16,560 - £21,435 pa
Local authority
Essex County Council
Linked schools

Headteacher

Head

Mr James McCaughran

Since September 2022, James McCaughran, previously deputy head (as well as digital lead and head of computing) at Ipswich Prep and before that, director of co-curriculum at Perse Prep, Cambridge. Degree in business studies from the University of

Entrance

Onsite nursery from 1+. Waiting lists for entry at 3+ into kindergarten and 4+ into reception, with sibling preference. Assessments and interviews take place in January before September start date, although they can be flexible. Places for ad hoc

Open days
Our open day takes place in October each year, more information available on our website. However, we do provide individual tours of Dame Bradbury's Junior School on request.

Exit

School starts talking to parents about next steps in year 4. Over 90 per cent get their first choice of senior school. Stephen Perse Senior School (co-ed since 2017) is the odds-on favourite (the majority of pupils headed there in 2025 – encouraged

Latest results

There are no results to show for this school. Find out more.

Teaching & learning

20:1
Pupil to teacher ratio
16
Average class sizes

Mobile phone policy

A clear mobile phone policy is a really important part of modern schooling. This school has provided us with their policy.

Mobile phone policy

Provided by the school and not part of our review

It is recognised that personal electronic devices (including but not limited to mobile phones, smart watches, tablets, laptops) are necessary in certain circumstances, eg for pupils with long or awkward journeys who may need to contact parents en route. However, they must not be seen during the school day and must be kept in airplane mode or equivalent, and in years 1-6 they must be handed to the school reception at the start of the day. In years 7-11, students are permitted to use mobile devices briefly during late stay to make travel arrangements or in exceptional circumstances with permission from a member of staff.

Updated Oct 2025

Pupils

260
Number of pupils

Money matters

Fee information
£16,560 - £21,435 pa

Our view

Dame Johane Bradbury’s School (to give it its full and formal title) was founded in the early 16th century by its namesake, the sister of a Saffron Walden rector, and as such is one of the longest established prep schools in the country. Historic

The last word

A friendly small-town prep combining rural charm with forward-looking educational opportunities as part of a successful and sizeable foundation.

Inspection reports

What the school says

At Dame Bradbury’s School, we are committed to delivering academic excellence, personal growth and social responsibility for all our students. Our environment fosters the best in every pupil, offering a dynamic and diverse curriculum alongside engaging co-curricular activities. This approach encourages each learner to pursue their educational goals with ambition. Our curriculum, grounded in strong values and a close-knit community, equips students with the skills and confidence needed to thrive and make a positive impact in the world.

Contact the school

Address

Ashdon Road
Saffron Walden
Essex
CB10 2AL
Get directions

Telephone: 01799 522348

Email: admissions@damebradburys.com

Website: https://www.stephenperse.com

Local authority: Essex County Council

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School data & information Stephen Perse Junior School Dame Bradbury's Ashdon Road, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB10 2AL
260 Pupil numbers
136/149 Pupil numbers boy/girls split
16 Average class sizes
20:1 Pupil to teacher ratio

Mobile phone policy

Provided by the school and not part of our review

It is recognised that personal electronic devices (including but not limited to mobile phones, smart watches, tablets, laptops) are necessary in certain circumstances, eg for pupils with long or awkward journeys who may need to contact parents en route. However, they must not be seen during the school day and must be kept in airplane mode or equivalent, and in years 1-6 they must be handed to the school reception at the start of the day. In years 7-11, students are permitted to use mobile devices briefly during late stay to make travel arrangements or in exceptional circumstances with permission from a member of staff.

Updated Oct 2025

We do not receive results data for this school. Find out more.

Entry and exit data

Here we report figures on pupils moving between schools at the usual entry and exit points, as well as student destinations into higher education. We publish publically available data for state schools. For independent schools, The Good Schools Guide collects data from its prep schools as to where their pupils go on to. Find out more

Our review contains additional entry and exit data reported to us and is updated annually. See the review

Recent leavers' destinations

SEN overview

Stephen Perse Junior School Dame Bradbury's is a mainstream school. The school may provide support for students with special educational needs as detailed below. If you require more information on conditions the school can support, we encourage you to contact the school directly.

SEN statement

Provided by the school and not part of our review

The school employs an Inclusion Specialist who oversees an inclusive approach to SEND.

Updated Nov 2015

SEN conditons supported

Schools report the conditions they might be able to support. Please note, this may not be a complete list. Find out more.

Conditions (Might cover/be referred to as) Provision
ASD - Autistic Spectrum Disorder Aspergers, Autism, High functioning autism, Neurodivergent, Neurodiversity, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), Social skills
HI - Hearing Impairment
MLD - Moderate Learning Difficulty Learning needs Yes
MSI - Multi-Sensory Impairment Sensory processing
OTH - Other Difficulty/Disability Downs Syndrome, Epilepsy, Genetic, Tics, Tourettes
PD - Physical Disability
PMLD - Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty Complex needs, Global delay, Global developmental delay
SEMH - Social, Emotional and Mental Health Anxiety, Complex needs, Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA), Mental Health
SLCN - Speech, Language and Communication Selective mutism
SLD - Severe Learning Difficulty Complex needs
SpLD - Specific Learning Difficulty Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Auditory processing, Developmental Co-ordination Difficulties (DCD), Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Handwriting Yes
VI - Visual Impairment Special facilities for Visually Impaired
Our data explained
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