CATS Cambridge and Sancton Wood School are both in Cambridge, about 2 km apart. Both schools offer British programmes, and Sancton Wood School also offers EYFS. Published annual fees are £16,980 - 32,100 at CATS Cambridge and £17,580 - 23,370 at Sancton Wood School, which puts CATS Cambridge roughly 20% higher. CATS Cambridge takes pupils from 14 to 18, and Sancton Wood School from 0 to 16. Typical class sizes are 11 at CATS Cambridge and 12 at Sancton Wood School.
EYFS (Early years foundation stage), British Curriculum
Pupils
Pupils
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Pupils
351
Typical class size
Typical class size
11
Typical class size
12
Instruction language
Instruction language
English
Instruction language
English
Opened
Opened
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Opened
1976
Bus service
Bus service
No
Bus service
No
Essentials
Essentials
Location
Location
1 High Street, Chesterton, Cambridge CB4 1NQ, United Kingdom. The campus sits near the city centre and close to the University of Cambridge. CATS Cambridge is described as being in the heart of Cambridge.
Location
Located in Cambridge, Sancton Wood Nursery is housed in its own Victorian building in the heart of the city. It has a central Cambridge location. It is open all year round from 8:00am to 6:00pm, 48 weeks per year.
Stages
Stages
Ages 14 and above; UK High School Term; GCSE; Pre-A Level; A Level; University Foundation Programme (UFP).
Stages
Squirrel Class — Babies (1–2 years); Otter Class — Toddlers (2–3 years); Robin Class — Pre-Reception (3–4 years).
School type
School type
The school is an international boarding school.
School type
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Pupil nationality mix
Pupil nationality mix
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Pupil nationality mix
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Additional learning support
Additional learning support
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Additional learning support
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Country affiliation
Country affiliation
United Kingdom
Country affiliation
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Religious affiliation
Religious affiliation
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Religious affiliation
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School day structure
School day structure
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School day structure
Open all year round from 8:00am to 6:00pm, 48 weeks per year.
Bus service details
Bus service details
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Bus service details
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Fees
Fees
Fee details
Fee details
Application & Registration Fees
- Registration (non‑refundable): £700 per student for courses (reduced to £600 where no CAS is required). - Course deposit (refundable subject to the School's terms): £2,500. - High School Term students (1 or 2 terms only) pay a reduced deposit of £700. - Registration fee is due when accepting the offer; the deposit is required to form the contract and is refundable only after all outstanding fees and charges have been cleared and after completion of the School's refund procedures.
Tuition Fees (2026/27) — per year and per term by category
- A Level (3 subjects), GCSE, Pre‑A level, University Foundation Programme: - International: £38,505 per year / £12,835 per term. - EU: £31,710 per year / £10,570 per term. - Domestic (UK): £22,080 per year / £7,360 per term.
- Additional A‑level subject (per subject): £8,280 per year / £2,760 per term.
- 5‑term A Level (January 2027 intake): - International: £29,450 per programme / £14,725 per term (applies to the first two terms listed; remaining terms follow the September fees schedule). - EU: £24,350 per programme / £12,175 per term. - Domestic: £16,980 per programme / £8,490 per term.
- 5‑term GCSE (January 2027 intake): same structure and fees as the 5‑term A Level entry above.
- Fast Track University Programme (UFP): - International: £32,100 per year / £16,050 per term. - EU: £26,430 per year / £13,215 per term. - Domestic: £18,400 per year / £9,200 per term.
- Note: tuition fee amounts are published as both annual and per‑term figures; some intensive/5‑term programmes are charged according to the programme structure indicated above. Fees do not include examination fees or mailing costs.
Billing schedule and payment terms
- The annual tuition fee is divided into three equal parts and charged termly; fees payable for each term fall due for payment two weeks before the start of that term. - Fees are charged termly regardless of the actual length of any term; fees and any agreed supplemental charges will not be reduced or refunded for absence due to illness or other reasons except where expressly stated in the School's refund policy. - Interest on late payments: 2% per month is applied to overdue accounts; repeated failure to pay may result in suspension or cancellation of tuition and/or accommodation and the School reserves the right to require future advance payments. - A 3% charge applies to any pre‑agreed payment plan set up with the Finance Team; the School may require a credit check and the use of standing orders for some payment arrangements. - Deposit refund: the deposit is refunded only after all outstanding fees and expenses have been cleared; refunds are returned to the original payer by the original payment method and to the original bank account used for payment.
Boarding / Accommodation fees (2026/27) — catered and self‑catered options
- Catered accommodation (includes weekday breakfast, lunch and evening meal; weekend brunch and supper during term time): - Premium single, en‑suite (Elizabeth House): £22,335 per year / £7,445 per term — available to under‑16 and 16–17 year olds (not for 18+). - Single, en‑suite: £21,510 per year / £7,170 per term — available to under‑16, 16–17 and 18+ where indicated.
- Self‑catered accommodation (single, en‑suite): £16,980 per year / £5,660 per term — available to 18+ students only; under‑18s are required by School policy to occupy catered accommodation.
- School policy requires all students under 18 to be in catered accommodation; independent (off‑site) accommodation for students requires Principal approval.
- Additional boarding charges: accommodation over Easter holidays (catered under‑18s) is charged per week; activity holiday programmes and holiday accommodation rates are charged separately as published.
Other costs and compulsory extras
- Compulsory items invoiced during the relevant term (examples and typical amounts): - UCAS application: £75. - IELTS test (where required): around £235 (students may need to retake tests and incur additional costs). - UFP exam fees: around £135 per subject. - GCSE exam fees: around £90 per subject. - Other academic exam fees: around £140 per subject (programme dependent). - Field trips (selected subjects): example £350 for Biology/Geography; KS4 residential trips ~£300. - Set textbooks: approximately £400. - School hoody and T‑shirt: approximately £60. - Replacement ID card: £10; replacement room key: £50; tampering with smoke alarm: £100; charges for damages as required.
- Optional costs (payable in advance or charged when the activity takes place): - One‑to‑one lessons / additional learning support: £105 per hour. - Day or weekend trips: around £45 (day) to £460 (weekend) depending on destination and length. - Duke of Edinburgh Award: Bronze ~£315; Silver ~£340; Gold ~£860. - Half‑term/holiday trips (example): ~£1,155. - Exam remark / clerical checks: e.g. UFP full remark £345 per subject (refunded if mark changes); clerical check £85 per subject (refunded if mark changes).
- Visa and immigration costs for international students are not included (e.g., Immigration Health Surcharge and visa application fees) and are charged by the UK government.
Refund, cancellation and withdrawal information
- Cancellation before studies: - More than 14 days before the first day of study: liability for deposit and registration fee only. - Less than 14 days before the first day of study: liability for deposit, registration fee, plus one full term's applicable tuition and accommodation fees. - If cancellation is due to visa refusal (through no fault of the applicant) the School will normally refund fees paid excluding the registration fee, subject to submission of written evidence. - Under UK consumer law a 14‑day cooling‑off period applies from receipt of the deposit: cancellation within that period entitles the payer to a full refund.
- Withdrawal after studies have commenced: - One full term's written notice is required for withdrawal. Failure to give a term's notice results in charges for the current term plus one term's fees in lieu of notice (tuition and accommodation without discount). - Refunds will not be made for periods of absence due to illness, injury or other personal circumstances; parents/students are advised that fee‑insurance may be required to cover such risks.
- Deposit refunds and other refunds are processed only to the original fee payer, by the original payment method and into the original bank account, after completion of the School's refund procedures and once all outstanding liabilities are cleared.
Fee payment options
- International and other electronic payments are processed via the School's Flywire payment partner. Flywire allows payment in over 150 currencies and accepts credit/debit card, bank transfer and multiple e‑wallet solutions (including China UnionPay and AliPay), with payment tracking and multilingual support. - The School also accepts standard bank transfers and will provide invoicing and account details via the Finance Team; some payment arrangements may require a standing order or specific payment plan terms.
Notes on inclusions/ exclusions
- Tuition and published accommodation fees exclude the additional compulsory and optional items listed above (examination entry fees, some trips, visas, specialist materials and some course‑specific costs).
Fee details
Application & registration fees - Nursery registration fee: GBP 100 (non-refundable). Please note a registration fee is not required if you are accessing a fully funded place with no additional hours. - Prep / Senior registration and acceptance: an online card payment of GBP 100 is taken at application. If an offer is made, the acceptance contract must be returned with a non-refundable acceptance fee of GBP 250. A holding fee of GBP 500 is invoiced once a place is accepted; this holding fee is refunded when a student leaves provided the correct notice period has been given and no fees remain outstanding.
Tuition fees (by year group) — Academic Year 2026/27 - Reception – Year 2: GBP 5,860 per term. Amounts are termly. - Years 3 – 6: GBP 6,450 per term. - Years 7 – 11: GBP 7,790 per term.
Nursery fees (fees effective from 1 September 2026) - Under 3 years old (monthly and day rates): - Full time (each day 8:00–18:00): GBP 2,010 per month. Fee with early years funding (15 hours): GBP 1,607 per month. Fee with early years funding (30 hours): GBP 1,204 per month. - 4 days: GBP 1,688 per month. With 15h funding: GBP 1,285 per month. With 30h funding: GBP 882 per month. - 3 days (minimum booking pattern): GBP 1,266 per month. With 15h funding: GBP 863 per month. With 30h funding: GBP 460 per month. - Day rate: GBP 105 per day. - Over 3 years old (monthly and day rates): - Full time (each day 8:00–18:00): GBP 1,887 per month. Fee with early years funding (15 hours): GBP 1,609 per month. Fee with early years funding (30 hours): GBP 1,331 per month. - 4 days: GBP 1,594 per month. With 15h funding: GBP 1,316 per month. With 30h funding: GBP 1,038 per month. - 3 days (minimum booking pattern): GBP 1,195 per month. With 15h funding: GBP 917 per month. With 30h funding: GBP 639 per month. - Day rate: GBP 100 per day.
Billing schedule & payment terms - Main school (Reception–Y11): termly fees are payable as cleared funds before the commencement of the School Term to which they relate. Fees are payable by direct debit on the first day of the term; fees may also be paid by bank transfer or cheque. Cash is not accepted. Premium Credit / SFP instalment arrangements may be available under separate agreement. - Nursery: fees are charged on a 48-week model, calculated across the year and divided by 12 so that the same monthly amount is paid each month. Nursery fees are due monthly in advance prior to the 1st day of each month. An administration charge of GBP 100 plus an additional GBP 100 for each whole week that the amount remains unpaid will be added if nursery fees are not received on time. - Late payment and recovery: the school may charge interest on overdue sums (Terms & Conditions set an interest provision up to 1.5% per month), reserve the right to exclude a pupil for overdue fees, and to recover fees in lieu if notice requirements are not met.
Notice periods and cancellation - Main school (Prep / Senior): one full term's written notice to the Registrar is required to withdraw a pupil; failing to give the required notice will render the parents liable for one term's fees in lieu of notice (subject to the terms in the acceptance contract). - Nursery: notice to cancel a nursery place must be received by the Admissions Manager as follows: 2 full calendar months for all year‑round attendance; 1 full term for term‑time only attendance. Where the child is accessing fully funded or Free Entitlement only hours, the notice period is 4 weeks. Failure to give the required notice will ordinarily lead to forfeiture of the deposit and/or fees becoming due in lieu.
Boarding fees - No boarding provision exists at Sancton Wood; boarding fees are not applicable.
Other costs & common extras - English as an Additional Language (EAL): GBP 600 per term for one one‑hour weekly session. - School lunches and mid‑morning snack: hot lunches and the mid‑morning snack are included with school fees and invoiced in advance where applicable. - Extra‑curricular clubs: the majority of extra‑curricular clubs carry no charge; chargeable activities (if any) or residential visits will be notified in advance. - Nursery "Extras and Essentials" (consumables) charges: while full‑time nursery fees include many essentials, where Government funding applies there is an optional consumables charge during funded hours. Daily illustrative charges (where applicable) are listed as: for under‑3s — food/drinks/snacks GBP 7.50/day, extracurricular activities GBP 6.50/day, hygiene consumables GBP 5.50/day, other educational supplies GBP 1.20/day; for over‑3s — food/drinks/snacks GBP 7.50/day, extracurricular activities GBP 23.25/day, hygiene consumables GBP 2.50/day, other educational supplies GBP 7.85/day. These elements are described in the nursery fee sheet and are applied according to the child's booking pattern. - Uniform and school shop items: uniform is supplied through the school supplier (Stevensons). Examples of listed costs: school bag (small Pre‑Prep) GBP 14 and (large Prep) GBP 16. Additional uniform items, sports kit and footwear are required but specific prices for individual items (beyond those listed) are set by the supplier. - Deposits and holding fees: for an accepted nursery place the deposit is GBP 500; the deposit is returned without interest after the child's final day provided notice requirements have been met and no balance remains. For Prep / Senior intake a GBP 500 holding fee is invoiced on acceptance (refundable on leaving subject to correct notice and no outstanding fees). Registration/acceptance fees are non‑refundable as noted above.
Refunds and exceptional refund circumstances - General fees refund policy for the school: fees are not normally refunded or waived for absence through illness, term shortening or vacation extension, early release for examinations, temporary closure due to adverse weather, or for other routine changes; refunds or waivers are only made exceptionally and at the Head's discretion in cases of genuine hardship or where legal liability requires a refund. Specific contractual provisions apply to deposits and cancellations prior to entry. - Visa/CAS exception: where a pupil requires a Certificate of Sponsorship (CAS) and, following payment of deposit, the family fails to obtain the relevant visa the school will refund fees paid in advance and may refund half the deposit as set out in the Terms & Conditions.
Accepted payment methods & payment administration - Main school payments: direct debit (first day of term), bank transfer, or cheque. Cash is not accepted. Instalment/finance options may be available through third‑party providers under separate agreement. - Nursery payments: monthly invoicing in advance (same amount each month, 12 equal payments across the year). Tax‑free childcare is accepted as a payment method; childcare vouchers from most major providers are accepted — parents should contact Admissions to confirm specific voucher schemes. An administration penalty applies for late or unpaid nursery fees.
Diving deeper
Diving deeper
Boarding arrangements
Boarding arrangements
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Boarding arrangements
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Uniform requirement
Uniform requirement
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Uniform requirement
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Food options
Food options
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Food options
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House system
House system
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House system
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Governance and ownership
Governance and ownership
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Governance and ownership
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Academics
Academics
Curriculum details
Curriculum details
GCSE; UK High School Term; Pre-A Level; A Level; UFP (University Foundation Programme). All school life is conducted in English.
Curriculum details
The Nursery welcomes children from 1 to 4 years old with Squirrel Class (1-2), Otter Class (2-3) and Robin Class (3-4). Children learn through play, exploration and first-hand experiences in small groups with experienced staff. Outdoor learning is a priority, with a large back garden and a Forest School program. Sancton Wood is part of the Dukes Education group with a dedicated Early Years focus and strong EYFS results. The Nursery operates 8:00am-6:00pm, 48 weeks per year, and uses the Famly App to share progress; there is a smooth transition into Reception.
Student teacher ratio
Student teacher ratio
Small classes with subject-specialist teachers.
Student teacher ratio
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Exam results
Exam results
Academic results are available upon request.
Exam results
EYFS results are strong.
Higher education progression
Higher education progression
Progression to leading UK universities, including Oxford and Cambridge; has university progression agreements and Oxbridge-related programmes.
Higher education progression
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Gifted and talented
Gifted and talented
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Gifted and talented
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Academic calendar
Academic calendar
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Academic calendar
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Wellbeing & support
Wellbeing & support
Social & emotional learning
Social & emotional learning
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Social & emotional learning
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Special educational needs (SEN)
Special educational needs (SEN)
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Special educational needs (SEN)
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English as an additional language
English as an additional language
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English as an additional language
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Mental wellbeing
Mental wellbeing
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Mental wellbeing
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Safeguarding
Safeguarding
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Safeguarding
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Safeguarding policy
Safeguarding policy
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Safeguarding policy
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Facilities
Facilities
Facilities overview
Facilities overview
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Facilities overview
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Sports facilities
Sports facilities
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Sports facilities
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Academic facilities
Academic facilities
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Academic facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
Extra curricular facilities
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Extra curricular facilities
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Parent experience
Parent experience
History
History
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History
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Community
Community
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Community
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Parent teacher association
Parent teacher association
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Parent teacher association
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Extra-curricular
Extra-curricular
Academic & intellectual
Academic & intellectual
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Academic & intellectual
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Arts & creative
Arts & creative
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Arts & creative
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Cultural & language
Cultural & language
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Cultural & language
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Social & hobbies
Social & hobbies
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Social & hobbies
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Community & service
Community & service
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Community & service
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Leadership & professional
Leadership & professional
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Leadership & professional
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Lifestyle & wellbeing
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Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
Language provision
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Language provision
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Bilingual teaching
Bilingual teaching
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Bilingual teaching
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Immersion programs
Immersion programs
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Immersion programs
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Reputation
Reputation
Awards
Awards
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Awards
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Accreditations
Accreditations
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Accreditations
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Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Admissions
Visit CATS Cambridge. Families considering CATS Cambridge are encouraged to visit in person to explore the areas of the school that matter to them, meet staff and students, and discuss opportunities available. If an in‑person visit isn't possible, an online conversation via Microsoft Teams can be arranged. Experiencing the school in action, viewing facilities first hand, and meeting staff and students is the best way to understand what a CATS Cambridge education offers. Apply Online. We accept direct applications to the admissions team or applications made through trusted educational agents in many countries. To begin the process, submit a copy of your passport and your most recent school reports for an initial assessment. No fee is required for submission. Offer Pack. For your application to be successful, entry requirements are detailed on the individual course pages. Offers may be conditional (subject to obtaining certain grades and/or meeting English language requirements or returning completed registration forms) or unconditional. An offer pack will usually include acceptance forms, fee information and joining instructions, together with a copy of the Terms and Conditions. Please be mindful of acceptance deadlines, as places are often limited. Acceptance and Enrolment. Students who receive an offer will be asked to accept their place by completing and returning an acceptance form and paying a minimum payment to secure a place. Admissions will send a Registration Pack with booking details and information about how to complete enrolment. Once all offer conditions are met, a final Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) number for visa application or Confirmation of Enrolment letter (COE) is issued. You will be contacted with information about enrolment and induction before the start of the course, and travel itinerary may be requested to coordinate arrival.
Admissions
The school is housed in a Victorian building in central Cambridge and welcomes children from 1 to 4 years old in three age groups: Squirrel Class — Babies (1–2 years); Otter Class — Toddlers (2–3 years); Robin Class — Pre-Reception (3–4 years). The environment is small and personalised, with experienced staff who know each child and support learning through play, exploration and first-hand experiences to build confidence, independence and a love of learning. The school has an outdoor space including a large back garden, a decking area with a sand pit and wooden den, plus Forest School for outdoor learning. The school is open 48 weeks per year, from 8:00am to 6:00pm. Communication with families is via the Famly App. To learn more, families can enquire to arrange a personal visit or attend Open Morning events.
Scholarships
Scholarships
The school offers the Scholarship of Excellence for exceptional students who make a successful application to and attend the University of Oxford or the University of Cambridge while studying A Level at CATS Cambridge. Eligibility includes joining or continuing A Level studies at CATS Cambridge. The Scholarship of Excellence reimburses the final two years of tuition and accommodation fees upon proof of acceptance and attendance of the first semester at Oxford or Cambridge. Recipients are expected to engage in marketing activities, events and provide a testimonial for promotional use. Assessments and interviews determine eligibility for the scholarship or bursary award. Scholarship recipients must maintain good academic and personal standing during their course, and misconduct may result in withdrawal. Details of scholarship terms are outlined in the school's policies and prospectuses.
