The Cavendish School

United Kingdom, Cambridge

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The school at a glance

Instructs in English

Fees Fees not listed

Ages 7 - 18 years

Pupil numbers 116

Type Co-educational

Opened 2021

Bus Service No

Availability Not shared by this school

Academic offering

Curriculum IB (PYP), British Curriculum, SEN focussed

Taught languages French, Spanish

Typical class size 10

Strengths Sport, STEM, Outdoor Education

Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies

Stages Primary School, Secondary School, Sixth Form

Introduction

The Cavendish School is a state-maintained special free school in Impington, near Cambridge, serving autistic pupils aged 7 to 18. It delivers an adapted curriculum that blends the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme with the British curriculum, with a strong SEN focus to meet individual learning needs. The school operates on a co-located campus with Impington Village College, enabling access to a wider sixth-form environment as Post-16 provision launches in 2025-26. Facilities are designed for sensory needs and accessibility, including calm sensory breakout rooms, a horticultural room, wider corridors without dead-ends, and sensory-friendly classrooms. A Pupil Learning Area provides EfL and an Online Library ePlatform for personalised study. The Cavendish School is collaborating with IB on an inclusion project, aiming to become the world's first IB-special autism school. Sport, STEM activities and outdoor education feature prominently through football, Coding Club, Maths Circles, Construction Club and Forest School initiatives for pupils.

www.thecavendishschool.org.uk

Gallery

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Vibes and Culture

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The Essentials

Location

On the outskirts of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England

Stages

Pupils range from Year 3 to Year 10 (ages 7–14); Post-16 provision planned for 2025–2026.

Type

State-maintained special free school provision for autistic pupils

Additional learning support

All pupils have Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and receive provision additional to or different from that provided in mainstream schools. Provision covers autism-related communication and interaction difficulties (all pupils have an autism diagnosis), Selective Mutism, speech and language difficulties; cognition and learning needs; social, emotional and mental health needs (including attachment issues, anxiety, PTSD); ADHD; OCD; hypermobility; sensory and/or physical needs. The SENDCo is Stephanie Smith; learners have individualised learning programmes and provision maps; progress is tracked against EHCP targets and reviewed termly; Evidence for Learning is used for assessment; parental involvement is encouraged through EHCP reviews.

Country affiliation

England, United Kingdom

Diving Deeper

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Fees

Application fees
- There is no application fee for admission to The Cavendish School. Admissions are handled through the Local Authority consultation process in conjunction with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

Tuition fees (by year group / per term)
- The Cavendish School does not charge tuition fees for any year group. Education provided during normal school hours, including the supply of materials, books and equipment, is provided without charge for pupils in all year groups on the school roll (Years 3–Post‑16 provision as applicable to the school's age range). No termly or annual tuition invoices are issued for statutory education.

Billing schedule and payment terms (for chargeable items)
- Chargeable items are limited to optional extras and specific circumstances described below. When a charge is levied for an optional activity or item, parents are notified in advance and parental agreement is obtained for the charge. The school will offer the option to pay in instalments for trips and other optional activities where possible. At the end of a trip or paid activity, any surplus will be calculated; parents will be offered a refund where the surplus per pupil is 10% or more and the refund value is £5 or greater. Payments for school meals and other online collections are recorded against each pupil account in the school's ParentPay system.

Boarding fees
- The Cavendish School operates as a day provision; there are no boarding places and therefore no boarding fees.

Other costs and fees (items that may be charged)
- School meals: meals are charged and paid for via ParentPay; free school meal entitlements are credited to pupil accounts as appropriate.
- Optional school trips and residential visits: parents may be asked to pay for optional extras, board and lodging for residential visits where legally permitted; remissions or subsidies may apply for eligible families. Instalment payment plans will be offered where possible.
- Instrumental or vocal tuition: music tuition requested by parents (individual or group tuition that is an optional extra) may be charged.
- Materials and take‑home items: where parents wish to retain items (for example craft, design or food products), the cost of materials may be charged. Textbooks required for the curriculum are supplied without charge.
- Examination entry fees: entry for prescribed public examinations is not charged if the pupil has been prepared for them at school; in defined circumstances (for example entry at parents' request where the pupil has not been prepared at the school, or where a pupil fails to attend without good reason) an examination fee may be charged.
- Damage and loss: a charge will be levied to cover the cost of repair or replacement for wilful damage, neglect or loss of school property.
- Voluntary contributions: the school may request voluntary contributions for activities; such contributions are genuinely voluntary and non‑payment does not result in discrimination, although activities may be cancelled if insufficient voluntary contributions are received.
- Uniform: uniform is available for purchase through the school's online uniform shop (Total Clothing). The school does not charge for compulsory curriculum clothing beyond the normal cost of purchasing uniform.

Refund information
- If a trip or paid activity ends with a surplus, parents will be offered a refund when the surplus per pupil is 10% or more and the refund value is £5 or more. Surplus/deficit reconciliation is confirmed against ledger records at the end of each visit or journey. Remissions (partial or full subsidies) may be provided for eligible pupils (for example those eligible for free school meals) for some chargeable activities.

Fee payment options
- The school uses ParentPay for online payments and meal accounts. ParentPay supports multiple payment channels including card payments, bank transfer and PayPoint cash payments where the school enables those options; ParentPay also supports account top‑ups and instalment arrangements as configured by the school. Parents' payments are recorded against the individual pupil account in ParentPay. The school may offer specific invoicing or payment arrangements for particular optional services as required.

Summary statement of charge policy
- No charges are made for admission, for education provided during school hours, for transport where the Local Authority has a statutory obligation, or for curriculum activities that take place in school time. Charges are limited to optional extras, materials where parents wish to retain items, certain examination entries in specific circumstances, extended day services, and similar optional services. Remissions and instalment options are available where set out in the charging and remissions policy.

Academics

Curriculum

The Cavendish School is a specialist provision for autistic pupils. Pupils range from 7 to 14 years old (Year 3 to Year 10), with inclusive plans to extend to Post-16 in the 2025-2026 academic year. The school opened in August 2021 on the outskirts of Cambridge and is Cambridgeshire's first state-maintained special free school provision for young autistic people. The curriculum and teaching methodology support each student through dedicated programmes and qualifications, balancing holistic and academic needs. The school is collaborating with the International Baccalaureate (IB) on an inclusion project to bring the IB curriculum to special schools worldwide.

Wellbeing

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Parent Experience

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Facilities

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Extra-Curricular Activities

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Languages

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Reputation

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Admissions

1. The Cavendish School is a specialist provision for autistic pupils in Cambridge. To be considered for a place, a pupil must have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) with Autism identified as the primary need. Pupils must be working within two academic years of their peers. The admissions criteria are applied to determine suitability for the school's specialist provision and programmes. The school uses a Local Authority-led admissions process to ensure alignment with the pupil's EHCP. 2. Admissions process: All admissions are completed through a consultation process via the Local Authority in conjunction with the child's EHCP. The Local Authority coordinates discussions with families and submits the consultation to The Cavendish School for consideration. 3. Capacity and spaces: The Cavendish School is currently at full capacity and unable to accommodate additional placements due to health and safety limits. When spaces become available, the relevant Local Authorities are notified and can submit or resubmit consultations for consideration. The Department for Education has completed a Net Capacity Assessment for The Cavendish School indicating minimum workplaces of 77 and maximum 103, with potential to extend to 124. As of September 2024, KS2 has 40 pupils, KS3 has 41 pupils, KS4 has 35 pupils, allocated Post-16 places for 2025 total 8, bringing overall capacity to 124. 4. Post-16 provision and curriculum: In Years 3–8 the curriculum follows the International Baccalaureate (IB); in Year 9 a hybrid English exam curriculum is used; in Years 10–11 pupils follow a mainstream English Qualifications curriculum; Post-16 pathways include life skills and Open University certificates of higher education or Year 1 open degrees. There are 8 allocated Post-16 places for 2025.

School Events

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FAQs

Where is The Cavendish School located and what age range does it serve?

The Cavendish School is on the outskirts of Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England. It currently serves pupils aged 7 to 14 (Years 3–Year 10) with inclusive plans to extend to Post-16 in the 2025–2026 academic year. It is the first state-maintained special free school provision for autistic pupils in Cambridgeshire.

What is the school's type and curriculum focus?

The Cavendish School is a co-educational, state-maintained special free school provision for autistic pupils. The curriculum balances holistic and academic needs and uses dedicated programmes and qualifications. The school is collaborating with the International Baccalaureate to bring the IB curriculum to special schools worldwide.

Who is the head of school and when did it open?

The Head of School is Stephanie Smith. The Cavendish School opened in August 2021.

Are there tuition fees to attend The Cavendish School?

No. The Cavendish School does not charge tuition fees for any year group; education during normal school hours, including standard materials, is provided at no cost. Admissions have no application fee, and admissions run through the Local Authority in conjunction with the pupil's EHCP.

How do I apply for a place at The Cavendish School?

Admissions are handled through the Local Authority consultation process in conjunction with the pupil's EHCP. Families work with their Local Authority to submit a consultation for consideration. The school is currently at full capacity, and spaces are notified to the relevant authorities when they become available.

Are there charges for meals or optional activities?

Meals are charged via the ParentPay system. Optional trips and activities may incur charges, with instalment options where possible. If a paid activity ends with a surplus of £5 or more per pupil, a refund may be issued.

What curriculum does The Cavendish School use for different year groups?

In Years 3–8 the curriculum follows the International Baccalaureate framework. In Year 9 a hybrid English exam curriculum is used, and in Years 10–11 pupils follow a mainstream English Qualifications curriculum. Post-16 pathways include life-skills studies and Open University certificates of higher education or Year 1 Open Degrees.

How is pupil progress tracked at The Cavendish School?

All pupils have Education, Health and Care Plans and receive individualized provisions. Progress is tracked against EHCP targets, with assessments using Evidence for Learning and termly reviews that involve parents.

When will Post-16 provision start and how many spaces are available?

Post-16 provision is planned to launch in September 2025 with eight allocated Sixth Form spaces. A further eight Post-16 spaces are allocated for 2025, with ongoing pathways to follow.

What sensory and learning facilities are available?

The site includes calm sensory breakout rooms, a horticultural room, wide corridors, natural lighting, and sensory-friendly classrooms. There is a Pupil Learning Area with Access to Evidence for Learning (EfL) and an Online Library ePlatform for individualized learning.

What sports and other facilities are available?

There is Cambridge United Football training after school for wellbeing and skill development, plus access to rounders, table tennis, badminton, and Forest School opportunities, supported by external coaches.

Are there facilities designed to support post-16 environments?

From Key Stage 4, pupils transition between a small number of classrooms in a scaffolded secondary model to familiarise them with post-16 settings, and there is access to an Online Library and an IB-informed approach to support post-16 planning.

What clubs and enrichment activities are offered?

Clubs include Coding Club, Maths Circles, Construction Club, Secondary and Primary Art Clubs, the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and football-related activities with Cambridge United.

Does the school offer leadership or progression opportunities?

From September 2025, Post-16 provision will open with eight Sixth Form spaces, providing pathways toward Open University certificates of higher education or Year 1 Open Degrees to support independence and progression.

Are there forest school or outdoor learning activities?

Yes, Forest School offerings are available as part of the extracurricular and wellbeing programs.

What wellbeing and SEND support does The Cavendish School provide?

All pupils have EHCPs and onsite therapists, including Occupational Therapists, a Speech and Language Therapist, an Educational Psychologist, Psychotherapists and an Art Therapist. The school runs a bespoke Enabling-the-self curriculum with PSHE and career components to support wellbeing.

How does The Cavendish School support EAL learners?

The school has experience helping pupils with English as an Additional Language and uses inclusive admissions practices to support EAL learners' integration.

How is safeguarding addressed at the school?

Safeguarding is a core priority with a named safeguarding lead, deputy team, online-safety lead and Domestic Abuse lead, aligned to Keeping Children Safe in Education. SHARPs reporting routes and multi-agency safeguarding partnerships are in place.

Is The Cavendish School a day or boarding provision?

It is a day provision with no boarding facilities or boarding fees.

What is the uniform policy?

The school maintains a uniform, which can be ordered online via the Total Clothing Shop.

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