Thoughts on Sancton Wood?

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Does anyone have any insight into Sancton Wood School? We are thinking about starting our DD at the pre-prep school next year, it seems like a good alternative to some of the other private schools in Cambridge, not quite so expensive but teaching seems to be of a good standard, and excellent class sizes. Would be great to get some insight from anyone who has their child in the school or has looked at it as an option?

The class sizes are incredibly small which may mean issues as they get older in that they don't have very big friendship groups or can't put out sports teams etc. Having said that a friend's son is there and fits in well.

Hi, I have a son who we moved from our local school to Sancton Wood in September 2016, he has joined in year 3, I can only rave about Sancton Wood, They have been so welcoming, and more importantly my son is loving school. We have seen a dramatic improvement in his school work and his attitude towards school. Hope this helps.

Just replying to the comment re small class sizes and sport and that did indeed use to be the case but the school has expanded and is now two form entry in many year groups and still growing whilst retaining its excellent academic standards and results and outstanding pastoral care (see last report) . Last week alone they had three fixtures in rugby and football against other local independent schools and thrashed them! I have a daughter and a son at the pre prep and prep school respectively and I am a teacher in another school and can't say enough at how happy my children are and how well they are doing academically.

I have two children at SW a boy in year 4 and girl in Reception. They have both been there since Nursery and absolutely love it.
The smaller class sizes is one of the reasons we choose the school, as it enables the teaching staff to really focus on each child and their individual learning styles.
Both my children are outgoing, socially confident and have large friendship groups (both from their years and others) The school has a family feel. I have always found the staff, leadership team and other parents friendly and approachable.
Whilst they always seem to be working hard to ensure my children reaches their academic potential, it never seems pushy or stressful for them. I don't think there is such a thing as the best school, just the best school for your child and we definitely feel like Sancton Wood is the best school for ours.

I am assuming the 2 form entry must be at prep level rather than Senior though because even with 2 form entry there will not be enough boys to put out a rugby team. However at Prep they are allowed to field mixed year group teams but this is not the case once they get to U14s.

SW are not on the usual sports circuits so I am guessing it is schools of a similar nature that they are playing and thrashing. I am only saying this if sport is important to your family.

As I said before friends really rate the school for its ethos and academic support their child receives.

Sorry to disagree. My experience of the school was not a positive one.
As a non-selective private school it attracts a lot of children with special needs which in itself wouldn't be a problem if the teaching was targeted to all the pupils and not just the less able ones. My children simply got bored at SW. They didn't have space to run around at break time, the classrooms were small and claustrophobic, the opportunities to socialise very limited due to the small size of the school. SW doesn't offer hot dinners,a gym or a fully equipped science lab other than for the seniors. The leadership is weak to say the least: the headteacher is very good at selling the school but in reality the level of teaching is mediocre and the facilities far worse than in state schools.

Our experience at SW has been very good. We moved our eldest there from a popular local state school for Y3 a few years ago and our youngest started there in Reception. Our eldest is very bright, and in contrast to what Furlabag experienced, we have felt that the teachers really make an effort to stretch those children in the top set. We’ve also been happy with the quality of teaching in the pre-prep – our youngest, for example, has made fantastic progress in her reading.

It is true that the facilities at SW don’t match those of the much bigger private schools (and if this is what you’re looking for, maybe SW isn’t the right choice) but they are very much improving. As mentioned by others, the school is moving to a two form entry (and already has for some year groups), and thus has expanded over three sites which has given the school a little more breathing room and a chance to upgrade some of the facilities. I must disagree with the statement that the school doesn’t offer hot dinners – both of my children take them, so if the school doesn’t offer them, I don’t know what they are eating at lunchtime :)

The fact is, different schools work for different kids. Although the school our eldest went to through Y2 didn’t work for us, I don’t think it’s a bad school – it just wasn’t a good fit for our family. Similarly, SW won’t be a good fit for everyone, as it clearly wasn’t for FurlaBag and her family. But as I said, we’ve been really happy with SW. It’s not a perfect school – I don’t think there is such a thing! – but our kids are happy there, and engaged with learning, and that's what matters to us.

Thanks for all of your comments, they have been really useful as you can only get so much insight from an open day. I was slightly surprised that they didn't receive 'outstanding' in all areas of there recent inspection report. As a fee paying school I would expect them to excel in all areas of teaching. I am not so fussed about facilities as such and am aware that the school has expansion plans which will only improve these further, the small class sizes and school ethos does sound excellent.

I think reading your comments there may have been more to you removing your children! SW had a reputation a while back for accepting special needs but as far as I am aware there is only 2 children with statements in the whole school. As they dont cream from the top although my youngest did have to complete an entrance assessment their value added is huge compared to the other private school we spent hours calculating it and comparing it. It's not that easy to get in now I had two friends this year who's children did not get in and they are not full as they have expanded. They have split over three sites so there is plenty of space for the children now and the ISI report this time last year was good for teaching and leadership and since I have been there as a parent, the management team has new people in it and is very effective and the communication with parents is great. I think there may be more to your comments than meets the eye as your opinion is very much at odds with parents on the playground and I have never heard of any children not being stretched or bored.

Just a real time update on SW. It is an excellent school. They will push those who need it, they really adapt to the child. They are always adapting and it can seem chaotic, but it really is well run. The administrative staff amaze me. That said if you want high level competive sports no way, big facilities and it’s own little world with lots of land, unlikely.

They are inclusive. A guardian with a child recently orphaned will find a place there. A child who has a speech impediment, or looks goofy, will be accepted. I like that aspect. That being the case, for my lazy bright year 7 boy, it’s a bit too easy to get away with doing less than your best. But it’s really our fault for letting him spend hours on video games and making you tube videos. (I blame my husband of course, but I was too passive in this)

The school makes great use of all Cambridge offers. But it’s an urban campus. It will work for many families, and could work for our son, but he’s really a person who doesn’t like the urban environment, so we might switch him somewhere.