The Perse: an academically ambitious Cambridge day school with many entry points

This is one school family across three sites—not one campus

The Perse educates boys and girls from age three to eighteen: Pelican for 3–7, Prep for 7–11 and Upper/Sixth for 11–18. It is a day school, with no boarding, and current DfE data records 1,774 pupils against capacity of 1,900.

Our view: it can fit a child who enjoys fast academic work, wants wide subject and activity choice, and is comfortable in a substantial school. A family seeking a small all-through campus, residential life or a slow transition should look carefully at the exact site and stage rather than the brand as a whole.

The three-site model makes the ordinary weekday part of the admissions decision. Test the actual arrival, collection and late-club journey for the child’s stage; a Cambridge address does not make every commute short.

Breadth remains real, but later option rules deserve attention

The July 2026 curriculum map keeps Years 7–8 broad. Year 9 selects seven options with language and humanity requirements; Year 10 combines core English, maths, games, PE and PSHE with seven options, including a humanity and at least two sciences. The school uses Ofqual-regulated GCSEs rather than IGCSEs.

School-published 2026 GCSE results show that 59% of GCSE entries were grade 9 and 95% grades 7–9. The A-level release says 43% of entries were A* and 95% A*–B. The news releases do not state the exact cohort denominator, and detailed subject tables still show 2025.

These results are strong, but they do not measure progress from entry or predict one child’s experience.

The activity numbers are impressive; access is the real question

The school advertises more than 100 clubs and societies, 70 music ensembles and 150 sports teams. ISI independently observed broad participation, but no count guarantees that a particular club is free, non-selective, in the right year or compatible with the 4:15 bus.

Upper forms have two tutors, each responsible for about 12–13 pupils; Sixth uses one tutor for a similar number. Wider support includes year/section heads, nurses, counsellors and learning support.

Current phone rules keep Years 7–11 devices locked in book lockers until 4. Prep phones are normally only for independent travellers and are deposited at reception; Sixth use is limited to Sixth-only areas.

The academic week is Monday–Friday; the late journey still matters

Published core days are 8:45–3:15 at Pelican. Prep registration is at 8:25, teaching begins at 9:00, and Years 3–4 finish at 3:30 while Years 5–6 finish at 3:40. Upper and Sixth run 8:35–4. Wraparound can run to 5:30 at Pelican, 6 at Prep and about 5:45 on the older sites. Sixth occasionally has lessons to 4:20.

The current bus service has only two home-school corridors: Cambourne/Madingley and Royston/Melbourn/Harston/Trumpington. Places are full-term and first-come. Upper return buses leave at 4:15, so they do not solve collection after later clubs.

This is not routine Saturday school, although the term calendar includes three Saturdays or evening equivalents for open day, entrance tests and prize-giving. Ask which enrolled pupils must attend.

The latest inspection is strong—and names a useful weakness

The February 2026 ISI inspection found all standards met and safeguarding effective. It identified a significant strength in how leadership, collaboration, resilience, diversity and confidence prepare pupils for future life.

The sole recommended next step was to improve careers information in Years 7–9. ISI also recommended the capacity increase from 1,790 to 1,900, initially focused on Year 6; later DfE data records 1,900.

The current inspection framework does not award one overall “excellent” grade. Specific evidence is more useful than carrying an old label into a 2027 decision.

The annual bill is more than tuition—especially after Year 6

These are current 2026–27 VAT-inclusive fees, annualised across three terms. The school says 2027–28 fees are normally announced at the end of March 2027.

The separate Pelican and Prep pages confirm that younger-stage tuition includes lunch or snack. Upper/Sixth lunch is optional and separately charged.

Registration is £240, waived for families receiving free school meals, and the securing/induction fee is £840; Nursery uses £200 and £700. These are not described as refundable deposits. Years 7–11 also pay nine termly charges for a school-managed device, but the amount is not public. Transport, uniform, optional Upper/Sixth lunch, music, drama, some trips and extracurricular exams may add more.

A current general Parent Contract was not publicly linked.

Entrance awards, and the Year 6 trap

Means-tested entrance awards range from 5% to 100% and can include Upper lunch and Years 7–11 device charges, with possible wider support at higher levels. Entrance bursaries are available at Year 6 and Upper entry points including Sixth, not Pelican or Years 3–5. Limited hardship help may be available in Prep Years 3–5, ordinarily after 12 months at the school.

The important trap: a full-fee Year 6 entrant cannot later apply for an Upper entrance bursary. A family expecting long-term need must apply at Year 6 rather than assuming support can begin at Year 7.

The 2027 calendar changes by age—and several dates are exact

Nursery and Reception also offer optional play sessions before assessment. For Upper, the school publishes outcomes in early February and acceptance in early March. For Sixth, outcomes are before Christmas and acceptance in early January. Ask for the exact offer, acceptance and reserve dates.

The 2027–28 term begins 6 September 2027. New Year 7, Year 9 and Lower Sixth pupils have compulsory induction on 3 September. Put that into relocation and holiday plans now.

Upper assessment combines 70 minutes online with real writing

Year 7 and Year 9 candidates complete 20 minutes of adaptive maths, 30 minutes of English, 10 minutes of adaptive verbal reasoning and 10 of adaptive non-verbal reasoning. Adaptive questions cannot be skipped or revisited; English can.

They also write a 30-minute handwritten story from a word or image prompt, join a group activity and have a short informal teacher interview about interests. The school values creative engagement, vocabulary, spelling and punctuation and warns against memorised material.

Before registration, prepare a hobbies-and-interests statement of up to 500 words and the latest school report. The official Upper assessment page should control if a preparation provider describes something different.

Begin with the free official Quest taster. Then practise a mixed session followed by one controlled story and a calm conversation. The aim is familiarity with switching, not pretending to reproduce a secret paper.