St John's College School
School summary
Rooted in Cambridge, St John's College School educates around 370 children from ages 4 to 13, with the option of boarding alongside day places. The Independent Schools Inspectorate awarded its highest grade of "excellent" for both education quality and personal development, and confirmed that all compliance standards were met. Notably, almost a third of pupils receive some form of SEN support, a sign of a school accustomed to meeting a wide range of needs. Led by headteacher Mrs Sarah Wright, it is a deliberately small community where individual children are unlikely to go unnoticed.
Where every mark matters.
Places are limited and demand is high, so exam performance is what sets candidates apart. Passmate turns the months ahead into ten focused minutes a day on the exact topics this school tests.
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Inspection reports
- ISI rating
- excellent
- ISI personal development
- excellent
- Last inspected
- 30 January 2024
Teaching & academics
An ISI judgement of "excellent" for education places St John's among the stronger performers on the standards the inspectorate measures. The school offers 11+ entry and prepares pupils to age 13, a span that allows steady, unhurried progress. The high proportion of children receiving SEN support suggests teaching is geared towards tailoring work to the individual rather than a single pace.
Head · Mrs Sarah Wright
Beyond the classroom
Scholarships span music, academic ability, drama, art, design technology and sport, alongside a Headmaster's Award, pointing to a school that takes breadth seriously and rewards talent across several fields. The mix of disciplines gives able children clear avenues to be stretched beyond the classroom.
School life & ethos
- Boarding
- Yes
- SEN support
- 31.36%
- EHC plans
- 1.98%
Mobile phone policy
Children may bring phones to school only to enable them to contact parents/carers or be contacted at the end of the school day. Phones should be switched off and kept in the bottom of their school bag or in their locker. They are not to be used during the day, including during any breaks and are not to be used for any purpose other than for contacting parents/carers. Children are responsible for the safety of their phone and the content on their phone at all times. As an additional safeguarding precaution, the 'Go Guardian' filtering system is able to track children who have logged on using the St John's College Google address even via 3G and 4G access.
Fees & bursaries
- Day fees (per year)
- £20,214 - £24,996
- Boarding fees (per year)
- £39,384
Means-tested bursaries available. School currently supporting several children with refugee status. Awards rarely reach 100 per cent and all bursaries are subject to annual renewal.
Schools nearby
King's College School, Cambridge
Cambridge, East of England
Cambridge School of Visual & Performing Arts (CSVPA)
Cambridge, East of England
Net School
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, East of England
Cardiff Sixth Form College, Cambridge
Cambridge, East of England
The Leys School
Cambridge, East of England
Heritage School
Cambridge, East of England
Watch Passmate decide how to teach.
Answer as a child would. Left: what they see. Right: what it learns about them.
A small, highly rated Cambridge prep with boarding and a genuinely broad scholarship offer. The means-tested bursaries, including support for children with refugee status, signal a school willing to open its doors wider than fees alone allow.
That’s where Passmate comes in. Tutoring is the most effective thing in a child’s preparation - a well-tutored child can outperform the vast majority of their peers. Passmate works alongside your tutor, not instead of them: it learns how your child thinks, finds the gaps, and shows the tutor exactly where to spend each session - so the limited time you have lands on what actually decides a place.
Works alongside your child’s tutor - not instead of them.
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St John's College School 11+: frequently asked questions
Compiled from public data. Last checked 5 June 2026.