Welcome to Cumnor House
At Cumnor House, we are a family of schools – a girls’ school, a boys’ school and a nursery – where children are inspired to aim high, excel in what they love and grow into the leaders of tomorrow.
From their very first steps in nursery to their final days with us, every pupil is encouraged, challenged and supported to achieve their full potential, both in and beyond the classroom.
Our schools
Being free to be themselves, our pupils are empowered and enlightened. They are able to grow as individuals, develop strong relationships, and embrace everything we have to offer at Cumnor House.
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Located on Pampisford Road, overlooking 10 acres of Cumnor Sports Ground – a quiet gem in a busy city.
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Open 51 weeks of the year, from 7:30am-6:00pm, our South Croydon site provides children aged 2-4 years with consistent care in a home-from-home environment.
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Located on Woodcote Lane, Webb Estate, a conservation site in Purley that has been a tranquil space for over 100 years.
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Open during term time to fit in with school hours, Purley provides a safe space for children aged 2-4 years to learn about themselves and the world around them.
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Highly regarded preparatory school from Reception to Year 8.
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A close-knit community focused on values of Endeavour, Compassion, Courage, Self Belief and Integrity - also known as The Cumnor Way.
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Exceptional success in Sports, Music and Academics.
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Outstanding preparatory school from Reception to Year 6.
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A close-knit community that ensures every child feels valued, respected, safe and supported to be the best they can be.
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Exceptional results in 11+ schools.
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The benefits of single-sex education.
As children progress through their education, we know that being in a single-sex environment brings both academic and social benefits. In both the Girls’ and the Boys’ Schools we work hard to ensure that the pressure of gender roles does not exist, and encourage pupils to pursue anything that interests them, regardless of societal pressures. We have a strong culture of high academic achievement and our pupils' confidence levels are high.
We find that both girls and boys can be true to themselves, and are more willing to take risks, fail and then try again. Our classrooms are dynamic, unfettered by gender stereotypes and free from the anxieties that can become apparent. Pupils are less easily distracted, and able to concentrate and pursue their academic and social interests with enthusiasm.
Destination Schools
Preparing students for their next steps.
Cumnor House is reputable amongst many Grammar and senior schools, with many of our students receiving offers from the most selective and prestigious schools nationwide. With our expertise, we help students prepare for the Common Entrance Exam and support them with their scholarship applications.
We help students find the right school for them by allowing them to identify and develop their talents and interests. It is important that we equip students with the necessary skills and qualities, empowering them to feel confident about their future options.
FACILITIES & LOCATION
Excellent learning locations.
All of our school sites provide unique schooling experiences. Cumnor Girls and CHS Nursery Purley are situated in the idyllic Woodcote Lane, providing a calm and tranquil setting for our pupils. Cumnor Boys is a short distance away, in a compact city campus boasting a 10-acre playing field. CHS Nursery South Croydon’s campus overlooks the spacious sports fields of the Boys’ school.
Our students value the home from home environment in which they are encouraged to develop and learn. There is an on-going investment programme to maintain and improve the fabric and flow of our school facilities.
SAFEGUARDING
Safeguarding Policy & Croydon Local Authority.
Cumnor House School adheres to the guidance set out in the Safeguarding policy which is underpinned by KCSIE (Keeping Children Safe in Education), whilst also working alongside the procedures of Croydon local authority, including their local criteria for action and protocol for assessments.
All of our policies, including safeguarding, can be found in the footer.
NEXT STEPS
Learn more. Download our prospectus.
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Limited places remain for September 2026!
Why choose Cumnor House?
Because the early years are about so much more than learning to read and write. They`re about building confidence, curiosity and character that lasts a lifetime.
At Cumnor, every child is known, valued and encouraged to flourish. Our unique approach combines the focus and confidence-building benefits of single-sex classes with the social development and collaboration that come from co-educational opportunities, giving children the very best of both worlds.
Alongside exceptional teaching and outstanding pastoral care, we help children develop resilience, kindness and independence, while nurturing a love of learning that unleashes their academic potential.
It`s an education designed not just to prepare children for school, but for life.
📍Limited Reception places for September 2026 are now available. Book a private tour and discover why so many families choose Cumnor House.
#CumnorHouse #Reception2026 #EarlyYears #IndependentSchool #BuildingCharacter #AcademicExcellence #SchoolAdmissions #BeYourBestSelf
🏊 National IAPS Finals Success! 🏊
Earlier this month our Cumnor Boys` swimmers competed at the National IAPS Finals at the London Aquatic Centre, having qualified among the top 20 swimmers nationally from over 4,000 competitors.
A huge congratulations to all our boys, who delivered outstanding performances and achieved personal bests in almost every race. Special mention goes to Sebastian (Year 7), who claimed silver in the Backstroke for the third consecutive year!
Our Year 5 relay team - Dhruv, Ali, Teddy and Alex - earned bronze in the Freestyle Relay and finished 4th in the Medley Relay. Combined with strong individual performances, this secured an impressive 3rd place overall in the Year 5 Top School Trophy, continuing an incredible record of success at national level.
Well done also to Henry (Year 6), who finished 5th in Backstroke, and Gabriel (Year 7), who placed 12th, both with excellent personal best swims.
An outstanding day of swimming and a testament to the hard work, dedication and team spirit of all involved. 👏🏅
#CumnorHouse #IAPS #SwimmingSuccess #NationalFinals #TeamSpirit #ProudSchoolMoment
🐑 Reception bring their “Growing” topic to life
Reception had a wonderful adventure at Bockett’s Farm, where their classroom learning came to life in the most exciting way.
As part of their “Growing” topic, the girls explored how animals grow and change, seeing real-life examples all around them. They enjoyed meeting the animals and learning how farmers care for them. One of the highlights of the day was going on an exciting tractor ride around the farm, where they could see lots of different fields and animals along the way. The children also had great fun watching a pig race, cheering as the pigs dashed along the track! The girls enjoyed plenty of hands-on experiences, including feeding the animals and exploring the farmyard. It was a busy, exciting day full of curiosity, laughter, and learning, and a fantastic way to bring their growing topic to life.
It was a busy day full of curiosity, laughter and hands-on learning — exactly the kind of experience that helps young children make meaningful connections with the world around them.
What a fantastic day, Reception. 🌱
#CumnorHouse #CumnorGirls #Reception #LearningBeyondTheClassroom #EarlyYearsLearning #SchoolTrip
🌉 Little engineers, big ideas!
Reception have begun their new topic, Engineering, and what a brilliant start they have made.
The children learned about different types of bridges, discovered that London has at least 17 and then worked in pairs to design their own. They thought carefully about purpose, materials, strength and structure — just like real engineers.
Their learning continued across the curriculum, from writing predictions about which bridges would stand or collapse, to exploring half-past times in Maths and building structures from natural materials in Forest School.
A wonderful example of STEM learning in the Early Years: practical, creative and full of curiosity.
#CumnorHouse #CumnorEarlyYears #Reception #STEMLearning #EngineeringForChildren #ForestSchool #EarlyYearsEducation
