What Cumnor House School does

Cumnor House School is an independent co-educational and single-sex preparatory school operating four campuses across South Croydon and Purley in South London. The school serves children aged 2–13 through two co-ed nurseries (Dane Road and Whyteleafe), the Boys' School (ages 4–13) in South Croydon, and the Girls' School (ages 4–11) in Purley. It operates under the proprietary "Cumnor Way" values framework — Courage, Curiosity, Confidence, Consideration, Communication, Cooperation — and has held an ISI inspection rating of "Excellent" across both educational and pastoral dimensions. The school is part of the Blenheim Schools group, a 17-school independent education operator with more than 1,300 staff, having previously been under the Cognita group.

The academic and pastoral product is supported by extensive on-site facilities including a heated indoor swimming pool, a 10-acre playing field, a Forest School, and dedicated transport infrastructure. The technology stack comprises SIMS (Capita) for management information, Google Classroom and Microsoft platforms for learning delivery, Seesaw and Tapestry for early-years and parent communication, and Evolve for digital wellbeing, alongside a 1:1 device programme from Year 3 onward. Wraparound services include wraparound care, three school transport routes extending reach across South London and Surrey, an international student programme, and a SuperCamps holiday club partnership delivering out-of-term provision.

The revenue model is tuition-led, with main school fees ranging from approximately £5,396 to £7,065 per term (Reception through Year 8) and nursery fees from £3,550 to £5,150 per term. Ancillary revenue is generated from wraparound care, holiday clubs, transport, and international student programmes. A School Fee Plan partnership enables monthly instalment payment, broadening accessibility within the fee-paying segment. Sibling discounts are scheduled to take effect in September 2026, designed to lock in multi-child family retention across the 2–13 age continuum. The school has no disclosed external funding events, no public revenue figures, and operates as a private institution within the Blenheim group.

Name

Cumnor House School

Legal name

Cumnor House School

Website

https://cumnorhouse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cumnor House School is an independent preparatory school operating four campuses in South Croydon and Purley, serving children aged 2–13 through co-ed nurseries and single-sex boys' and girls' prep schools. It is part of the Blenheim Schools group and delivers a values-based curriculum under "The Cumnor Way" framework, consistently rated "Excellent" by ISI.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Preparatory Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Single-Sex (Boys/Girls) Private Schools (EDAJABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nursery School Programs (2–4 Years) (EDACACAB), Nonsectarian Independent Day Schools (EDAJABAA)

Keywords

• Independent preparatory education
• Co-educational nursery
• Single-sex prep school
• Early years education
• Primary school education

Headquarters

HQ city

Bolton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees - Nursery: Termly fees for Kindergarten and Pre-School education covering ages 2-4. Purley Nursery offers term-time provision with 5-day, 4-day, or 3-day attendance options. South Croydon offers year-round 51-week provision.
2. Tuition Fees - Boys and Girls Schools: Termly tuition fees for Reception through Year 8, with fees varying by year group. Fees include lunch and educational enrichment. Payment options include monthly via School Fee Plan.
3. Wraparound Care: Breakfast Club, Tea-Time Club, and After School Club services charged at hourly rates. Holiday club services through SuperCamps partnership.
4. School Transport: Home-to-school transport service with band-based pricing (Bands A-D). Shuttle bus services between campuses for families with children at multiple schools (free of charge).
5. International Student Fees: International students required to pay full year of tuition fees upfront plus administration fees for CAS and visa sponsorship.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Cumnor House School is a private independent school that provides continuous education from nursery (ages 2-4) through Year 8 (ages 4-13) across four campuses in South Croydon and Purley. It operates co-educational early years provision and single-sex preparatory schools for boys (Reception to Year 8) and girls (Reception to Year 6), guided by 'The Cumnor Way' values framework and focused on preparing pupils for selective senior schools through 11+ and Common Entrance preparation.

Product overview

Cumnor House School is a family of private educational institutions offering a continuous educational journey from nursery (ages 2-4) through to Year 8 (ages 4-13). The school operates four campuses: two co-educational Kindergartens/Pre-Schools (South Croydon and Purley), a Boys' School (Reception to Year 8), and a Girls' School (Reception to Year 6). The portfolio includes core educational services (nursery and prep school programs) and supplementary services (before/after school care, holiday clubs via SuperCamps partnership, and school transport). The school is part of the Blenheim Schools group and is renowned for its single-sex education model at the main school level, values-based curriculum ('The Cumnor Way'), and preparation for entrance to selective independent and grammar schools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cumnor House Kindergarten & Pre-School (South Croydon) Year-round co-educational nursery provision for children aged 2-4 years, open 51 weeks from 7:30am-6:00pm, located on Pampisford Road overlooking 10 acres of Cumnor Sports Ground.
• Cumnor House Kindergarten & Pre-School (Purley) Term-time co-educational kindergarten and pre-school for children aged 2-4 years, located on Woodcote Lane within the Webb Estate conservation site in Purley.
• Cumnor House Boys' School Highly regarded preparatory school for boys from Reception to Year 8 (ages 4-13), located in South Croydon with a 10-acre playing field. Focuses on academic excellence, sports, music, and values-based education through The Cumnor Way.
• Cumnor House School for Girls Outstanding preparatory school for girls from Reception to Year 6 (ages 4-11), located in Purley on the Webb Estate. Prepares students for senior school entry with exceptional 11+ results and scholarship achievements.
• Before & After School Care Wraparound childcare service for all students, including Breakfast Club from 7:30am and After School Club from 3:15pm-6:00pm. Available for children at both main schools and nursery sites.
• Holiday Clubs (SuperCamps) Holiday childcare provision through partnership with SuperCamps (Cognita group), offering fun activities and sports during school holidays for children aged 4-12 years.
• School Transport Service Extensive minibus service across multiple routes serving Streatham, Upper Norwood, Sanderstead, Hamsey Green, Warlingham and Caterham areas, with pricing bands based on distance.

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Cognita Schools GroupcoreOthers · 1 September 2010Cognita Schools Group was the previous parent group before Blenheim Schools. The school became part of Cognita in September 2010, benefiting from significant investment and refurbishment.
• SuperCampssupportingOthersSuperCamps, part of the Cognita group, provides fun activities and sports on-site during school holidays for children aged 4-12. They are fully Ofsted-registered and accept childcare vouchers and tax-free childcare.
• Thomas FrankscoreOthersThomas Franks is a leading provider of catering for independent schools, delivering freshly-prepared meals developed by award-winning chefs. They operate on all Cumnor House campuses with a four-week rolling menu, catering for all dietary needs including halal and vegetarian options.
• Ardmore Language SchoolssupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArdmore Language Schools provides EAL support for international students with over 35 years of experience. They offer online platform Ardmore X for teacher-led and independent study, helping students prepare for UK school life and supporting throughout first terms.
• Active Learning CentressupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive Learning Centres partner with Cumnor House for educational trips including residential experiences at Cuffley Active Learning Centre for team-building activities and outdoor adventures.
• The Bushcraft CompanysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Bushcraft Company provides outdoor survival skills experiences for Cumnor House students, complementing the school's character education and residential trip programs.
• School Fee PlansupportingOthersSchool Fee Plan (operated by Premium Credit Limited) enables families to pay school fees monthly via direct debit installment plans, making fees more accessible.
• Blenheim SchoolscoreOthersCumnor House School is part of Blenheim Schools Group, a network of 17 schools with 1,300+ staff. Blenheim provides funding, investment, and long-term stability while schools maintain their individual character and standards.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Caterham School: Independent co-educational school in Caterham, Surrey, served by Cumnor's transport routes (Band D). Competes for the same upper-middle-income families in the Surrey corridor seeking academic rigour and broad extra-curricular programmes.
• Old Palace of John Whitgift School: Independent girls' day school in Croydon directly competing for the same families Cumnor Girls serves. The Headteacher of Old Palace (Jane Burton) is even quoted in Cumnor's customer testimonials reviewing Cumnor leavers, evidencing direct pipeline overlap at the 11+ transition.
• Royal Russell School: Independent co-educational day school in Croydon (Reception through Sixth Form). Competes for the same South London independent school families and serves as an alternative to Cumnor's single-sex model within the same catchment.
• Trinity School, Croydon: Independent co-educational school in Croydon offering Reception through Sixth Form. Direct competitor for prep-aged families in the Croydon/South London catchment considering both co-ed and single-sex options.
• Whitgift School: Large independent boys' school located in South Croydon within walking distance of Cumnor House Boys' School. Competes for the same South London families seeking single-sex prep education with senior school pathways and is regularly referenced in Cumnor's destination-school communications.
• Reigate Grammar School: Independent co-educational day school in Reigate, Surrey, serving Nursery through Sixth Form. Competes with Cumnor for families in the southern catchment willing to extend commute for a full through-school pathway.
• City of London Freemen's School: Co-educational independent day school in Ashtead, Surrey, offering Reception through Sixth Form. Comparable fee tier and academic positioning; competes for South London and Surrey families seeking single-campus education through to senior years.
• Dulwich Prep School: Independent preparatory school located on the same Pampisford Road, South Croydon, literally adjacent to Cumnor House Boys' School. The closest direct geographic competitor for prep-aged boys and an immediate threat to Cumnor's local catchment.

Broad incumbents

• Epsom College: Large independent co-educational boarding and day school in Epsom, Surrey, covering ages 11-18. Competes as a senior-school destination but also influences prep school choice in the Surrey corridor where Cumnor recruits families.
• Eaton House Schools: Multi-site London independent school group (nursery, prep and senior schools across South London/Belgravia). Comparable prep offering at overlapping London locations; broader portfolio gives Eaton House greater geographic reach and procurement scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/cumnorhouseschool
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cumnorhouseschool

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cumnor House School