4 Warren Park Road, Bengeo, Hertford SG14 3JA
10 reasons to choose Duncombe School
Top line
Duncombe School has a Schoolsmith Score® of 85. It is one of the best independent prep schools in and around Hertford and one of the 3 best primary schools for 1.5 miles.
School fundamentals
Duncombe School is an independent prep day school for boys and girls (50%/50%) between the ages of 2 and 11 years. It is a Church of England school, open to all faiths and none. The school has a non-selective admissions policy. It is a standalone prep school, not tied to any one senior school, and is a member of the Cognita Schools group. Duncombe School fees range from £5,249 (Rec) to £7,182 per term (2025/26). Fees include VAT but exclude lunches.
Average class size
Duncombe School has two classes per year and an average class size of 15 pupils.
Leavers' destinations
Destinations for most Duncombe School leavers are one of 15 independent and maintained schools, the most popular being St Edmund’s College, Haileybury, St Albans School, St Albans High and Bishop’s Stortford College.
The Duncombe School curriculum
School curriculum is based on the National Curriculum with some additions and variations. It also includes PSHE, reasoning, French, Spanish, Mandarin. Accredited Gifted & Talented programme. The Duncombe Diploma encourages engagement in the broad curriculum and reflects the school’s core values of determination, excellence, respect, inspiration and courage. The school offers each pupil between 5 and 10 different extra-curricular academic activities or hobby clubs.
More on the curriculum
There are regular educational trips for all year groups, visiting speakers, Forest School for early Years, school sleepover in Year 2 and residential trips from Year 3.
Specialist teaching
Specialist teachers for music, art, languages, computing, sport and science throughout.
Sport at Duncombe School
School offers over 15 different sports through the year, through both the curriculum and extra-curriculum. Competitive teams in major sports from Year 3. In recent years the school has enjoyed national success in football.
The Arts at Duncombe School
Art, music and drama are taught as discrete curricular subjects to all pupils. All pupils learn an instrument in class and about one third take extra-curricular instrument lessons from Year 3. Two choirs, orchestra and several instrument ensembles. Creative Arts Week every May. The school offers each pupil over 5 different extra-curricular creative and performing arts clubs.
Wraparound care
Wraparound care from 7.30am to 6.30pm.
Find another school near Duncombe School
St Joseph’s in the Park (1.6 miles); Heath Mount School (5.4 miles); Sherrardswood Preparatory School (8.6 miles).
Abel Smith School (1 mile); St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Hertford (1 mile); Wheatcroft Primary School (1.6 miles).
Haileybury (4.7 miles); Sherrardswood School (8.6 miles); St Edmund’s College, Ware (8.7 miles).
The Chauncy School (3 miles); Presdales School (3.3 miles); The Broxbourne School (6.5 miles).