Welcome to Duncombe School
Duncombe School is an Independent Day School and Pre-School, nestled in the beautiful town of Hertford, for children aged 2-11 years.
As a school we pride ourselves in nurturing our children’s minds through an inspiring educational journey and we encourage every child to dream big!
We believe success and happiness are not simply defined by outstanding academic results, but by being treated and celebrated as an individual, who is encouraged to develop strength of character and explore fully their personal potential.
Visit Team Duncombe and discover a Duncombe education.
Welcome to Duncombe School. We are so proud to say that our school has achieved numerous accreditations and been awarded the highest grading across multiple inspections, including ‘Excellent in All Areas’ in our June 2022 ISI inspection. Find out more about what makes Duncombe so special.
"We each share a clear vision of what an excellent Prep school looks like; I believe it can be defined as the willingness to explore the new, along with the confidence to stand on the established. "
- Jeremy Phelan, Headmaster
Awards & Accreditations
Duncombe are delighted to have been recognised and endorsed by numerous regulatory bodies for our commitment to…
Best use of Educational Technology Independent School of the Year
We are delighted to have been named a Finalist for “Best Use of Education Technology” at the Independent Schools of the Year Awards 2025! This recognition reflects our bold commitment to innovation – especially through our cutting-edge approach to digital learning.Our digital curriculum equips pupils with the skills and mindset to thrive in an ever-evolving digital world. By blending computing, communication and design thinking, it empowers them to become confident, creative and responsible digital leaders.
Highly Commended Excellence in STEM
Duncombe School is delighted to announce that we have been recognised in the Muddy Stilettos Best Schools Awards 2024 for the second year in a row! This year, we received a High Commendation for Excellence in STEM! The judges were impressed with our innovative teaching methods and engaging learning opportunities, making STEM subjects come alive for our pupils. This award celebrates the dedication, innovation, and teamwork of the entire Team
Most Innovative Technology Led Teaching
We believe technology enhances learning and we've seen first-hand its positive impact on our children's engagement and preparation for the future. This Muddy Stilettos award is a testament to our children who have fully embraced the benefits of digital learning and our incredible teaching staff, who've worked tirelessly to incorporate technology-led practices.
School Partnerships Alliance
Duncombe School is proud to be part of the Schools Partnership Alliance (S.P.A.), a network dedicated to fostering strong, cross-sector collaborations that enhance education. Through S.P.A., Duncombe connects with other schools and organisations to share resources, expertise, and best practices. These partnerships support key areas such as digital innovation, STEM education, teacher development, well-being initiatives, and professional training. S.P.A. also provides expert guidance, ensuring partnerships are impactful and measurable. The goal is to create meaningful, productive collaborations that improve educational, social opportunities for all pupils across the network.
Team Duncombe is proud to announce they have achieved their Level 4 The RHS Gardening Award! This accomplishment was made extra special by combining gardening with the beauty of French. Under the inspiring leadership of our French teacher and Garden Club leader, Madam Barlow, Treetops and Year 1 children learnt French vocabulary while exploring our vibrant gardens. A perfect blend of nature, language, and enthusiasm! .
Through an ambitious eco-plan, designed and led by our pupil Eco Council to help tackle ongoing environmental issues, Duncombe has been awarded the Eco-School Green Flag Award. This award acknowledges our continued commitment and our Eco-School flag flies proudly in the school grounds.
Our catering team, Thomas Franks, works closely with the school to ensure all of Team Duncombe enjoy fresh, tasty and wholesome food, whatever their dietary needs. This commitment has been recognised through endorsements from both ‘Food for Life’ and Coeliac UK.
FACILITIES & LOCATION
Palladian-style mansion with acres of stunning woodland
Situated at the edge of Hertford town, in leafy Bengeo, Duncombe School benefits from a beautiful rural setting while being part of a vibrant and historic small town. Our Palladian-style mansion dates back to the 1860s and is surrounded by four and a half acres of stunning woodland and grounds.
Duncombe’s enriching facilities include a secluded Forest School, a multi-purpose covered Astro, a bright and vibrant library, and dedicated Parisian Style Art Loft and Science Laboratory. These facilities provide a stimulating and motivating learning environment for our children.
Inspection Report
Celebrating Excellence in Education!
“Pupils are enthusiastic, committed learners from an early age due to the creative and imaginative lessons.”
-ISI Report 2022.
We are thrilled to share that Duncombe School and Treetops Pre-School have been awarded "EXCELLENT IN ALL AREAS" by the Independent Schools Inspectorate, as highlighted in our recent report. This is just one of the many findings that celebrate our commitment to enriching children's learning and providing them with exciting experiences and opportunities to thrive.
Discover the full report to learn more about our exceptional educational journey and how we nurture young minds for a successful future.
Follow Team Duncombe on Social Media
A little look at some of the activities from last Little Chestnuts Toddler Group – stepping into Christmas! 🎄✨
The children got creative making reindeer Christmas cards and beautiful Christmas tree crafts. In Mrs Claus’s café, they baked festive cookies 🍪 and made reindeer food pouches to spread some Christmas magic on Christmas Eve! ⭐
Come along this Friday for Festive Fun! 🎅
📅 Friday 28 November
🕤 9:30 – 10:45am
📍 Duncombe School, Hertford
Places are limited – book now!
📞 01992 414109
✉️ admissions@duncombe-school.co.uk
#DuncombeSchool #DuncombePrepSchool #prepschools #privateschool #independentschools #independenteducation #Toddlergroup #Hertford
Little Chestnut Toddler Group is perfect for 1 to 4 year olds and their parents 🌰
Join our Christmas Party for Festive Fun! 🎅
Join us for a morning of creativity and excitement! ✨
📅 Friday 28 November
🕤 9:30 – 10:45am
📍 Duncombe School, Hertford
Places are limited - book now!
📞 01992 414109
✉️ admissions@duncombe-school.co.uk
#DuncombeSchool #DuncombePrepSchool #prepschools #privateschool #independentschools #independenteducation #Toddlergroup #Hertford
✨ A Whizzpopping Day at the Roald Dahl Museum! ✨
Year 2 had a magical time exploring Roald Dahl’s world! From creating their own dream bottles like the BFG to acting out favourite stories and stepping inside the Great Glass Elevator, the day was full of creativity, imagination, and laughter. 🚀
Our young storytellers returned buzzing with ideas and inspiration!
#TeamDuncombe #RoaldDahl #LoveOfReading #youngstorytellersweek #DuncombePrepSchool #DuncombeSchool
🎁 Christmas Giving with #teamduncombe 🎁
We’re delighted to be supporting The Hertford Pantry and their Christmas Gift & Toy Appeal this year! This brilliant local charity provides free fresh food to families in need, and we’d love to help them spread a little festive joy.
They’re inviting donations of new toys and gifts, and we’re opening our collection point in the Music Room from Monday 24th November to Wednesday 10th December.
If you’re able to donate, just pop in anytime between those dates - every gift makes a difference.
Thank you for supporting such a wonderful Hertford charity. 💛
#teamduncombe #DuncombeBear #CommunityKindness #HertfordPantry
A little look at some of the activities at last weeks Little Chestnuts Toddler Group, Dinoland Adventures Week! 🦖...
Come along Friday for The Magic of Christmas! 🎅
📅 Friday 21 November
🕤 9:30 – 10:45am
📍 Duncombe School, Hertford
Places are limited - book now!
📞 01992 414109
✉️ admissions@duncombe-school.co.uk
#DuncombeSchool #DuncombePrepSchool #prepschools #privateschool #independentschools #independenteducation #Toddlergroup #Hertford
✨ Duncombe lit up with creativity this week! ✨
3G took us on an unforgettable journey through light and dark with their mysterious Shadow Thief assembly. From glow-stick dancing and music-video magic to live science on stage, it was a vibrant celebration of curiosity, confidence and imagination. A brilliant example of our holistic curriculum in action. 🌟🔦📚
#DuncombeSchool #DuncombePrepSchool #prepschools #privateschool #independentschools #independenteducation
🌟 Treetops had a wonderful time celebrating Nursery Rhyme Week! 🌟
We loved seeing all the fantastic costumes, everyone looked amazing! 🎭✨
The children enjoyed a huge range of activities, from treasure hunts and painting to performing their favourite nursery rhymes and even singing them in French and Spanish! 🎶🎨🌍
What a joyful week of learning, creativity, and fun! 💛
#NurseryRhymeWeek #TreetopsFun #EarlyYears #CreativeLearning #NurseryLife #ChildhoodMemories #LearningThroughPlay #LittleExplorers #MultilingualKids #EYFS #FunAtTreetops #InspiringYoungMinds
Little Chestnut Toddler Group is perfect for 1 to 4 year olds and their parents 🌰
The Magic of Christmas! 🎅
Join us for a morning of creativity and excitement! ✨
📅 Friday 21 November
🕤 9:30 – 10:45am
📍 Duncombe School, Hertford
Places are limited - book now!
📞 01992 414109
✉️ admissions@duncombe-school.co.uk
#DuncombeSchool #DuncombePrepSchool #prepschools #privateschool #independentschools #independenteducation #Toddlergroup #Hertford
Headmasters Weekly Review
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03/10/2025
This week we have continued our focus on British Values, exploring the importance of respect and tolerance. The pupils shared some excellent reflections on how we can...
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29/09/2025
It has been another purposeful week here at Duncombe, and it’s hard to believe that we will be stepping into October next week! September has flown by,...
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19/09/2025
It has been another busy and purposeful week here at Duncombe, full of energy and learning both in and out of the classroom. It’s also been another...
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10/03/2024
Congratulations to these pupils, for their remarkable achievements at the IAPS Swimming Regionals this week! One pupil displayed exceptional skill and determination in her race, once again,...
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08/03/2024
In homage to World Book Day and the courageous BFG, it has been a splendiferous week all-round! Thank you to everyone for being so fully engaged in...
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08/03/2024
We’re proud to announce the triumph of our U11 Duncombe Cross Country squad in a local event this week. Congratulations not only to the winners, but to...
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