Admissions Enquiries: 01992 414109
General Enquiries: 01992 414100

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.

Book an Open Day

The heart of...

ENRICHMENT

At Duncombe, we believe that children's learning is not confined to the four walls of a classroom or only the pages of a textbook. Instead, our talented and dedicated teachers create individualised lessons that are designed to inspire and engage our children through real-life experiences.

Wellbeing

The heart of...

OPPORTUNITY

From the School Council and buddying to prefects and co-curricular activities, there is an abundance of opportunities to develop the skills of empathy and responsibility in every child. These skills are invaluable to a child’s character development, wellbeing and sense of self.

Co-Curricular

The heart of...

SCHOOL SPIRIT

Duncombe is a home from home for our children. A culture of kindness can be felt as soon as you enter our school - a sense of community, friendship and warmth. Our mantra is Team Duncombe, as a school we recognise we are part of something truly special.

Hello from Team Duncombe

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

More from our Headmaster
3 min watch
Our children are happy to go into school every day and have developed a real sense of learning and exploration of the world around them.

 – Voice of the Parent, 2023

Awards & Accreditations

Duncombe are delighted to have been recognised and endorsed by numerous regulatory bodies for our commitment to…

Co-educational Independent School of the Year

We are delighted to have been shortlisted for Co-educational Independent Prep School of the Year 2024, which is a testament to our unwavering commitment to fostering an inspiring educational journey through enrichment learning and a nurturing environment. This recognition acknowledges that all our children are treated as individuals, encouraged to develop strength of character, and prepared for life beyond Duncombe with an open, confident, and inquisitive mind.

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.

Digital Learning
NACE

As an accredited NACE school, we have been recognised to provide a high-quality education that challenges and engages all learners. Our teachers foster collaboration, cultivate good learning habits, and support individual growth. We value each student's unique talents, creating an inclusive environment where strengths are celebrated and developed further.

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Learning in bloom

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! .

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Wellbeing & environmental issues

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.

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Food for Life

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.

Find out more
The Duncombe Arena
The Duncombe Arena
Treetops Pre-School
The Dell Forest School
Forest School Outdoor Classroom
The Sound Garden
Outdoor Gym
The Music and Dance Studio
The Library
Parisian Style Art Loft
Science Laboratory

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.

Read full report

Follow Team Duncombe on Social Media

#TeamDuncombe`s Knebworth Charity Team is thrilled to announce that they raised an amazing £650 for their chosen charity, Happy Days, last term!

A huge thank you to everyone who contributed and supported this wonderful cause.

#GivingBack #WeAreCognita #DuncombeSchool #InspiringYoungMinds #Education #CognitaWay #prepschools #privateschool #independentschools #independenteducation #inspiringeducation #primaryeducation #education #hertford #hertfordshire #hertfordshiremums #hertfordshiredads. #easthertfordshire #hertfordshireschools @cognitaschools @muddyhertsbeds @goodschoolsguide

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#TeamDuncombe's Knebworth Charity Team is thrilled to announce that they raised an amazing £650 for their chosen charity, Happy Days, last term! A huge thank you to everyone who contributed and supported this wonderful cause. #GivingBack #WeAreCognita #DuncombeSchool #InspiringYoungMinds #Education #CognitaWay #prepschools #privateschool #independentschools #independenteducation #inspiringeducation #primaryeducation #education #hertford #hertfordshire #hertfordshiremums #hertfordshiredads. #easthertfordshire #hertfordshireschools @cognitaschools @muddyhertsbeds @goodschoolsguide

The Woburn Charity team have introduced this term’s chosen charity: @grovecottagemencap. Grove Cottage provides vital social and educational activities for people of all ages with learning disabilities and special additional needs. Their work helps individuals develop their potential, build lifelong friendships, and offers much-needed respite for families.

During today’s assembly, we were delighted to welcome one of our #TeamDuncombe parents on behalf of Grove Cottage to share how our previous fundraising efforts have made a real difference. Hearing these stories reminds us of the compassion and generosity that makes our school community so special.

The assembly was a wonderful reflection of our commitment to ‘giving’ as part of our Wellbeing Charter. Let’s continue to come together and support this incredible cause!

#MencapGroveCottage #WellbeingCharter #TeamDuncombe #GivingBack #WeAreCognita #DuncombeSchool #InspiringYoungMinds #Education #CognitaWay #prepschools #privateschool #independentschools #independenteducation #inspiringeducation #primaryeducation #education #hertford #hertfordshire #hertfordshiremums #hertfordshiredads. #easthertfordshire #hertfordshireschools @cognitaschools @muddyhertsbeds @goodschoolsguide

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The Woburn Charity team have introduced this term’s chosen charity: @grovecottagemencap. Grove Cottage provides vital social and educational activities for people of all ages with learning disabilities and special additional needs. Their work helps individuals develop their potential, build lifelong friendships, and offers much-needed respite for families. During today’s assembly, we were delighted to welcome one of our #TeamDuncombe parents on behalf of Grove Cottage to share how our previous fundraising efforts have made a real difference. Hearing these stories reminds us of the compassion and generosity that makes our school community so special. The assembly was a wonderful reflection of our commitment to ‘giving’ as part of our Wellbeing Charter. Let’s continue to come together and support this incredible cause! #MencapGroveCottage #WellbeingCharter #TeamDuncombe #GivingBack #WeAreCognita #DuncombeSchool #InspiringYoungMinds #Education #CognitaWay #prepschools #privateschool #independentschools #independenteducation #inspiringeducation #primaryeducation #education #hertford #hertfordshire #hertfordshiremums #hertfordshiredads. #easthertfordshire #hertfordshireschools @cognitaschools @muddyhertsbeds @goodschoolsguide

Say hello to #TeamDuncombe’s new electric mini-bus!

This investment reflects our long-term commitment to sustainability and carbon reduction, an important step for our Duncombe community and a greener future for everyone.

We can’t wait to embark on this new journey, travelling sustainably to fixtures, events, and adventures ahead!

#WeAreCognita #DuncombeSchool #InspiringYoungMinds #Education #CognitaWay #prepschools #privateschool #independentschools #independenteducation #inspiringeducation #primaryeducation #education #hertford #hertfordshire #hertfordshiremums #hertfordshiredads. #easthertfordshire #hertfordshireschools @cognitaschools @muddyhertsbeds @goodschoolsguide

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Say hello to #TeamDuncombe’s new electric mini-bus! This investment reflects our long-term commitment to sustainability and carbon reduction, an important step for our Duncombe community and a greener future for everyone. We can’t wait to embark on this new journey, travelling sustainably to fixtures, events, and adventures ahead! #WeAreCognita #DuncombeSchool #InspiringYoungMinds #Education #CognitaWay #prepschools #privateschool #independentschools #independenteducation #inspiringeducation #primaryeducation #education #hertford #hertfordshire #hertfordshiremums #hertfordshiredads. #easthertfordshire #hertfordshireschools @cognitaschools @muddyhertsbeds @goodschoolsguide

Hello #TeamDuncombe and a big hello to all our new families and followers.

It was lovely to see so many happy faces this morning. We hope you all had a lovely break and are looking forward to an exciting Spring Term at Duncombe.

As always, we have a busy calendar and our children will be diving straight back into exciting lessons, engaging activities, all delivered through a fully enriched curriculum bringing learning to life for all our children across all subjects.

WELCOME BACK #TeamDuncombe

#WeAreCognita #DuncombeSchool #InspiringYoungMinds #Education #CognitaWay #prepschools #privateschool #independentschools #independenteducation #inspiringeducation #primaryeducation #education #hertford #hertfordshire #hertfordshiremums #hertfordshiredads. #easthertfordshire #hertfordshireschools @cognitaschools @muddyhertsbeds @goodschoolsguide

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Hello #TeamDuncombe and a big hello to all our new families and followers. It was lovely to see so many happy faces this morning. We hope you all had a lovely break and are looking forward to an exciting Spring Term at Duncombe. As always, we have a busy calendar and our children will be diving straight back into exciting lessons, engaging activities, all delivered through a fully enriched curriculum bringing learning to life for all our children across all subjects. WELCOME BACK #TeamDuncombe #WeAreCognita #DuncombeSchool #InspiringYoungMinds #Education #CognitaWay #prepschools #privateschool #independentschools #independenteducation #inspiringeducation #primaryeducation #education #hertford #hertfordshire #hertfordshiremums #hertfordshiredads. #easthertfordshire #hertfordshireschools @cognitaschools @muddyhertsbeds @goodschoolsguide

Oh yes we did get to watch the panto on stage this year, and what a treat it was!

It was absolutely wonderful to be back at Hertford Theatre, BEAM, for their magical Christmas production of Cinderella. Hearing the children’s laughter fill the theatre was truly special, and loud, but we certainly have missed our annual whole school trip.

A huge thank you to @beamhertford for an unforgettable afternoon of fun and festive joy.

#WeAreCognita #DuncombeSchool #InspiringYoungMinds #Education #CognitaWay #prepschools #privateschool #independentschools #independenteducation #inspiringeducation #primaryeducation #education #hertford #hertfordshire #hertfordshiremums #hertfordshiredads. #easthertfordshire #hertfordshireschools @cognitaschools @muddyhertsbeds @goodschoolsguide

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Oh yes we did get to watch the panto on stage this year, and what a treat it was! It was absolutely wonderful to be back at Hertford Theatre, BEAM, for their magical Christmas production of Cinderella. Hearing the children’s laughter fill the theatre was truly special, and loud, but we certainly have missed our annual whole school trip. A huge thank you to @beamhertford for an unforgettable afternoon of fun and festive joy. #WeAreCognita #DuncombeSchool #InspiringYoungMinds #Education #CognitaWay #prepschools #privateschool #independentschools #independenteducation #inspiringeducation #primaryeducation #education #hertford #hertfordshire #hertfordshiremums #hertfordshiredads. #easthertfordshire #hertfordshireschools @cognitaschools @muddyhertsbeds @goodschoolsguide

Every year, #TeamDuncombe`s PA go above and beyond to deliver spectacular events and experiences for our children, and this year was no exception!

From offering children a selection of thoughtful, small treasure gifts for parents, beautifully gift-wrapped at the Duncombe Bear Christmas Gift Shop to hosting a dazzling Frost Fest Christmas Party complete with a visit to Father Christmas in his grotto to share Christmas wishes, they have once again created pure magic.

From all of Team Duncombe, a heartfelt thank you and to their little elf helpers for making this festive season once again so special!

#WeAreCognita #DuncombeSchool #InspiringYoungMinds #Education #CognitaWay #prepschools #privateschool #independentschools #independenteducation #inspiringeducation #primaryeducation #education #hertford #hertfordshire #hertfordshiremums #hertfrodshiredads #easthertfordshire #hertfordshireschools @cognitaschools @muddyhertsbeds @goodschoolsguide

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Every year, #TeamDuncombe's PA go above and beyond to deliver spectacular events and experiences for our children, and this year was no exception! From offering children a selection of thoughtful, small treasure gifts for parents, beautifully gift-wrapped at the Duncombe Bear Christmas Gift Shop to hosting a dazzling Frost Fest Christmas Party complete with a visit to Father Christmas in his grotto to share Christmas wishes, they have once again created pure magic. From all of Team Duncombe, a heartfelt thank you and to their little elf helpers for making this festive season once again so special! #WeAreCognita #DuncombeSchool #InspiringYoungMinds #Education #CognitaWay #prepschools #privateschool #independentschools #independenteducation #inspiringeducation #primaryeducation #education #hertford #hertfordshire #hertfordshiremums #hertfrodshiredads #easthertfordshire #hertfordshireschools @cognitaschools @muddyhertsbeds @goodschoolsguide

We shall be continuing our support of the Thomas Franks Charity Foundation again this year working with their homeless charity partners, Under One Sky. We shall be collecting good quality hats, gloves, scarves and coats for adults.

If you would like to support this please bring your donations to the Music Room at drop off and pick up on the following dates:

• Friday 29th November
• Monday 2nd December

Under One Sky will be collecting the donations to take and distribute at their street feed event thefollowing day.

Raj Singh the Managing Director of the Charity shared how thrilled he is that Duncombe and Feeding Communities` relationship continues to go from `strength to strength.`

Thank you in advance for your support

#TeamDuncombe @underonesky_london @_thomasfranks @cognitaschools

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We shall be continuing our support of the Thomas Franks Charity Foundation again this year working with their homeless charity partners, Under One Sky. We shall be collecting good quality hats, gloves, scarves and coats for adults. If you would like to support this please bring your donations to the Music Room at drop off and pick up on the following dates: • Friday 29th November • Monday 2nd December Under One Sky will be collecting the donations to take and distribute at their street feed event thefollowing day. Raj Singh the Managing Director of the Charity shared how thrilled he is that Duncombe and Feeding Communities' relationship continues to go from 'strength to strength.' Thank you in advance for your support #TeamDuncombe @underonesky_london @_thomasfranks @cognitaschools

SCHOOL NEWS

Categories
  • img

    June 21, 2024

    EXCITING NEWS!

    Breaking News!- Duncombe achieves ‘Highly Commended’ for Excellence in STEM in Muddy Stiletto’s School Awards 2024       Duncombe School is delighted to share that is...

    Read more
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    March 10, 2024

    IAPS Celebrations!

    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,...

    Read more
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    March 8, 2024

    Mr Phelan’s Weekly Round UP!

    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...

    Read more
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Begin an unforgettable adventure.

Duncombe School cultivates a love for learning, laying a strong foundation for future success. Our school is divided into three stages: Early Years (ages 2-5), which includes pre-school and Reception, Lower School (ages 5-8), and Upper School (ages 8-11). 
Your child's learning journey
...
Early Kindergarten & Kindergarten

2 - 3 yrs old

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Nursery

3 - 4 yrs old

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Reception

4 - 5 yrs old

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Lower School

5 - 8 yrs old

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Upper School

8 - 11 yrs old

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Admissions

6 easy steps

Request a prospectus.

Download the prospectus
Next steps:
Open days & visits
Facilities & Location
Academic success

Duncombe School

Admissions Enquiries: 01992 414109

General Enquiries: 01992 414100