Epsom Girls Grammar School is expanding its Cambridge pathway programme in 2027 following strong demand in the first year of its pilot, with student numbers set to grow from 55 to as many as 120 and three new subjects coming on stream.
The school launched its Cambridge pilot this year, offering Year 11 students the choice of studying towards Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) qualifications alongside the established NCEA pathway. This year, 55 students are studying IGCSE English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
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Demand for the second intake has well exceeded expectations. The school has received more than 120 applications for 2027, and is now working through a selection process to confirm its next cohort.
Three new subjects will join the programme next year, including IGCSE and AS Level French, IGCSE Design & Technology and IGCSE Geography, taking the offering beyond its original mathematics and science focus. This year’s cohort will move through to study the same subjects next year at AS Level, with some choosing to add AS Level French.
The programme is also driving wider interest in the school. Epsom Girls Grammar School has recorded growing enquiries from families, including students transferring from other schools and a 10% increase in international enrolment enquires specifically linked to the Cambridge pathway. A recent information evening on the programme drew an audience of around 200 people.
Brenda McNaughton, Principal at Epsom Girls Grammar School said the first year had been a significant step up for students, and a deliberately measured one.
“We expected this to stretch our girls, and it has. The pace is quick and Cambridge grading is far more direct than what they have been used to.
“The girls describe it as challenging but worth it, which is wonderful. They are more independent, more reflective about how they learn, and they have learnt to work together rather than compete.
“Two of them are now ready to take on scholarship this year.”
To support the growing cohort, the school is introducing supervised subject tutorials for Cambridge students in 2027, giving each subject an additional timetabled period each week led by a subject expert.
Dedicated morning support sessions, staffed by tutors, are already running. The school is also widening the circle of teachers working across both pathways, with a Cambridge professional learning group launching in Term 3.
Students in the first cohort see the pathway as demanding but rewarding. One Year 11 student said the experience had reshaped how she learns.
“Choosing Cambridge has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic journey.
“It has pushed me to grow my confidence and independence, and I really appreciate the strong sense of community within the cohort, because everyone supports one another and understands the challenges that come with the workload,” she said.
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Another student said the pathway suited those willing to commit. “Cambridge is definitely hard work, and the pace is fast. Your first few tests may not come back with the results you hoped for, but if you stay determined you will improve. It teaches resilience, discipline and the importance of asking for help when you need it.”
Ms McNaughton said the expansion reflected both community appetite and the school’s commitment to choice.
“Our community told us clearly that they wanted choice in how our students are assessed, and the response to this pilot has confirmed that. We are growing the programme carefully and deliberately, with support for our students and families, because our priority is that everyone who steps onto this pathway is set up to succeed.
“Offering both the Cambridge and NCEA pathways means our students can choose the route that suits them best, and that is something we are very proud to be able to offer.”
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Chris Wiggin, Senior Country Manager for New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands at Cambridge International, says, “Epsom Girls Grammar School has taken a considered, student-first approach to introducing Cambridge, and the early signs are very encouraging. The growth in their programme reflects the confidence that students and families have in it.
“Cambridge is designed to develop curious, independent and resilient learners, and that is exactly what we are seeing in these students. We look forward to continuing to support the school as it expands the offering and as more students progress from IGCSE through to AS and A Levels.”
