A New Academic Year, New Opportunities and an Exciting Future at Abbey College Cambridge
26th August 26
As Abbey College Cambridge prepares to welcome students back for the 2026/27 academic year, there is a real sense of excitement about the year ahead. From welcoming new students and strengthening our community to introducing new academic programmes, digital platforms and innovative approaches to learning, the new school year promises to be one of opportunity, collaboration and continued growth.
For Principal Ellen Hesse, the start of a new academic year is always a particularly special time.
“The beginning of a new academic year is always a source of great excitement for me,” she says. “Equally rewarding is welcoming new families, getting to know our newest students and helping them feel that they belong from the very beginning. Their enthusiasm and fresh perspectives are so energising.”
A key part of that welcome is the College’s Orientation Programme, supported by a team of 20 Student Orientation Leaders. These returning students take on significant responsibility in helping new students and their families settle into College life.
For Ellen, seeing students develop into confident leaders is one of the highlights of the programme.
“Watching these young leaders take on significant responsibility, dedicate their time to supporting others and contribute so meaningfully to our community fills me with immense pride,” she says.
Looking ahead academically
The new academic year also marks an important step forward in Abbey College Cambridge’s academic development, with the appointment of two senior leaders: an AI Lead and an Assistant Principal Academic.
The appointments reflect the College’s commitment to developing an ambitious, forward-looking approach to education, ensuring that students and staff are supported as technology and the wider educational landscape continue to evolve.
“The appointment of an AI Lead reflects our ambition not merely to keep pace with developments in artificial intelligence but to position ourselves at the forefront of educational innovation,” says Ellen.
The College is also expanding its academic enrichment provision with the introduction of a new Engineering Programme, building on the success of its established Medicine Preparation Programme and Young Medics Programme.
The new programme will support aspiring engineers across both Middle School and Sixth Form, providing academic enrichment, practical experiences and specialist preparation for students considering engineering degrees.
Meanwhile, Abbey College Cambridge’s popular student-led conferences will return for their fourth year with conferences planned in Artificial Intelligence, Business and Engineering. Delivered by students for schools across Cambridgeshire and beyond, the conferences provide an opportunity for students to develop their confidence, leadership and communication skills while sharing their academic interests with others.
“These conferences exemplify the confidence, professionalism and leadership that our students develop during their time with us,” says Ellen.
A stronger sense of community
Alongside academic developments, the College is also making changes designed to strengthen collaboration among staff.
For the first time, all staff will be based on one site rather than being split across two campuses. This will create a single shared staffroom, bringing colleagues together on a daily basis and providing greater opportunities to share ideas, expertise and best practice.
Assistant Principal Pastoral Alison Bignell believes that this closer collaboration will ultimately have a positive impact on students.
“Bringing colleagues together will foster a stronger sense of community, encourage collaboration and make it easier to share ideas and expertise,” she says. “Ultimately, when staff work more closely together, students benefit from a more connected and consistent experience.”
The College will also introduce two new digital platforms, iSAMS and Orah, designed to streamline information management and communication with families.
Orah will make it easier for parents to submit information and requests, while students will be able to check into locations around the campus using NFC touch points, supporting simpler everyday routines alongside effective safeguarding.
Preparing students for a changing world
The revised RSHE (Relationships, Sex and Health Education) and PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) curriculum, launching in September, will also introduce a range of topics reflecting the challenges and opportunities young people face today. These include online safety, deepfakes, misogyny, water safety, forced marriage and the growing influence of artificial intelligence.
Interestingly, some of these lessons will move away from screens, with paper-based workbooks being reintroduced to give students greater opportunity to reflect, discuss and think critically without digital distractions.
For Alison, the most exciting aspect is that staff will be learning alongside students.
“Artificial intelligence is evolving at such a pace that no one has all the answers,” she says. “Our role is not simply to teach students how to use technology, but to help them question it, understand it and use it responsibly.”
As Abbey College Cambridge opens its doors for another academic year, the focus is therefore firmly on the future — but with students at the heart of every development.
From new academic opportunities and innovative approaches to technology, to stronger collaboration and an even greater sense of community, 2026/27 promises to be an exciting year of growth, discovery and achievement.
As Alison puts it: “The year ahead is about far more than introducing new systems or new lessons. It’s about creating a culture of collaboration, curiosity and continuous improvement.”
And that is a fitting way to begin another year at Abbey College Cambridge.
