Cambridge University Press

About Cambridge University Press

The Cambridge story began in 1534 when Henry VIII granted us Letters Patent (a ‘Royal Charter’) allowing Cambridge University Press to print “all manner of books”. The Press published our first book in 1584, making us the oldest publishing house in the world. During the next four centuries the Press’s reputation spread throughout Europe, based on excellence in scholarly publishing of academic texts, poetry, school books, prayer books and Bibles. Along the way the Press published ground-breaking works such as Isaac Newton’s Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, John Milton’s Lycidas, Ernest Rutherford’s Radio-activity, and Noam Chomsky’s Language and Mind. In the 20th century the Press extended that influence to become a global publisher, and in the 21st it is still growing, bringing millions of ideas on thousands of subjects to the world. Cambridge Assessment was established as the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (UCLES) by the University of Cambridge in 1858. It was set up to administer local examinations for students who were not members of the University of Cambridge, with the aim of raising standards in education. It also inspected schools. There have been many changes to the education system over the years but the ethos that sparked the creation of that original organisation still drives us today. We strive for ongoing improvement to assessment systems and methodologies around the world to make sure learners can access the benefits of their education.