Hi there,

I actually signed up to this forum just to reply to this thread.

I am a Netherhall sixth former- currently. I have to advise you to read the ofsted report, so you know I am not biased.

I am in A2 and I tell you. I hate it. I get no support what-so-ever. There is 1 drop in session in a week for any support, which a) is not enough b) the teachers are very unwelcoming to you for these. I have only got 10 mins of support for my university application.

The teaching is mainly speech based, if you are a visual learner or a 'doing' learner- forget about it.
If you are failing, you do not get any support, but you get the opposite, you get scolded at. Rarely any revision sessions are set for students who are struggling.

Another issue with the college is that it starts at 8.30 for the first 3 weeks of term, for no reason. Imagine your son travelling 2 hours to N'hall ( I travel 1 and ten mins) every morning, for a tutor period, which is valueless.

Lessons are rarely planned, often the last parts of the syllabus is rushed. They could make extra classes to cover the content they cannot do, but they do not. They have some revision classes just before the exams. They are useless. You have to bring your own questions.
Very few resources are provided, e.g past papers, workbooks and mark schemes. You have to pay for the little you get.

There were around 300 people in AS, and now there is 80. That many people were allowed to fail. They blame the students, but I have witnessed. It is them.

I have a friend who got 5A*s at GCSE, but now has 3Es and a U.

The facilities:
Library= closed always, not enough relevant books or it is always booked. There is a sixth form study, which has broken computers and is very very busy, for other reasons than study. Occasionally a teacher will come and shout at students in there, but it doesn't help.

Staff attitudes are appalling, a teacher scolded me and told me I was going to fail, but then I had got a B in my exam- and was one of two people not to resit the exam.

The system is not organised- to get a locker you have to chase a teacher around. Your form tutor has no information about anything. For UCAS ( uni applications) one person is handling all of it, so it is difficult to get his attention as he is teaching and deputy head as well.

Lower school behavior is disruptive. A year 9 was playing with fire, at bus stop and setting other children on fire.

On the open day they will impress you with their beautiful building and colour changing trees. They will be well prepared to market to you.

More students = more funding= higher pay rates

The good:

- Social life, you meet lovely people. My peers are good people, and are the backbone of the next generation in terms of optimism.
- School's traditions- student auctions and sports relief

I could go on and on...

please message me if you need any more info.

must be new this year I think

"Cottenham doesn't have a 6th form" It does now

cottenham doesn't have a 6th form - OK meant not bad but proably not worth the extra journey time compared to long road, or parkside - Hills Rd is of course the best but hard to get in

I can't imagine that Netherhall would be any better than Cottenham and it would be a difficult journey. We looked at the prospectus (a few years ago) and couldn't see any advantage over (even) Long Road.
Comberton now has a sixth form. Impington has one (does IB).

Doesn't Cottenham have a 6th form yet?? If you want serious top stuff - Hills Road of course (ex Hillsroadian ) Also of course, Long Road, Parkside Fed...

It worries me that Netherhall is ok. So, which secondary schools in Cambridge are in the top rank?

ok asked my DH he says its ok - its a long way from Cottenham though

greetings all. My DS is embarking on his GCSE's this year and we are researching 6th forms (he's at Cottenham atm). Does anyone know if Netherhall 6th form is any good?