State secondary schools Cambridge - moving to area

[penguinsnpandas]

We are considering moving to Cambridge or surrounding areas either via renting or buying, one in y6, one y7. Both very bright, one ASD. Does anyone have any idea if we moved would we stand any chance of getting them both into a decent state school. How often do children leave schools roughly? Would getting both into Parkside or Chesterton be impossible? Trumpington? How good/bad is Coleridge? Would we be better renting to get in before start y7. Sorry I know its guess work but wondered if anyone had any clue. Also looking at Linton but I work in London and doesn't seem very commutable. Thanks very much. Private not an option unfortunately. Currently in London, one at grammar, one place at good comp.

[BringOnTheScience]

Cambridge city secondaries are pretty much all v good :-) Surrounding villages' are more varied.

[BlueChampagne]

Chesterton has a big building programme on at the moment but if you're catchment you should be alright for Y7 Sept 2019. Lots of appeals this year, and mobility figures seem to be quite low.

Might also be worth looking at Impington VC, and Sawston VC, and of course Comberton VC.

[penguinsnpandas]

Thanks very much. We were going to view a house by Chesterton this weekend but its already gone 35k over asking price and they are still taking offers. So just one in Linton but will keep looking.

[penguinsnpandas]

We are looking now at Linton and Melbourn - Melbourn appears to have places but Linton doesn't. Anyone know if we bought a house in central Linton how long it would take roughly to get a current y6 and current y7 into the school once we would move around mid July. Thanks.

[BlueChampagne]

I would ask the school how many they have on their waiting list. An informal chat with them might help.

[penguinsnpandas]

Thanks very much - LEA said 1 on waiting list for y7 and 23 for next year 7 and if we don't get that school they will provide a school bus if we don't name other schools. Which is great as I don't drive, DH could drop them off but getting back not within a mile would be tricky but school bus would solve that. Next nearest are Sawston and Neatherhall apparently.

[Tingalingle]

Honestly for ASD, I'd suggest being near either Comberton or Cambourne (Comberton is truly excellent with ASD, and Cambourne was largely staffed by ex-Comberton staff when first set up). Oldest DS went through Comberton, bussed in from out of the area because of his ASD.

Sawston is a good school for many. DS2 adored it, DD says it's 'OK, I suppose, it's school... I mean, I'm not bullied or anything...' but she's a less enthusiastic type. The current head is leaving at the end of term, which may make a difference, but the current deputy will be acting head, so there's continuity.

Netherhall's current head is an ex-Sawston staff member. So is Linton's!

I have to say, having done it for a while, that I don't enjoy the multi-stage commute to London from the Linton end of things. You might prefer to be in Shelford/Stapleford and have better train access, if your children are likely to end up in schools over that side anyway.

[penguinsnpandas]

Thanks very much. That's useful to know which schools are better with ASD. He's been fine at school past two years but very difficult at school in y3 and 4 to the point where a full-time TA was needed. It's hard to know if he will be fine at secondary or have problems again.

The commute to London is the one big downside in all this, at the moment I wfh a lot but its supposed to be temporary. I'm hoping I will only need to go in once or twice a week but it may not be possible. We've had 4 Heads at our primary so not so keen on changing Heads.

[rubyblue]

hi, sorry to jump in on this thread but wondered if anyone could comment on Coleridge Secondary? It 'requires improvement' so I'm assuming it is getting a lot of help but I'm nervous about moving into this catchment area.

What's Coleridge like as an area? Again, not sure as I've heard around Mill Road is not great - not sure what this means though and we're city dwellers so used to noise etc.

[penguinsnpandas]

That's fine to jump on. From what I remember (and others may know more) Mill Road/Romsey Town area isn't the prettiest of housing, the closer to the centre you are in general the better, the part that's the centre side of railway isn't bad at all. Don't think the traffic is too bad in that area - would guess Mill Road itself the busiest road, its more the lack of green but you can walk to Parkside which also has a pool.

[BringOnTheScience]

Mill Rd is the 'alternative' part of town. Ot used to have a very poor reputation, which led to only immigrants living there. That has now blossomed into a diverse & vibrant area. It's filled with independent shops, fab food and a great atmosphere. City end of the road puts you near Parkside CC & 6th too.

[1busybee]

Just to let you know Comberton is well thought of in terms of autism/asd provision as it has a cabin resource. Melbourn has just opened a similar provision overseen by Comberton.

[penguinsnpandas]

Thanks very much, that's very useful to know.

[mastertomsmum]

Mill Road, if you have lived in London urban situation holds no worries or secrets. Nothing ‘alternative’ about it - maybe Petersfield side circa 1979 but way no not now.

Parkside good, Coleridge bad - back to 1979 again ... it wasn’t good then and it isn’t now. St Bede’s, on the other hand, has had a massive renaissance and is a very good place for SEN.

[Str4ngedaysindeed]

My ds - now doing his A Levels at Hills Road went to Coleridge and he and his year did exceptionally well. DD is in year 7 and I know they are working so hard to move the reputation up, but mud sticks and I have had some quite sneery responses when I have said they are/have been at Coleridge. It was not a good school at all for many years but I honestly believe that things are going up and up. More pupils from the 'better' primary schools are going there now - as in my two and their friends- and most years in between which means that we trust and believe in the school.
I actually worked there at the height of its awfulness and honestly, the difference is incredible!

[Str4ngedaysindeed]

Coleridge bad - back to 1979 again ... it wasn’t good then and it isn’t now Righto .

[RossandDemelza]

Agree with Str4ngedays. Coleridge had an awful reputation but I'm not sure they deserve it now and the Federation has given it extra funds to improve.
I've had a good look at everything I could find about Coleridge and other schools in Cambridge (financial statements, league tables, Ofsted, ParentView, education pages on the council's website etc.) and it really doesn't sound that bad anymore.
St Bede's is very, very good but it's hugely oversubscribed so hard to get a place. A friend (teacher) mentioned the SEN provision there, he was impressed.
Trumpington is becoming more popular, I think it was oversubscribed for the first time this year. I know only one person with a child there and she's very happy.
Parkside is another very good school but hard to get in.
Chesterton? It is oversubscribed but not as much as St Bede's or Parkside.
Can't help with the village schools, we live in Cambridge.

[Str4ngedaysindeed]

Thank you! I genuinely would not have sent my two youngest there if it was as it was when I worked there... My eldest went to St Bedes and hated it. I have my reasons for disliking it - and so many families do the pretend Christian thing to get in - it's infuriating!