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Original poster

Best State secondaries in Cambridge?

37 replies

AnnieLobeseder · 15/09/2013 00:02

We're planning to move to Cambridge in about 18 months or so, and the main deciding factor on where we move to will be the best possible secondary school for our DDs. Now, I don't much understand the UK education system with "specialist" schools (there were just plain ordinary High Schools in both my and DH's countries) but I'm we'd want a school with emphasis on academic achievement, with an eye to good GSCEs, then A-levels and university. DH and I are both academic, and so far the DDs appear to be too.

So which schools are good - not just purely academically, but also with good after-school activities, arts programs, a nurturing atmosphere etc....

OP posts:
Lancelottie · 15/09/2013 21:01

Cambourne not Cambroune...

Lancelottie · 15/09/2013 20:58

Cambroune VC is already open, by the way: here they all are -- awww!

Lancelottie · 15/09/2013 20:56

Umm, I don't think it's that much of a mystery, is it?

From the website:
Comberton VC gives priority to children living in the catchment areas of the following primary schools: Barton; Caldecote; Coton; Hardwick;
Bourn; Meridian, Comberton; Haslingfield.

Cambourne VC will give priority to children in catchment for Monkfield Park, Cambourne; The Vine, Cambourne; and Jeavons
Wood, Cambourne.

What did you mean by 'a vast difference between Cambridge schools and the Village Colleges'?

daphnedill · 15/09/2013 20:43

If I were moving to the Cambridge area, I would definitely try to get into Comberton's catchment area. However, beware! A new school is opening in Cambourne with Comberton's Principal as Executive Principal. Nobody knows yet where the admissions borders will be drawn, so you'd need to get as close as possible to Comberton. Hills Road is great for academic students, but the five years leading up to Sixth Form matter too. There is a vast difference between the Cambridge schools and Cambridgeshire Village Colleges.

alimac87 · 15/09/2013 17:30

Comberton, Swavesey and and Sawston Village College are all villages outside Cambridge, feeding into Hills Rd 6th Form if they get the grades. I think Comberton and Swavesey are both Outstanding. So you can live in a village and benefit from more house space.

In central Cambridge, you have Parkside and Chesterton Community College with Parkside being smaller and very academic middle class, and Chesterton much bigger and more of a mixed profile. Both do pretty well but slid down a bit in recent Ofsteds. Parkside is opening a new school in a few years time, in the Trumpington area to cater for the population increase there. Lots of pearl-clutching about future standards but no one really knows. If you are dead set on Parkside you need to make sure you are living in the catchment and unfortunately that means high house prices.

Lancelottie · 15/09/2013 15:54

Always good to plan ahead Smile but bear in mind that schools change, as do catchments (or in this case feeder schools, which isn't quite the same thing), and headteachers come and go.

Our two nearest schools have both had a change of head in the past three years. In one case, I'd say it's revitalised an already 'good' school and it will soon be excellent in anybody's book. The other is not in my view a change for the better but is currently trading on the rep established by the previous excellent head.

Original poster
AnnieLobeseder · 15/09/2013 15:27

Well, I didn't put my DD's ages as you'll probably laugh at me Blush - they're only 5 and 8. But while I think that as long as you live in a 'naice' area, the primaries should be okay, it's secondaries we're concerned about, and once we get to Cambridge we'd prefer not to move around too much so want to get it right first time if possible.

DD1, in yr4 is academic enough, and from the looks of it will probably be heading into one or another branches of science. Her current passion is geology.

DD2 is in yr1 and her current passion is princesses and pink sparkly things so who knows... Grin

I don't hold too much stock in Ofsted reports, which is why I'd like the opinions of people who actually know the schools.

OP posts:
Lancelottie · 15/09/2013 14:12

Ignore the 'specialist schools' bit. It really doesn't make a lot of difference. I'd also treat Ofsted reports and 'best' results with a healthy scepticism, personally.

How old are your girls, and what are their current interests? Will they need to go into a local primary first or straight to secondary -- in which case, the question is going to be 'Which schools might have spaces?'

Original poster
AnnieLobeseder · 15/09/2013 14:07

Ooh, thanks Lilymaid, that thread is very helpful!

We actually have friends who live in Comberton and have told us how good their local secondary is but I though it was local bragging! Apparently not!

OP posts:
Lilymaid · 15/09/2013 13:33

You might find this recent thread helpful.

exexpat · 15/09/2013 01:45

Don't know about years 7-11, but Hills Road has a reputation as one of the best state sixth form colleges in the country.

daphnedill · 15/09/2013 01:36

The highest achieving school in Cambridge itself is Parkside, which is very over-subscribed. If you're looking at schools outside the city itself, the highest achieving are Comberton and Linton Village Colleges.