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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I am moving to Cambridge

50 replies

Cambridge18 · 21/07/2018 11:31

Hi,
We are moving to Cambridge as it is the only place have school doing IB as state school, can you please help me where is the best village for me and two daughters 17&15 years old , we need to be near train station, supermarkets, post office,and some parks, cinemas, also I will start to search for work and I want to be living In Commutable area for meyself and my daughters I am looking to rent also need to know the average for three bedrooms house, apartment etc... and I don't know where it should be the safest and nice villages except Milton, histon and impington just neared or found them online when searching is any or others suitable for all of us. The school name is impington village college ...
Thank you

OP posts:
DorothyGarrod · 21/07/2018 11:33

Don’t you need to make sure you are in the catchment for IVC?

Original poster
Cambridge18 · 21/07/2018 11:37

Hi,dorothygarrod yes this one of the main points ?

OP posts:
Racecardriver · 21/07/2018 11:39

Which state school are you trying to send them to?

NameChange30 · 21/07/2018 11:42

Are you single? Are you working atm? Do you have savings? Just wondering how you plan to pay the deposit and rent, since you say that you’re looking for a job.

If you plan to claim Housing Benefit, these are the LHA rates for Cambridge city, but they are well below the average rent on the private market.
www.cambridge.gov.uk/local-housing-allowance-and-rates-we-pay

Cambridge is extremely expensive so rather than starting with a long wish list, I suggest you look at what you can afford.

You could consider places along the busway, as that should make it easier to commute to Impington College and central Cambridge.

WestBerlin · 21/07/2018 11:44

I live in Cambridge, not too far from Milton actually, although I'm moving next week.

Milton, Huston et al are nice villages. King's Hedges and Arbury are considered 'rough', but rough for Cambridge is very different to say, rough for London.

You would be in commuting distance to Cambridge North station in Milton, but I would say definitely buy a bike. Everyone cycles here and the city is built for it rather than for driving, traffic can be horrendous. There's easy access to all the amenities you would need locally.

At the moment we're near the science park and paying nearly £1100 for a two bedroom end terrace house. It's not great tbh, and space is a huge reason as to why we're moving, as well as to be closer to my partner's work. It is expensive here, but the prices drop a lot if you're willing to look outside of Cambridge and commute in.

WestBerlin · 21/07/2018 11:45

Sorry, misread that as you looking at Milton.

Original poster
Cambridge18 · 21/07/2018 11:46

Hello race ,to Impington village college ! Do have another ideas for state schools doing full Ib?

OP posts:
Loopytiles · 21/07/2018 11:46

Why do you want the IB? What are the chances of securing a space.

Moving in midst of GCSEs wouldn’t be a good plan for the younger DC.

NameChange30 · 21/07/2018 11:46

www.thebusway.info/routes-times.shtml

dingdongdigeridoo · 21/07/2018 11:50

Cambridge is expensive relative to wages. You might struggle to find a rental property before you’ve secured a job. Are you sure there will be places at the school?

Are you sure nowhere locally to you will do the IB?

Onwhitehorses · 21/07/2018 11:51

Wouldn't it be best to first find out what the catchment is for Impington VC, and then look there? Then find out if there are any spaces left? Then start looking, otherwise you might just be wasting your time.

tomhazard · 21/07/2018 11:53

Nowhere near Cambridge of course but Varndean College in Brighton is a state college that offers the IB programme

Basta · 21/07/2018 11:53

Sorry if I've misunderstood, but is 17 not halfway through A-levels? And is is 15 not halfway through GCSEs? Or are they both summer birthdays?

Original poster
Cambridge18 · 21/07/2018 11:54

Hello anotheremma, yes I am single, I just been redundancy from work, I was sending them to very high private school at the moment but circumstances changes and my eldest daughter already finished her Ib First year, and she have to continue also the younger one is in Middle of her GCSE, have no other option should have benefits and I am going to pay the rest from my very little savings until I find job, any ideas about jobs opportunities there I was sale and collection director in pharmaceutical company
Thank you so much for the link you sent me .

OP posts:
Loopytiles · 21/07/2018 11:58

Have you explored the options for a bursary for DD1 for her final year, and DD2 for the remainder of GCSEs?

What about your ex?

Might another option be IB through online education?

NameChange30 · 21/07/2018 11:59

Circumstances changed? Do you just mean the redundancy or have there been other changes too?

What about their father, does he pay child maintenance and/or a contribution to the school fees?

Given that one is halfway through A-levels (Well, the IB) and the other is halfway through GCSEs, I would do my best to keep them in the same school for another year if I were you.

Have you spoken to the school about any grants or other help available?

Original poster
Cambridge18 · 21/07/2018 12:02

The elder is in the middle of Ib finished already first year. And I have no idea if She can change the way without loosing year or affect her way to university! The younger already finished her GCSEs first year as well so we have no problem with her at all she will decide later if she will go for Ib as her sister or A levels

OP posts:
Original poster
Cambridge18 · 21/07/2018 12:05

That is from Ib website only 4 state schools in uk doing Ib , 2 of them doing half the course and the another one is in Cumbria and they refused the youngest daughter.

OP posts:
Loopytiles · 21/07/2018 12:08

Why can’t they stay where they are for one more year - get another job asap?

Moving in midst of GCSEs would be bad too.

Nsbgsyebebdnd · 21/07/2018 12:08

Your line of work is perfect for Cambridge and you have the science park near to Impington. On that side of town you have Cambridge North station too.

You may find a job on the biomedical campus though Which is at the hospital so the other side of town.
As others have said travel is awful and that’s the big problem with being in a village which is much cheaper.
Not sure on the catchment area so as others said look at that and go from there. Most places in Cambridge are nice but if you’re in a village beware of spending your life in a traffic jam. Impington is nice enough. Milton used to have problems with sewege smells- no idea if it’s still a problem or if I’m imagining that!!
Good luck with it!

Nsbgsyebebdnd · 21/07/2018 12:09

Is waterbeach in catchment? That has train station in the village

Original poster
Cambridge18 · 21/07/2018 12:15

Hi loopy, how I can do tha and where to find?

OP posts:
Original poster
Cambridge18 · 21/07/2018 12:20

Emma, I am the father and I already pay everything, the help is to find a job asap I was sales and collection manger in pharmaceutical company.

OP posts:
sonjadog · 21/07/2018 12:23

According to IB website, 34 state schools in the UK offer the diploma. You can search here:

www.ibo.org/about-the-ib/the-ib-by-country/u/united-kingdom/

NameChange30 · 21/07/2018 12:24

Sorry for assuming you were the mother! Same question then, no child maintenance from her?