Moving to Cambridge choosing a primary school - help!

[EllieHB]

OK, I know there have been so many mums asking this question, but please take pity on me, I'm trying to move long-distance and was due to come down for a visit to school and househunt this week but DS2 has had pneumonia so we've had to cancel the trip.

We're moving to Cambridge in July. I have 2 DSs 5yrs and 2yrs. The 5yr old is a bit on the shy side at first, a sweetnatured, sensitive, softie, very creative, loves music and art and sports, tows the line at school and wants to be an 'insect scientist' as of yesterday. Bit more of a girls' boy than a boys' boy. Tends to make strong bonds with individuals rather than hang out in a big gang. He went to a Montessori nursery and the whole Montessori thing suited him 100%. My 2yr old is very outdoorsy and also loves music. I'm more interested that they feel happy and comfortable at a school where they are treated as individuals, than that they go to somewhere with amazing results.

We're moving from Scotland where DS1 is at a big but cosy primary school with no seriously disruptive kids and I know he's much more comfortable somewhere like that. I'm keen on somewhere that's great on pastoral care, encourages kids to be creative and individual. I think they'd both be happy somewhere which has good music and ideally sports too.

I think I've read the Ofsted reports for all the schools (primary and secondary) in Cambridge, but they can only tell you so much. DH is doing a PhD at Darwin and we both travel a bit for work. We're thinking of living West or South, easy cycling distance from the centre of town and the station and so have narrowed choice down to Queen Edith's, Newham Croft, Morley, Fawcett. DH has seen lots of schools but not Morley or Fawcett yet - they were planned for this trip. But there's only so much you can get from a school tour. Any Cambridge MNs out there who have recent/current experience of the primary schools and living in the catchment areas I'd be hugely grateful to hear from you :) If anyone who can recommend other schools I'm not ruling anything out at the moment.

One other thing, we're currently living in total suburbia and I work from home so don't get to escape it much - I'm quite keen to avoid that in whatever area of Cambridge we move to, I have this dream of being 5 minutes from the backs, but unless we put a tent up by the river I'm not sure we'll be able to afford it, and I don't think that will count as a catchment address anyway.

Sorry for the long post, you can tell I don't get out much can't you. :o

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/property-33562087.html

I just called to find out more, apparently the kitchen is really crumblingly ancient and that's seriously putting people off. It's nearish Wulfstan way - but never been there so don't know what the shops are like. It looks pretty safe and peaceful round there and there's a bus into town but will I go completely crazy with boredom working from home there!? Will I even meet my neighbours if all the houses are semis way back off the roads and everyone's commuting to London or working at Addenbrookes!? And will they think I'm crazy holed up in the house with nothing but books for company? Should I actually be living off Mill Road?!

I don't think you'd go completely bonkers . there is a row of shops on Wulfstan Way. Mill Road would be busier - your choice of schools would be St Philips, Ridgefield or St Matthews, depending on what end you were. To be honest, where we live (not that far from QE Road) is quiet and not ever so 'neighbourly' but we like it!

Thanks Sairy I think I just need to stop flapping around and make a decision and then it'll be fine!

Re; Queen Edith - I'm not really in a position to assess it fully yet as dc is in Reception this year so they've not really started on the formalities of schooling as such. There's still a lot of gluing/sticking/running around/digging for worms going on! The more "formal" stuff that they have been doing (reading, writing, maths) has been very well done, and dc has been very well supported.

I had read those same threads back when I was looking at where to send dc to school, but had enough personal recommendations (including a friend who had worked at the school supporting SN children) that did not agree with the sentiment on here. From the viewpoint of a casual [playground] observer, there seems to be an endless stream of dressing up days/special activities going on for the older children (post-reception) and the head doesn't come across as overly strict. Parents with older dc in the school seem very happy with it, as do the kids themselves. There seems to be a very active PTFA, and they have weekly coffee mornings etc, so always stuff to get involved with too. Sorry that I can't be any more specific!

One of the great things about Cambridge generally (moved here from big city suburbs) is that there is such an interesting (and ever changing) mixture of people. IME it's a very friendly city, and I know very few people that were born here (though this may just be reflective of my circumstances?). It's very different from the town that I grew up in where there is very little movement in and out, and most folks families have always been there. It's far less insular!

Wulfstan Way has a GP surgery, pharmacy, corner shop (x2), chinese supermarket (well worth a visit), fish & chips/chinese takeaway, cake decorating shop (great for birthdays), hairdressers, and a lovely coffee shop.

Also, behind QE Way there is a park with tennis courts, basketball court and kids' play area. We're quite close-by and often bump into dc school friends at the park.

Will you be sending dc2 to nursery next year for the free hours?

Building a social network is always difficult, but I think that there's enough going on in Cambridge that you'll manage it wherever you choose to live. Spending lots of time working with nothing but books for company is almost expected in many social circles here

Thanks so much MrsFez that's very reassuring - digging for worms and dressing up would keep my two happy and for me the Chinese supermarket sounds fab. Glad being book-swamped is normal round your way too.
I work 3 days a week so I'd put DS2 in QE nursery but would have to find a childminder to cover the other hours, not sure how easy that is.
Interesting and ever changing mix sounds wonderful. From what you can tell is QE quite a mix of kids of different nationalities? We're quite keen on that hence Morley and Newnham Croft (lottery win permitting) as other options. :)

There was athread on here not long ago about Newnham Croft saying there were some problems there i think. I have no personal idea, but remember being very surprised.

Having ploughed through all the ofsted reports (even for schools we had no hope of getting into:) ), one thing that came up with Newnham croft is that because of location (v. near many uni departments and has a lot of college houses for visiting profs etc) it has a hugely mobile population - more than half some classes turning over every year in some cases. So that's something to bear in mind if you are intending to stay in Cambridge long-term. Having been to that kind of school myself, I do remember how hard it is to constantly see best friends moving back to the other side of the world. But then of course, it being so international has other advantages!

Thanks Sairy and Libelulle, it's looking like Morley and Queen Edith's are top of the list, possibly with Morley top of the pops, tho we haven't seen it yet - just spoke to a friend who said if we loved Montessori we would like Morley and also being arty types we'd like living in that little pocket of Cambridge, so now I've just got to find the house next door! I so appreciate your input it's made such a difference

I would love a house in Blinco Grove [sigh]

or Hartington grove, or possibly Rock road... [deep sigh]

Cavendish Avenue???

Why beat around the bush? How about a 3 family house-share in Storey's Way? Shirley Williams and her family did it in the 60s and it was great for working women with children, the kids had a blast too. Maybe I should start a separate thread to see if I can find some willing housemates. Otherwise I'm going to be a huge disappointment to you - we'll be the family squeezed into a 2 bed flat on Cherry Hinton Road, one bedroom for us, one for our bikes.

So how, without renting the house now and paying rent until we move in at the end of July, do I get a contract for a house in time to apply for the school before the end of term when all the places are nabbed! Would either of you like to sub-let a house to escape to for some r&r every now and then?

Excellent plan!! Although I quite fancy Hills Road at a stretch, maybe Bentley Road??

We could go 50:50 on this one?

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-33455089.html

I almost threw up when I saw the garden, envy really doesn't agree with me.

I've got the kids digging for treasure in the garden as we speak :o

My eldest dd's friends parents live in a house identical to that on Hills Road - They sold the one in Lyndewode road as it was 'a little poky'........

must start practising Cambridge mantra 'want what you have' [sigh]

absolutley!

My aspirations are much more modest - I'd settle for this one www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-33688747.html

Though actually we did quite seriously consider a house-share type plan at one point, but there was nothing even remotely feasible on the market, and then we got cold feet anyway about the realities of sharing. Now with kids it does sound much more appealing, but I confess that we are actually pretty damned happy where we are now!

dribble (at HG!)

Libelulle, it's lovely to hear someone who is happy with their lot. So hope you get your first choice primary. We've been talking about a houseshare ever since Cambridge came up on the horizon. Might get a bit "Pacific Heights" if it all went wrong tho

As for HG, suppose I could sell our house several times over, leave the country, change my name (look for catchmentcrook on MN) . . .

Yes, joking aside, I love my house. It may not be massive, but it's home.

Hallo Ellie

Queen Edith's Way will place you in the catchment area for Queen Edith's, which is a very good school. You may find the houses on Queen Edith's Way drop in price as you get further from Addenbrooke's Hospital.

You'd be near the shops there: you've got small local ones as well as a Budgen's nearby, and Sainsbury's is also quite close.

I would agree with others that all the schools you've mentioned are good ones!

There is a very good children's centre nearby too -- Homerton Children's Centre on Holbrook Road.

Good luck!

I live in the QE 'hood - we moved here last year - and we looked at a lot of different areas before deciding. Mill Road is definitely busier, but it was too similar to London, which we were leaving for more space etc Glebe /Holbrook/Cavendish etc - the stunning houses were over budget, and the small ones just too small for us.

At the moment I also work from home mostly and tbh it can feel a bit isolated as I can't just pop out to a coffee shop full of similar WAHM types, as I could in London. On the plus side, we and our children have made lovely friends in the neighbourhood, we pop over to each others' houses, and the park is a good place to meet people, as are schools and nurseries. Good groups at Homerton CC too if you've got little ones. I meet up with mums from the school, who have become friends. So it has changed the way I socialise rather than eradicated my social life entirely! But I wouldn't be honest if I didn't admit it feels quite suburban in some ways.

It is a quick bus to the centre of town though (or bike) and easy to get to the train too.

Thanks Manda and camgirl, I'm feeling better about it already. Thanks for being so honest camgirl, it's great to know what's possible, we are also looking at the QE 'hood for the space, we just missed renting a lovely house there this week as we couldn't get to see it in time, but more are coming up. We've narrowed it down to Morley and Queen Edith's now so are focusing on finding a house in those areas in the hope that if there's no room at one there'll be room at the other! Anyone know if there are children leaving year 1 in either school at the end of the summer term!? Thanks again for your replies :)