Village Collages to the north-east of Cambridge

[AnnieWoking]

Dear Cambridge folk

We're moving to Cambridge in a couple of months and one of our primary consideration is secondary schools for our DDs, currently in y5 and y2.

We're looking at the north-east of Cambridge, so places out as far as Fordham, Exning and Chippenham. We have a budget of about £275k for a 3-bed (perferably 4-bed) house so we know we'll need to be fairly far out of town to be able to afford a decent house within our budget.

So, out of the village collages that way, which would you rate best for academic, not very sport girls with a bent for science? It looks like Soham, Bottisham and Cottenham VCs are the schools in the area we're looking at. I've heard good things about Impington but I don't think we could afford a house in catchment.

Suggestions for lovely villages in those catchment areas with good primary schools also welcome.

Thank you!

I think the villages you mention probably qualify more as Bury/Newmarket satellite villages than Cambridge. Do you need to be within a reasonable commute of Cambridge? Of the schools you mention, I think Bottisham is probably the most highly rated. Bottisham, Burwell, Reach etc are nice places. I like Cottenham as a place but am not sure the school is brilliant (you'd need to look at this year's stats). And Soham is more Ely territory, really.

I don't think any of them are "bad" are they? We are near Burwell and ds1 has just started at Bottisham - most kids from our primary go on to Bottisham and I haven't heard anything bad about it the whole time ds1 was at primary.

Are you moving to the area for work, Cambridge traffic isn't much fun and adding on a longer commute before you get into the city only adds to that.

Fordham primary used to be very highly rated - I have no idea now, but again most of the primaries are ok.

Thanks, that's all helpful.

We're moving to the area for work, but we don't have jobs yet so we don't now where our work will be based. I'm a scientist so we're mostly moving to the area for my career. The nature of science is that people change jobs often but at least in Cambridge I'll be able to change jobs without uprooting the family. So we don't want to pick a location based on work as this is likely change, and we have good friends in Fordham. Well, we have good friends in the city centre too but don't want to live there!

As you go further out it gets more "Fenny" and getting into Cambridge takes longer. To give you an idea of times, I'm Cambridge side of Burwell and can get into Cambridge (near the station) in 25-30 mins when I drop the kids at school and leave at 8.45am, if I wanted to get in for 9am I'd have to leave nearer to 8am.

Exning is practically an extension of Newmarket, and I think falls into Newmarket College catchment - which I wouldn't even consider. I know enough people in Newmarket and surrounds who go to Bury for secondary, and had spoken enough to teachers from NM College to not even consider it at this point.

Yes, not sure how to put this and don't want to offend anyone but the Fens are a bit... special. If you are moving form anywhere at all urban and/or cosmopolitan/diverse the Fens might be a step too far!

Do you think you can't afford Cambridge, or do you want village life?

We want to be as far out in the backwater of beyond as we can manage, thanks! We hate cities. We are currently in rural Surrey.

Again not wanting to offend, but Rural Surrey is a whole million miles away from The Fens....!

You should consider Comberton VC and you can get a three bed in catchment for that price
Bourn
comberton
Kingston

Thanks again to everyone for the advice.

Lizardc, like I said, we have good friends who live in "the Fens", we visit often and we think it's fabulous there!

FurlaBag, I know Comberton is considered the best of the VCs, but we'd rather live on the other side of Cambs where we already have the makings of a social network. Plus it's more convenient for the Science Park and the Reform Synagogue. Our Central Cambs friends used to live in Comberton so we know the village well, but we just weren't taken with the area.

I live out into the Fens now, its not as bad as everyone makes out!! Although I did have to take the car onto the pavement today as someone was test driving a new combine!!! I think the colleges take quite a few children from outside catchment, I know people from near us who go to Impington. I've mixed things about Impington. I have heard good things about Soham and Bottisham, bad things about Whichford (everyone I know says to avoid it). Swavesy also has an amazing reputation.

For info Bottisham has been oversubscribed for the last few years (at least), so if you wanted a place there you need to be sure that you are in the right area.

Bottisham this year (new yr 7's) had 271 1st choice applications, and took in 240, their first 8 form intake (previously 7). Recent communication from school said they are hoping to increase to 240 permanently.

My parents are in Isleham, where you seem to get a lot for your money, but further to Cambridge.

Is it wrong that the name "Bottisham" makes me giggle in a most immature manner whenever I read it?

All very helpful advice, thank you....

If that makes you giggle, don't move to Prickwillow :) (it's nr Ely)

Wah ha ha!! I love quirky place names. I'm determined to live somewhere with a fabulously rude name someday.

Six Mile Bottom for you then.

Or Ugley. I liked the sound of the Ugley Women's Institute, but I think it's changed its name now.

You'll be amazed at how much you'll get for your money if you look for houses in Soham or Isleham, compared to villages closer to Cambridge. But would you really want to live there? (Hint: There's a reason why they are cheap!)
There's lots of new builds in Burwell so supply is relatively good which keeps the prices down a little, so you might be able to get something for your budget there. Nicer villages are Reach and Swaffham Prior but they are much smaller so there's fewer properties available and prices are higher.
Fordham is quite nice, but I think it is in the catchment for Soham VC rather than Bottisham VC. Soham VC is OK but not great. Bottisham is very good. I agree with previous poster, ensure that you don't wander over the border into Suffolk (ie Exning) or you'll be in the catchment for Newmarket College which is very poor.

I understand about wanting to be where your social network is, but I do think you should at least think about other areas. Most of the colleges around the Cambridge villages are good - this year Comerbton and Melbourn were the best village colleges by exam-results (which are NOT the be all and end all of everything but are a start.) Melbourn gives really good/quick(ish) access to the Bio-Medical campuses at Addenbrookes and Abington, and there are some lovely villages that way. Ditto Linton.

I get that you might not have been taken by Comberton itself, but other villages in the Comberton VC catchment are very pretty. Also, Cambourne would give you quite a lot of house for your money, good facilities and easy access into Cambridge via the bus or car. Cambourne is a great new village, with loads going on. My teenagers used to beg to live there because it had far more going on than the village we live in (which is very close...)
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-44505445.html

Also, there is Papworth, possibly a bit further out than you'd want (but nowhere near as far form Cambridge as, say, Isleham) where you get quite a bit for your money:
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-30854451.html

I think it depends what you want out of your new location - if easy access to Cambridge is your top priority then going South is possibly a better bet than North east. Personally, I would find it hard to live in some of the villages to the North East, but other people love them.

Good luck with your househunting.

I think if you like The Fens then consider Downham Market and surroundings. You can get the train to Cambridge and it doesn't get more "Fenny" than up there! I'm not sure what the schools are like though.