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Original poster

Trumpington Community College

21 replies

BusyBlue · 28/03/2016 18:52

Anyone considering this for their DC or have DC in the current year 7? I understand they are at Parkside then moving over in September.

We are thinking about it, but are a bit concerned about having just two year groups there and teaching as it is new. No Ofsted to go from and the other federation schools seem to get very differing results. Also, will they actually run extra-curricular activities there or just expect students to go to Coleridge or Parkside to do music, drama, sports or other clubs?

OP posts:
Original poster
BusyBlue · 30/03/2016 19:25

Anyone? I know it's a long shot as they have only year 7 at Parkside, but does anyone have their DC there or a friend with DC there?

OP posts:
AfricanBigElephant · 06/05/2016 18:13

We're considering it, dd is y5 now. It's a shame that not many parents seem to be aware of it...

Abenethri · 02/06/2016 17:45

There's an open evening to look round the building on 6 July, but I think that's more to look at the facilities.

MrsLark · 06/06/2016 08:28

I'm moving my dc there shortly. I've heard good things about the teachers and a new building, especially one that's going to be a science specialist school will hopefully attract good staff.
My dc attends another secondary at the moment in year 7 but not getting on well at all with some very disrespectful and disruptive kids who seem to rule the school. Teachers have little powers these days and the parents don't care and ruled the school themselves 20 years ago.

AfricanBigElephant · 19/10/2016 21:11

Bumping this. Anyone considering it? Any thoughts, good or bad?

mynameisnt · 20/10/2016 18:48

We have this as third choice and wouldn't mind. It does seem nice.

SeniorWranglered · 20/10/2016 18:53

A load of Y7/8s recently pulled their kids out because of bad behaviour at the school.

AfricanBigElephant · 22/10/2016 19:35

That's really disappointing! Do you have any more details?

SeniorWranglered · 23/10/2016 14:16

Various people thought they would give it a chance, from what I have heard, but there was a group of disruptive kids who ruined things for the others, and I gather the head just wasn't across behaviour issues at all, so after about a year they just had had enough and moved their children to places like Sawston. A kind of middle class flight, really.

I went to the open evening and there was a lot of shiny building and a lot of talk and very few answers to pointed questions, so I was pretty disappointed. I think it will take time for that school to bed in properly. I was impressed it had an autism unit though.

AfricanBigElephant · 23/10/2016 15:40

So did this all happen at Parkside?

SeniorWranglered · 23/10/2016 18:04

Trumpington Community College

AfricanBigElephant · 23/10/2016 19:42

Yes, but while TCC was functioning at Parkside, it has only been at the new building for a month or so.

ladygracie · 23/10/2016 19:45

One of my ex-pupils is there and is absolutely loving it. I've heard great things about the facilities.
If it only opened in sept, those parents haven't really given it a chance have they?

SeniorWranglered · 24/10/2016 16:52

Their kids had been there a year already while at Parkside, and I reckon the feeling was enough was enough, and I don't think they felt the new building would change anything (most of the new building will be closed for several years anyway while the school grows, apparently).

Londo · 06/11/2016 20:52

The same thing happened at the Trumpington Meadows Primary. The head was great and tried hard but there were too many disruptive students and not enough stable teachers staying long enough. In the end we moved her to a school outside our catchment area.

We now are working out what to do with secondary and we did look at Trumpington Community College. But at the open day we saw the same distruptive students touring the school. I had been looking for any info on how the school was able to handle the problems but we have pretty much decided to try for outside catchment, private or moving.

SeniorWranglered · 06/11/2016 21:45

Yes, I saw many disruptive children at that open evening, charging about and making a racket, messing up the building, riding bikes on the terraces where they shouldn't. Parents doing nothing to stop them, teachers not engaging either. Put us completely off the place.

Enneirda · 03/09/2018 14:27

Hi guys,

Any update on the school and where the behaviour stands at present? We are looking into things. We have a child starting yr7 and an asd son in yr5 so obviously the unit is a plus. Don't want to go if it's still on shaky ground though

Lovingmum88 · 27/12/2023 17:34

I can see a lot of these reviews are from when the school had not long opened and some of these students may have finished/left school by now?….. I am currently considering moving to Trumpington from London but one crucial aspect must be the availability to a good secondary (not independent) for my son …..I can see that Trumpington Community College is one of the closest schools ….any up to date feedback in regards to the school at this present time? Thank you

AfricanBigElephant · 29/12/2023 20:25

My dd went there, she did very well in her GCSEs and is now in upper 6th form at Hills rd. Ds is there currently in year 9. He's doing well as well, really enjoys it. Issues of bad behaviour are not frequent at all and dealt with quickly.

Bigest concern I've had is supply teaching, happens more often than average from what I can gather by talking with other parents in Cambridge. This year hasn't been too bad for ds but last year he was without english teacher for a significant number of lessons, which is not great.

The other thing I don't love about the school is a certain corporate, fake type of speech that grates on me a bit. Lots of motivational quotes for example, that are repated ad nauseum so much so that they lose meaning. I see it when there are presentations from them and ds says the same about assemblies. Not too big a deal I suppose but ends up being more fake than inspirational to the students, which is a shame.

On a more concrete note, they've been inspected in November so a report is due soon. That may provide some additional information.

Happy to answer any more specific questions, message me if easier.

Twinsgranny · 03/10/2025 21:14

Hello, I know all the posts on here are old, but am hoping for some updates. My daughter is going to open evening next week. The school has a ‘good’ Ofsted rating which is encouraging. Would love to know current accolades or gripes for this school. Behaviour, teacher retention, academic results - all comments welcome. My daughter is out of catchment but unfortunately the designated secondary school is a struggling school. Thank you!

bluebunnyblue · 09/10/2025 14:59

I went to the open evening and liked the feel of the school but would love to hear from parents of current students.

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