Commuting and Schools - Cambourne or Cottenham

[cheerycheery]

We‘re coming to look around Cambourne and Cottenham and maybe other areas for houses next week. We have a 4yr old and a 6yr old and a job for my husband at the Science park.

It seems that we‘ll get school places wherever is left over! - so we‘d have a better chance of a walkable school in Cambourne in that case, but the schools there seem big.

Are the secondaries Cottenham VC and Cambourne VC comparible?

For some evening activities in cambridge that we might be up for, would the station at Waterbeach help make Cottenham the better choice?

Or would the greater choice for kids eg. Football and gymnastics give Cambourne the edge? Plus more houses available.

So many factors that as a non local I can’t judge! Any comments much appreciated to help us navigate a move over the summer. Many thanks!

Waterbeach would be closest to Cambridge and with husband working at science park he could get the train (or cycle) to science park. About 5 mins on train then 5-10 minute walk. Worth checking spaces in water each primary. Some nice pubs here and a more stabilised village feel.
Cambourne has at least 3 primaries so might have better chance of getting places. Still a new town/ village but prob ,pre housing stock. Both secondary feeder schools depending on which side of Cambourne. Current roadworks on a428 (Down to one lane) and a14 means commute into science park would take longer than normal.
Don't know an awful lot about cottengam but again commute into Cambridge could take 30-45 mins on a good day.
I am sure all off your options have good access to clubs etc

Driving to Cambridge in the morning is hell. Look for somewhere with a train.

Thank you tid2018 and racecardriver, definitely going to check out Waterbeach. Places on the guides busway also seem like an option for the science park. Can’t believe there is going to be an entire new town at Northstowe. I find relocating with kids soooo stressful!

From Cottenham your DH could easily cycle to the science park. There's a bike lane along the main road up to Histon and from there the path along the guided bus will take him straight to the science park. It shouldn't take more than 30 minutes.

Building Northstowe is racing along, with Pathfinder primary already open. That would put you on the guided bus route to bus or cycle to the Science Park.

No other facilities there yet but there's a vast Tesco at Bar Hill, while Longstanton has pub, take away, small shop, etc. Northstowe will be huge with several primaries and a secondary, and a full town's facilities.

Driving in that area is particularly bad now (and for the next 2 years!) while the A14 upgrades are done. It'll be great when it's done... or so I keep telling myself.

You might want to.look at Histon for primaries and catchment to Impington Village College.

Do look further afield along the guided busway too. Some lovely schools in & near St Ives. Thorndown at W end of St Ives is lovely, as is Houghton primary.

Thanks everyone. Cottenham has been on the short list, but the current favourite seems to be Swavesey for being on the Busway and having school places around. Bit of a juggling act fitting two kids into the same school, late applications. I look forward to seeing how Northstowe develops, I find it hard to predict what the schools will be like though as they are not all built yet, I’m a low risk taker it seems, and might plump for something already established that I can visit! How are St Ives and Huntington for shops and facilities? Might save some commutes into beautiful Cambridge for everyday things if we do end up in or near Swavesey.

Agreed, Histon seems good, but the local schools don’t have places for my kids at the moment, and the house prices are not so enticing. Actually not much on the market we could afford/want there at the moment.