Comberton or Cambourne village college

[sonia1976]

Could anyone give any advice between the two schools. I'm aware of the catchment areas and their outstanding Ofsted's. I'd just like some opinions of parents with children at the school. I'm trying to find the best fit for my child. He is quite shy, academic and we are from a mixed race family.

I have heard about a few incidents regarding racial bullying at comberton and boy gangs at Cambourne. I'm just confused on which choice is best for my child and any thoughts would be appreciated.

I asked one of my DC (I have 2 at Comberton) and they said they didn't know of any racial bullying at Comberton but agreed with your view of Cambourne. But they may know nothing since they don't go to Cambourne!

Thanks Stillnoidea. Do your DCs enjoy going to Comberton?

My son has been at Comberton for a year after we moved him from an independent school in Cambridge (he had a bad experience there for many reasons) and he absolutely loves it. He’s so much happier and his opinion is that the kids are all really nice (that he has come into contact with anyway!).

I’m sure bullying goes on in every school but he hasn’t witnessed anything bad and not any racial bullying either. Comberton seems well organised and also very on the ball with pastoral care. I get the impression from other parents that they would take any reports of bullying very seriously if it was bought to their attention. My son has had a fantastic experience there so far and I only wish we had sent him there from the start.

Thanks Leiasbuns that sounds so positive, glad to hear your son is having a good experience at school and is much happier

as much as anyone enjoys secondary school!

Wouldn’t go near Crimebourne with a barge pole....
I have 3 good friends that live there and 2 of them have DCs at the secondary school and both hate it. One leaves school early everyday so he doesn’t have to come in contact with the bullies. The friend that lives there but has no DC at secondary says the gangs of kids hanging around from 3pm onwards is ridiculous.
Other people may have good experiences there but I’ve only heard negative!

I work in one of the schools mentioned and have also just gone through applying for my child to go to secondary. I don’t want to say too much on here, but happy for you to message me for further information if you would like!

sonia1976 - I don't know many people with kids at Cambourne but I do know a lot of people with kids at Comberton and have heard very good things and no negative comments.

Leiasbuns - good to know your experience. My DS was also at an independent school which was ultimately an unsatisfactory experience. He's now at St Bede's, which is a lovely school.

@mastertomsmum I’m glad your DS is happy in his new school as well. The grass definitely isn’t always greener at independent schools. Our son actually had a fantastic group of friends at his previous school but it was the school itself that let him down. Definitely wasn’t the caring, nurturing environment that was sold to us and terribly disorganised too.

Comberton is a really caring school that values all their students and he’s made lots of great friends there as well. His confidence has returned and his academic results are much better too. Most importantly though, he’s happy!

which school do you work at please?