Sixth form colleges Cambridge

[Anguillagirl]

Hi everyone,

I wonder if anyone has had a son at Long Road or Comberton Village College? Would love some info for a bright but not especially academic, somewhat sensitive son.

My other son went to Hills Road but he's very academic and did well there. However, I got the impression that if you weren't academic, you might struggle, even if you got the grades to get in (which my son might do....)

Long Road I have no information on. Is it a bit like Hills but more arty or just a worse version of Hills for people who can't get the grades to get in to Hills?

And Comberton - how big is the 6th form and what's the atmosphere? Is it very schoolish? My son likes the idea of a middle ground between school and uni and Hills was certainly like that with students being expected to get on with their work on their own, wearing their own clothes etc. Does Comberton have a uniform in 6th Form? How does it compare to Long Road?

I'm aware of Parkside but son doesn't want to do all the subjects of IB.

Many thanks!!

Yes, mine have been to Comberton Sixth and Hills Road. The one at Comberton found it very supportive and did very well there. He does wonder whether he'd have been more prepared for uni after a less supportive environment, but who knows?

The small size is both good and bad, as groups were sometimes very small indeed. No sixth form uniform (unless they've changed it?). Limited in anywhere to go at lunchtime, of course -- the ones who went to Hills rather enjoyed being in the thick of things.

Comberton was only in its 2nd year of having a 6th form at the time, though, so things may well have settled into a different pattern by now.

Hills is... less supportive. Younger DC's experience of asking for subject-specific support is that it didn't happen, and instead they would get a scolding for not already being on top of things. The extracurriculars are great, though, but if you've had a son there already, you'll know that.

Don't forget to factor in Hills' weird addiction to the Bloody EPQ, as it's known in this house.

...and recent experience from friends is that a not-madly-academic boy might be best avoiding the IB at Parkside.

Are you close to any other 6th forms?

I think yes, unfortunately Long Road does have the reputation of being the college you go to if you don't have the grades for Hills Rd.

But Long Road can be much the better fit for some, taking things at a more realistic pace and leading to better final grades for those students - which is much of the point.

It also depends on the subjects he wants. Product Design, for instance, has/had an utterly fab department at Long, and no equivalent at Hills.

Absolutely, but generally speaking Hills is still seen as the college for high achievers with about a third of students applying for early entry Uni places. I remember the lowest mark needed to study a subject is a 6 at GCSE and for STEM subjects they require at least a 7 whereas at Long Rd the entry requirements are lower. I have a son currently at Hills and he obtained nine grade 8s but feels he is one of the least smart in his science and maths groups so I understand your dilemma OP. My other son is less academic and sounds exactly as you describe your son above, and he looked at Long Rd but ended up going to a local school sixth form which really suited him. It was less frenetic and he was one of about 200 instead of 2300. I think he would have been lost at Long Rd.

Many thanks for all your responses.

Hmmm, I think I will have to apply to all three and see what grades my son gets next year. He hasn't decided what subjects he wants to take but they will be on the arty side I think.

Which arts? Music at Hills is a stinker unless he’s a real high flyer.

My son is at Long Rd. He loves it and can’t wait to get back. It’s a good college and I think they suffer with comparisons to Hills. It’s a totally different sort of place to Hills and unless your child is extremely academic, motivated and works well under pressure no way would I consider Hills. For me I wanted my son to enjoy sixth form and for it to be an all round positive experience not simply about grades or exams because he would have buckled under the pressure.

I think that's very sensible (and that DS2 would have been better to pick Long, really; Hills somewhat sat on his dreams).

Thanks for the feedback about Long Road OKbutnotgreat. What subjects is your son taking?

Tingalingle - when I say arty, I think perhaps photography. Certainly humanities rather than science. I do think Hills will be too much for my son but we might still apply so he has some choice.

My niece has just finished at Hills Rd and really loved going there. They do kick out any under performing students after yr12 so it is very high pressure. She has a university place at St Andrews which was confirmed despite the A level grade disaster of yesterday. My brother and I had long chat about that, how horrible it has been and I hope the GCSEs aren’t as badly done.
My nephew is disabled and will be starting at Comberton this year as they are rumoured to be more supportive of disability than Hills and have their own bus system (he would not be able to use public buses as required by Hills being in. Central Cambridge)

My ds went to Comberton Sixth Form. He needed a lot of pastoral.support and they were amazing.

In terms of not being in Cambridge City, that's true, but ds used to catch the Number 18 bus into Cambridge after lessons and meet up with friends there so it's not a biggie.

@EmmaGrundyForPM

My ds went to Comberton Sixth Form. He needed a lot of pastoral.support and they were amazing. In terms of not being in Cambridge City, that's true, but ds used to catch the Number 18 bus into Cambridge after lessons and meet up with friends there so it's not a biggie.

DS used to hang out with the school bus drivers in the forecourt and help clean the buses -- he remembers it fondly!

Yes, he sometimes caught the bus into town and then home, but it took well over an hour to do the journey that way so it was something of a rarity.

Comberton (at least at that point) had less flexibility on arrival and departure times -- he was expected to be in for the whole school day, unlike the big sixth forms. Do you know if that's still the case?

Its four years since ds was there but no expectation that he had to stay all day. He would often come home at lunchtime or go in for late morning depending on his timetable

Have a look too at The Oakes (Netherhall 6th form). Friends who had places at Hills chose it over Hills as smaller and less intimidating loved it and did very well. Have a look at Impington too? It has the IB, which isn't for everyone, but it also has the IBCP which might suit your arty son. However everyone who goes to Long Road seems to love it. I wouldn't dismiss it because it's not Hills - that might be a good thing! My own DC is just choosing and there's almost too much choice!

Thanks Biscuitsneeded - not heard of The Oakes will take a look.