Coleridge vs Netherhall secondary schools?

[Parigi]

Does anyone have any views on the relative merits of these two schools, for a year 7 starter? I’m trying to make up my mind on which would be better.

Thanks very much!

Coleridge is our catchment school, but my son - now Yr 11 - attends St Bede's. His cohort from St Philip's had about 7 kids go on to St Bede's and most of the rest split between Coleridge and Netherhall with virtually all the boys going to Netherhall.

Coleridge - Then (2017) they had a new head and were part of Parkside Federation under different management from now. They were on the up but seen as the poor relation of Parkside despite having a more 21st century ready site. Now (2021) the Federation is managed by a different company and I have heard some parents complain about Coleridge atmosphere being less friendly, more strict on uniform but not necessarily better at important academic things. This is heresay though and a sizable proportion of the St Philip's children will go there.

Netherhall - way back historically Netherhall was the one grammar school site that continued as a secondary school post comprehensives coming in. It was also the only 11-18 state school in the city from the onset of comprehensives (1974) until the 2000's. In that time it was seen as the school of excellence. It would be fair to say it fell from grace/got a less good ofsted at some point and lost it's crown to Chesterton and Parkside.
Then (2017) - as my son left St Philip's Netherhall was seen by many as the more 'middle class' secondary school option. We were warned that it was 'way out of catchment' and that sometimes people who hadn't put down Coleridge at all got offered a place there and not Netherhall. That didn't happen to anyone in my son's year and
Now (2021) - about 40% of St Philip's kids per year go up to Netherhall.

Opinions - If not in catchment for Netherhall, it's a long way away and might not be on the bus route. My son plays a large brass instrument and getting there would have been an issue.
Netherhall is a very big school and Coleridge is much smaller, only you will know what works for you.
Kids at both schools seem to get on ok and parents have been happy with the choices they made on the whole.

I have children at Netherhall and they report a noticeable trickle of incomers transferring in from Coleridge. Make of that what you want:
www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/cambridge-news/students-slam-cambridge-school-resembles-22505463

We're happy at Netherhall (had kids there since 2015)

These are really helpful replies, thanks!

I too have heard about the “draconian” new regime at Coleridge which is rather scaring me, as my DC is a sensitive soul who would be extremely anxious if it’s true they have to wear their report cards round their necks and get a detention for not having their eyes fixed on the teacher at all times. Had it not been for this, I would have been almost certain to pick Coleridge as it’s very close for us. What made you choose St Bede’s, @mastertomsmum ?

The fact that Netherhall has a trickle moving over from Coleridge is both worrying and good to know about, so thank you @CamPoster . I haven’t managed to visit either school yet, but just judging from the websites Netherhall looks far friendlier and less obsessed with uniform and having the right colour pen. Yet it is further away from us, and we will also have an instrument to transport!

In results terms (including progress scores, not just attainment) I don’t think either seem particularly great? A 2019 Cambridge Evening News article has them ranked as 6th and 9th worst in the county! I do find it baffling that there aren’t much better secondary schools in Cambridge city centre. The primaries all seem excellent by comparison.

I didn’t know Netherhall was a former grammar or had had a good reputation previously, but it certainly doesn’t seem to be highly ranked now, albeit not quite as low as Coleridge. It’s a bit depressing.

We chose St Bede’s because we are CofE and we live nearby. Their excellent Ofsted is still the latest one but it was inspected long ago (2013?). It’s a great school.