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Original poster

University of Cambridge Primary School - help!

18 replies

LabLabrador · 30/04/2023 14:58

Does anyone have anything good to say about the school?

We are relocating to Cambridge and have places at the school but our accommodation near the school has fallen through so we have no idea where we will be living now. I posted yesterday to ask about any parts of town that we should avoid and posters pointed me to threads about bullying and behaviour issues at the school 😫

It seemed really lovely when we visited the school and the Ofsted report made it seem amazing.

It looks like we might struggle to find somewhere to live and end up with a nightmare commute to what might be a nightmare school. Should we go back to the drawing board and look for another school? I can put up with a nightmare commute if needs be (we are renting for now so it is not forever) if the school is good.

OP posts:

BlueChampagne · 03/05/2023 14:33

Is it worth looking just outside Cambridge?

maslinpan · 19/05/2023 19:07

Girton Glebe school was very good for both our kids. It seemed to generally have a more down to earth feel than CUPS, apart from all the other good points.

PullingAnAllNighter · 10/06/2023 23:14

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

PullingAnAllNighter · 30/06/2023 18:52

Hi! Not sure why my previous post was deleted as I don't recall saying anything against the talk guidelines (?) However, apologies if I did. Essentially what I was saying was that our experience of the University of Cambridge Primary School was really poor (worth reading the other threads on Mumsnet about the school as they reflect our experience too).

Behaviour in the school was v poorly managed (which was a real shame), and the academic side of things was v poor. Our main concerns were with the leadership team, the general secrecy of the school (children not allowed to talk about some things that happened in school, at home) and with the constant attempts of the school to portray a positive image on social media (I wonder if that is why my previous post was deleted(?) It is a school that thrives on positive reputation, networking, and social media influence). In our experience, what actually happened in the school wasn't reflective of what the school tries to portray on twitter etc ... (although we loved the twitter etc.. and bought into it all at first and had high hopes for the school before DC started there).

I removed DC from the school and enrolled DC in a different local primary (not because of any one bad experience. DC was not bullied. Nothing v bad happened. I just felt v uneasy about the school, the leadership, and the way behaviour, in particular, was (not) managed). DC's new school (regular local state primary) has been a very different experience and very positive. The new school is v well led, the head teacher is warm and open, behaviour in the school is well managed, and academic standards are higher. It is a school with lots of experience and is well established. Many friends with children at UCPS use tutors, which may be part of the reason why SATS results are high (if they are).

I am sure some children thrive at UCPS. They do have some nice, hard working teachers. But sadly, overall, we found it v much lacking, with poor leadership and we have not looked back since the day we moved DC. I used to worry about DC everyday when at UCPS. Now I never worry! DC goes off to school in the morning and I know all will be well, they will have fun, they will be safe and they will learn. At UCPS I worried daily.

Best of luck OP. There are lots of really good primary schools in Cambridge. I wouldn't rank UCPS as one of them, despite the link to the uni, the glossy website, and the influential twitter feed. But I'm sure some children find it fine.

Original poster

LabLabrador · 30/06/2023 20:30

Thanks, @PullingAnAllNighter.

I didn't request that your post was deleted and I can't imagine why it would have been

That is very strange... and a bit sinister if the school social media team requested it was deleted.

OP posts:

PullingAnAllNighter · 30/06/2023 21:14

LabLabrador · 30/06/2023 20:30

Thanks, @PullingAnAllNighter.

I didn't request that your post was deleted and I can't imagine why it would have been

That is very strange... and a bit sinister if the school social media team requested it was deleted.

:) I didn't think it was you that had it deleted! I suspect it was the school! Good luck with your move to Cambridge! It's a great place to be and a wonderful city, with great surrounding villages. A fab place to raise children :) All the best

LaLollo · 05/07/2023 11:35

Hi all. I am in that area of Cam and starting to think about primary schools. Any further reflection from people re UCPS or indeed Girton Glebe would be very welcome.

UCPS is quite a hot topic. I mean, it seems to be the Marmite Primary School: the intel I have is wildly divergent. On the one hand some of the comments in here and in a number of previous threads (esp the 2019 'Is Cambridge primary school really excellent?' one) are frankly terrifying. I also spoke to a primary school teacher in the city who confirmed the sometime observation about high staff turnover; she had a friend who was interviewed for a post and then declined it before she'd heard back because she was creeped out by the atmosphere.

On the other hand, the two parents I know with kids there - good and trusted friends - simply rave about it. So like others on here I'm pretty disorientated.

I think one has to accept that parents' impressions are very very different, but understanding why they are so different is not so easy from the outside.

SoftSheen · 05/07/2023 13:33

LaLollo · 05/07/2023 11:35

Hi all. I am in that area of Cam and starting to think about primary schools. Any further reflection from people re UCPS or indeed Girton Glebe would be very welcome.

On the other hand, the two parents I know with kids there - good and trusted friends - simply rave about it. So like others on here I'm pretty disorientated.

I think one has to accept that parents' impressions are very very different, but understanding why they are so different is not so easy from the outside.

I've never had children at UCPS, though I know a couple of families who have had. There seems to be a pattern whereby people rave about the school for a year or two, then go silent and quietly withdraw them.

PonderingTwist902 · 02/09/2023 22:08

My sister has a child at CUPS, no bullying reported but she reports it to be a hectic and disorganised setting where the learning outcome for her child has been poor. She also mentioned that the school leadership are defensive when approached with feedback constructively - making it a very difficult situation to communicate.

I do not have direct experience of Girton Glebe, so cannot comment.

MamaSad · 03/10/2023 23:11

I agree with @PullingAnAllNighter.

Unfortunately, luck was not on our side. My DC was bullied at UCP. SLT were defensive or even hostile. Even now, having removed them from this school a few years ago, my child still suffers the consequences. One cannot underestimate the emotional ramifications of mistrust and trauma caused by adverse experiences during early years.
Given the profoundly crippling effect on children's lives (those who were unlucky enough to be bullied, for instance), I would worry about damage to the reputation of the University. Well above my pay grade, however.

SilverSilverStreet · 21/12/2023 12:04

I’ve just seen an announcement that the Head is leaving at the end of this month.

That’s surprisingly little notice, but perhaps parents at the school have known for a long time.

I wonder how things will change with a new Headteacher.

Original poster

LabLabrador · 21/12/2023 14:17

That's the first I have heard of it, @SilverSilverStreet ! Where did you see that?

An update: we are happy with the school so far. DC loves it and has settled well, despite hating pre-school, so we were surprised that they rush in happily every day and are making good progress. It seems to be a good fit for them. Although we may just have been lucky with their teacher and class.

I wonder whether there will be a change in culture now the head has left?

OP posts:

SilverSilverStreet · 21/12/2023 14:28

@LabLabrador , it's in the Eddington newsletter. Head is a clicky link, the announcement is dated yesterday. It's also on Instagram here.

It is little notice if parents haven't been told. How odd.

I am on the mailing list for Eddington events. I thought "The founding headteacher of the University of Cambridge Primary School is leaving to continue his own learning and professional development as a leader for an Academy Trust in London" was a strange way to put it.

It says he's starting there in 2024, but not when.

Good to hear that your DC is happy there - long may it continue.

SilverSilverStreet · 21/12/2023 14:32

I can't see anything about it yet on the school's website. It does say that term ended yesterday at 1:30pm - and the announcement may well have been made after that.

Curiouser and curiouser.

capnfeathersword · 21/12/2023 17:04

My children are at a different school in Cambridge but I knew this weeks ago (have a few friends with kids there). They've been openly advertising for a new head for a while, think they've got an interim one in for next term. Think it was first announced end of last academic year. Will be interesting to see whether a new head takes it in a new direction.

Original poster

LabLabrador · 21/12/2023 17:28

Ah, if it was announced last academic year before DC started, that would be why we didn't know.

OP posts:

Fringe2012 · 11/05/2024 22:21

I have both kids at UCPS. We love it, and my kids love it. We don’t pay for tutors (as I saw it was suggested by someone). I know someone who does have a tutor, but it’s mostly because they are studying an additional language (the native language of their parents). The teachers we have are great / were great. We had some disappointments at some point with one teacher, but after we talked about what we did not like, they adjusted the situation. Communication with families is a weak point. The community is very welcoming and my children found such lovely friends at UCPS. I have friends that worked/ works in other primaries (Milton included) and I heard such bad stories and I think that sometimes it is more important to go and visit the schools and talk with parents there or at the closest playground to have a “real taste” of a school…instead of asking people on the internet. Sadly, most of times who replies is the minority that had a bad experience (and I genuinely sad and sorry for what happened to the parents who commented negatively, it must being hard for them and I hope they will never have to experience that again)

Truthteller2025 · 23/07/2025 23:40

The school is genuinely amazing. The teachers really care about the children, the facilities are great and the teaching is outstanding. No school
is perfect and yes you might feel that you want to ensure your child has the best but just work with the school not against the school!!! My son just finished reception and has done so well. I’m so proud of the school and more my son for who he is emerging to be. The New head is also very nice too!!!!! Honestly such a great place. Can I just be the one to say - read to your kids outside of school please. Before they start just do it. Don’t blame the school it’s our responsibility as parents to be part of our kids education.

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