Cobham Free School

[Janacek]

Looking at this school for my ds (senior dept). Wondered if anyone had any experience of the primary dept? DS is 11 and musical.

[kiddyhope15]

Interested in CFS as not offered place at beginning of March, now received offer today. Wondered if this was due to parents dropping out due to Dominic Raab's comments in parliament/local Guardian? Unsure what to do as school has not been built and not comfirmed on being built yet. anybody know what is happening. Hate to hold on to place and stop another child as son got 1st choice state school. Help not PR please

[nlondondad]

I think you need to contact CFS, explain that you hold their offer and another, and then ask your questions, and than you have to judge by what they answer and how they answer.

[Janacek]

kiddyhope. I would hold onto both places. That is what we have all been advised to do until the funding agreement is secure. I spoke at length to the admissions team and they are being as open as they can be but like us they are waiting to hear about the funding agreement. We are also holding onto 1st choice state school but will take the CFS place as soon as it is all agreed hopefully. Hope that helps.

[nlondondad]

@janacek

How long can you hold on to both places? is there a deadline by which you have to choose?

[Janacek]

I guess there is, but as yet we haven't been given a deadline. The funding will have to agreed in the next couple of weeks so I think it is only because the funding wouldn't be through before the 17th March closing date for state secondary application. I hope it is through before the end of this term....

[Banter]

According to the residents association newsflash and greenbelt group www.cobhamgreenbelt.org.uk/ "we have received the strongest of indications that the Chippings farm development of 500 houses and a free school is now unlikely to proceed to planning application and we therefore now await any revised proposals for the free school." Have the parents of the September 2014 intake been told where their children will be educated?

[Banter]

www.elmbridgeguardian.co.uk/news/11251047.Cobham_Free_School_secondary_plans_in_doubt/

[Pinkie15]

Hi, thanks for your posts Banter. I just thought I would add this link too. As a parent at CFS I am so pleased that at least the BBC can get correct and accurate information out there!
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-27686449

[Banter]

Pinkie

There was nothing on the school's website when I posted, because I checked it before doing so. That was more than a week after the withdrawal of Cala Homes had been publicised, which is why I asked if parents/prospective parents had been updated.

[Janacek]

Hi, I am prospective parent and am keeping an eye on school website and local press. We have also had emails from Admissions and the yr 7 induction days are going ahead this week. As far as we know the yr 7 cohort will be based at Portsmouth Rd and according to the school's website they are making good progress on securing a permanent site. Although I have heard rumours about where the site is I have had nothing official from the school. I am confident that DS will be attending CFS in Sept.

[Banter]

No doubt Pinkie will be along soon once the school decides to share "correct and accurate" information, but in the meantime the local paper is quoting the new location as being next to the football ground near the car park. www.surreycomet.co.uk/news/elmbridge/11310094.Cobham_Free_School_finds_a_new_greenbelt_home/

[Pinkie15]

As correctly assumed by Banter here is the link to the "correct and accurate" information www.cobhamfreeschool.org.uk/news/cfs-secures-permanent-site-for-senior-dept

[Bar123]

I heard a funny description of Cobham Free School the other day: Someone called it the Marmite School; You either love it or hate it.

[allisgood1]

I am a CFS mum. If you look me up you'll also see this is not my first post.

We had our first year at CFS this past year. I really cannot speak highly enough of the school. I have been impressed with the teachers, curriculum, and head of the school. My dc has excelled at CFS and I have no doubts in the teaching ability of the staff.

Having said that, I am extremely disappointed that a secondary cohort of students are coming in next year without a permanent site definitively in place. Although the school have secured a site, this is still subject to planning permission and green belt land (again). I have no doubt that CFS will secure this place, however it concerns me more that it may be that the primary and secondary share the Portsmouth rd site for the next two years. There is not enough space for this, with two classes being sent back to the gospel hall in September while temporary accommodation is secured. It does concern me that the school have said they will be an "all through school" for the next 2 years but where???

I believe that CFS have expanded far too quickly and these next two academic years will be rocky. I have no doubt that what is formed after that will be anything less than fantastic, I'm just sorry that we will have to get through the next two years in a rather cramped school environment.

[Banter]

More than 6 months on, there's still nothing further on the planning front for the new site on the school website, Elmbridge borough nor the residents association. It seems highly likely that this site is unsuitable given that the funding for the school has already been agreed. There isn't room on the current site for all of the new Y7 and new reception, so where will they be?

[Banter]

Presumably negotiations have continued with St Andrews such that it can be a feeder in exchange for part of its site. www.kingstonguardian.co.uk/education/educationnews/11427052.Source_reveals_wrangle_over_Cobham_Free_School_s_secondary_site/