University of Cambridge Primary School

[WorkingMumDoingTheBestICan]

I’m in the process of moving to Cambridge. My primary school aged children have had a terrible education at their school which just went down hill from when my eldest started but we’ve struggled to see our house.

We wanted to send them to university of Cambridge primary based on their academic results, proximity to where we are moving and I like the idea of new schools. There were some posts on here a few years back from parents to say the school had issues and secrecy was a thing but can see there is a new head now. How is the school now? I don’t want to base my judgement on Ofstead as I know tha can change over night like the Spinney which went from outstanding to needs improving.

Check the catchment for secondaries if you live in catchment for that primary. I know someone who lives locally. People moved to be in catchment for the primary largely because of the name, and have now realised there are catchment issues for secondary unless you intend to go private

Thank you, my children are still 3 and 5 years from secondary. I’m hoping the new school will be built. If not, then Chesterton?

Thank you, my children are still 3 and 5 years from secondary. I’m hoping the new school will be built. If not, then Chesterton?

My understanding is there are delays. Are you in catchment for Chesterton where you are moving to? I'd double check

Chesterton has a very small catchment I think due to it’s popularity - there are lots of good primary schools in Cambridge I wouldn’t particularly focus on one

Darwin green. I double checked and it is in the catchment for Chesterton.

Just to warn you, for the last two, possibly three years, Chesterton has not had space to admit all those who live in catchment. Your DC would need to be at a feeder school - and University of Cambridge Primary isn't one.

If you're on Facebook, join the Cambridge Parents FB group and ask there. You can also search for previous posts as people have asked about UCPS school before (including recently).

PP are absolutely right that you need to consider secondary schools as a priority. My advice would be to choose the secondary school first and then send your children to a feeder school - although it will of course depend if the school has spaces in their year groups. There's a document that's updated regularly and published on this page: https://www.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/residents/children-and-families/schools-learning/apply-for-a-school-place/in-year-admissions/making-an-application It is not always 100% accurate so you should also contact the schools directly to check.

Is your oldest in Y3 or Y4? Either way, I wouldn't want to move school or house again before they start secondary. So you need to be in catchment and in a feeder school for the secondary you want. You can't go too wrong with primary schools as there are plenty of good ones.

The feeder primaries for Chesterton are Arbury, Mayfield, Milton Road and St Luke's - I've heard good things about them all. Have a look on the facebook group or create a new post to ask there. But you'll need to go for whichever school has space in the year groups your children will join. You might not have much of a choice.

Thank you so much for the advice. I have requested to join the FB group

Thank you for the advice, I have requested to join the fb group

👍

FWIW I would try for Mayfield as it's a lovely school, close to Darwin Green, and they seem to have spaces in Y1&Y2, but you'd need to join the waiting list for your oldest. I think with in-year admissions the waiting list order is based on the usual admissions criteria so your child might be very high on the list if you're in catchment and even higher if your youngest starts there, due to sibling priority.