Schools near Comberton

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First post, so please be nice! Possibly moving to Cambridge (if husband gets job - will know next week). Have three children to get into schools (yr 2,3 and 6), and am thinking about the Comberton Area, as need to think about secondary schools too. What are the village schools like there, and what chances do you think I will have of getting all three into the same school. Thank you!

Can't help much with primaries, I'm afraid, but I didn't want your plea to go unanswered, and I do know that Comberton Village College for secondary is great. Very oversubscribed, though, so you may well need to move close enough AND be in a feeder school. How I wish we were that bit nearer...

Friends say Meridian primary was a bit disappointing, but they stuck with it for the sake of the secondary. Things may have changed since their children were there.

You need this for up-to-date admissions info.
Looks like living nearby is now slightly higher priority than it was (so just attending a catchment school isn't the ideal).

Good luck!

I went to Comberton Village College. It did me ok. From what my mum tells me it's still very popular because it's good.

I'm not sure about the catchment area now, I was there ore years ago than I care to remember but back then it served quite a few of the surrounding villages. Our village was just over 3 miles away.

I suspect the catchment areas may have shrunk since then.

Friends live in Bourn - they moved there because of Comberton Village College but they're now worried - because Cambourn(e?) is expanding rapidly (lots of new cheaper houses; young families) and there aren't enough school places it looks like they'll be building a school in Cambourn in the next 5-10 years - which will almost certainly mean a radical change in admissions areas. Maybe move to the other side of Comberton, away from Cambourn?

Also consider just south of the city - Fawcett Primary feeds into both Netherhall and Sawston Village College, all of which are good schools.

We looked at Comberton but had the same reservations about the whole Cambourne thing as other people have mentioned on this thread. It has expanded so rapidly as a school in recent years, and the money coming in from developers will presumably stop if they are building their own secondary in Cambourne, which is bound to have a negative impact.

Thank you all for that. We used to live south of the city, so may go back there. Just thought Comberton looked that bit better. Interesting about Meridian Lancelottie - it looks like a big school and wasn't too sure about it. It has a new head though, so may be improving. Will just have to see if he gets the job, and then visit them all I guess - just hoped someone else might have done some of the leg work alrady for me! Many thanks again.

I looked around Comberton a few months ago, and I have to say I did not think it was very different from many of the other village colleges tbh, both with my parent hat on and my educationalist hat.

The main difference is (I think) that thanks to the Cambourne money, they have been able to afford to have many advanced skills teachers (something like eight at the last count), but this may change as funding tightens. I certainly wouldn't move to that area especially because of the school (and we had been considering it at one point until we looked around).

BTW according to OFSTED, I seem to remember the best primary in and around Cambridge is supposed to be Swavesey, but I am not sure what Swavesey VC is like.

I went to Linton and it was lovely then - from what I hear it is exceptionally good now. I'd love my two youngest to go there but we live in the city centre now. My eldest went to St Bede's which we were very pleased with - she was head girl, so am proud mummuy! I think the village primaries in general around Cambridge are all acceptable. Histon junior (another of my ex schools!) also has a good reputation. Not so sure that Netherhall is as good as it was, but hopefully when it's all one site it will be ok. Definitely THE sports college though.

Children not over sporty, so really need somewhere that offers lots of options. Another reason for the Comberton area is that I like the countryside - had been looking around Histon/Impington, but would quite like to have the odd contour line around if possible! We want to be near the city - so he can cycle to work if he wants, but not actually live in it, so again the line of villages Barton/Comberton/Toft looked about right. Thanks for all the help - will know mid-week if we are moving!