Cambridge Secondary Schools

[MariaFormosa]

Does anyone have any advice re: the secondary school situation (state) in Cambridge, please?

We are weighing up the possibility of re-locating - DH having second interview for pretty good job ... however, there really is no point us moving if the schools are v hard to get in to/no good etc. Where we live at the moment has super-grammars, which I'm pretty certain my two daughters won't be quite up to (to say the least!) - we would then be left with the under-resourced comprehensives ... so we are thinking of moving (eldest DD will be starting sec school in a few years).

I would loved a good comp, walking distance if poss (I know -the holy grail, prob won'tget it!). Any thoughts?

Secondary schools in the city and around the local villages are generally very good. There are no grammar schools and many but not all secondary schools are 11-16 with sixth form provision at sixth form colleges in Cambridge. As Cambridge is a nightmare for drivers, you will probably want to live on the side of the city that is nearest to where your DH works but you should find that you can live in the area for a good school whichever side of the city you live in.
If you are living in a catchment area of a good school, you shouldn't generally have difficulties with getting a place (waits to be proved wrong!)

Thanks Lilymaid - that's great info.

We had been thinking of the City end of Mill Road, as we are partial to being in town, and love leaving the car behind where poss... do you think that would be any good for a decent secondary?

It would be very good for Parkside Federation, one of the most popular (and oversubscribed, so living close like that would be good). It would be in walking distance of the city end of Mill Road. Many of the pupils also cycle to school there, as sometimes in the upper years, they go to the partner school (Coleridge) for some GCSE lessons etc. (Coleridge was a formerly underperforming school that became federated with Parkside). Parkside tends to still be seen as more desirable, but some of that might still be perceptions from the past. Parkside is quite small - 4 form entry. I think Coleridge is perhaps bigger.

St Bede's is a interdenominational church school that is also in that direction. It has a reputation for being quite good at the pastoral side of things.

Netherhall and Chesterton CC are also fine, and quite large. The village colleges are also popular, for many surrounding villages and outskirts. The least popular secondary is probably Manor.

Wow - sounds really positive, RunAwayHome (sorry for delay posting, popped out to street party!!) ... sounds like there's even a bit of variety, with St.Bede's as well as the others - we have a much more limited choice here.