Heritage School Cambridge

[Smedly]

I'm looking in the Cambridge area for a school with small classes and one I thought might work I turn out to be not keen on, so I am working down the list.

I searched and found some old threads about Heritage School, and I am wondering what the current thinking on it is.

We're a little worried, as atheists, that the religious overtones will be too much for us. I also don't want my child to think that we can't talk about that sort of thing, and so we set up some marginalisation for us as a family.

But also care about academics. Any current or past parents care to give an current view of the place?

Hi,
My daughter is at the Heritage School in her second year. We totally love the school. My daughter does there happily each day and comes home so full of exciting things she’s learnt. My husband is already finding she knows more about history and music and art than he does and my mother who has taught maths and further maths to teenagers who go on to Oxbridge is seriously impressed with the methods and level of my daughter’s maths already!
I worked with Cambridge students and have many friends who conduct the entrance interviews every year for 6th formers applying to Cambridge. So often I hear from them (and we read in the press) that it’s hard to find students who can think for themselves, who have a love of their subject, who have interested minds and a thirst for knowledge and understanding. I have to say that when students from the Heritage apply for university they will be these longed for applicants. The Heritage fosters a love of learning, an interest in the world, in science, in literature and every area I can think of. Just going for a walk with students from the Heritage School is eye opening and they spot birds they can name, notice what pipes have been exposed by the road works and recently at Windsor Castle I thought a room didn’t have anything interesting for children in it when my daughter piped up and named all the kings and queens in the portraits on the wall that I hadn’t even noticed.
The Sports teaching and facilities are incredible. The Heritage is across the road and is able to use the best pitches and pool in Cambridge. Mr Hulett is a role model for the littles ones right up to the oldest teenagers and the success in sports matches is brilliant. My son is the sort of boy who will love rugby and will need running about and I am 100% confident Mr Hulett and his assistants will teach him the skills and character needed to enjoy sport competitively.
I am so thankful I heard of this school. I have a friend who is a fit and sporty guy who loves to work outdoors and yet interested in history and physics and classical music. I asked him how he got his love of learning as I couldn’t picture him sitting in a library all day. He explained that he had been taught about history by visiting castles etc and he opened my eyes to the methods of the school. After that I knew the Heritage was where I wanted my children to go and it’s hasn’t disappointed. The parents and teachers are very supportive and chatting in the playground actually outweigh the stress of the school run.

Hi,
My daughter is at the Heritage School in her second year. We totally love the school. My daughter does there happily each day and comes home so full of exciting things she’s learnt. My husband is already finding she knows more about history and music and art than he does and my mother who has taught maths and further maths to teenagers who go on to Oxbridge is seriously impressed with the methods and level of my daughter’s maths already!

I worked with Cambridge students and have many friends who conduct the entrance interviews every year for 6th formers applying to Cambridge. So often I hear from them (and we read in the press) that it’s hard to find students who can think for themselves, who have a love of their subject, who have interested minds and a thirst for knowledge and understanding. I have to say that when students from the Heritage apply for university they will be these longed for applicants. The Heritage fosters a love of learning, an interest in the world, in science, in literature and every area I can think of. Just going for a walk with students from the Heritage School is eye opening and they spot birds they can name, notice what pipes have been exposed by the road works and recently at Windsor Castle I thought a room didn’t have anything interesting for children in it when my daughter piped up and named all the kings and queens in the portraits on the wall that I hadn’t even noticed.

The Sports teaching and facilities are incredible. The Heritage is across the road and is able to use the best pitches and pool in Cambridge. Mr Hulett is a role model for the littles ones right up to the oldest teenagers and the success in sports matches is brilliant. My son is the sort of boy who will love rugby and will need running about and I am 100% confident Mr Hulett and his assistants will teach him the skills and character needed to enjoy sport competitively.

I am so thankful I heard of this school. I have a friend who is a fit and sporty guy who loves to work outdoors and yet interested in history and physics and classical music. I asked him how he got his love of learning as I couldn’t picture him sitting in a library all day. He explained that he had been taught about history by visiting castles etc and he opened my eyes to the methods of the school. After that I knew the Heritage was where I wanted my children to go and it’s hasn’t disappointed. The parents and teachers are very supportive and chatting in the playground actually outweigh the stress of the school run.

Hi sorry to resurrect this thread, did you ever go to the Heritage school? If so, have you found it good? Apologies if you decided against, I’m just in the same boat 4 years later!

Hi I find the comments are generally good but not the inspection reports. There seemed to be quite a few actions have to be taken towards the management. The teaching and learning looks satisfactory though. I would also like to hear from those who knows the school. Thanks.

www.heritageschool.org.uk/information-for-parents/ofsted/

Thanks for the report, from word of mouth it seems good and I find them very approachable and kind. However, there is no before/aftercare which is a bit of an issue @dcwolfie have you tried any other schools? Can't believe how stressful finding the right school in Cambridge is they're either full, over subcribed or you need to be a certain religion... best of luck with your search

Heritage School is a lovely kind school and your child will be respected as an individual. I think it is good at the infant level where the children can benefit from the smaller class sizes and very gentle and encouraging environment, but there are significant down sides to consider at the junior and senior level. It is a school that does and will not use technology, meaning the children do not benefit from the enjoyable and alternative routes to learning available elsewhere, and the online learning during the lockdowns has been very limited, repetitive and reliant on parents. The subject range is relatively limited, and heavily focussed on classics, which will not be for every child. If you are not religious then I don’t think you will find the teaching too focussed on Christianity, however the school has changed in the last couple of years in that the parent cohort, parent committee and board has become increasingly related or intertwined, all going to the same small group of churches, and conversations mentioning religion increasingly dominate conversation. There are some excellent teachers, but so too have excellent teachers been lost due to management blinkered to suggestion and experience, which is worrying alongside the resurgence in religious following when the school is already following an alternative Charlotte Mason philosophy. I have found the most positive aspect of the school is some of the wonderful teachers that will treat your child with understanding and positivity.

Hello! Would anyone who has kids at Heritage be willing to speak to me about your experience? We are very inclined to send our little one there but would like to have a more elaborate conversation with some current / past parents - thanks a lot!

@IzzysMum2010 how lovely, fab that you're still having a special experience! Yes, I'll definitely be reaching out :) thanks for being so quick at replying!

Hi,

How about your feeliongs on Heritage? Very few experience shared on mumsnet.

Hi, I have two children attending Heritage. They both started at the age of 4 year and the eldest is now 12 years. Both children absolutely love the school. They are naturally quite quiet and sensitive children and the school has given them confidence and a positive space to be themselves. They come home from school happy and sometimes even excited about something they had learned that day (even at the age of 12). As a parent I couldn't be happier.

It is a small school and so has correspondingly fewer reviews.

Personal I feel lucky and privileged to have my children attend.

Also on a practical note, the grades they are able to achieve at GCSE level are impressive given they have very small year groups. There is no where to hide

The lower school is more gental in terms of homework etc encouraging children to have freetime, join clubs and read for fun, but the school work is still ambitious. In seniors the work they produce is impressive.