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WHY FAMILIES ARE
TAKING A LESSON IN EXCELLENCE AT CAMBOURNE AS SCHOOLS COME TOP OF THE
CLASS
It’s a well-documented fact that many parents choose to move to
areas where the local schools have a good reputation. This is certainly
proving to be the case at Cambourne, the thriving new community near Cambridge.
Here, the settlement’s own Monkfield Park Primary School is a shining
example of just how commendable state education can be, and word of this
is spreading far and wide.
Linda Clare, an Information Adviser in
the Cambourne Concept Centre confirms this, stating, "We receive
a great number of enquiries from people who have heard about Monkfield
Park Primary School and are considering moving to Cambourne because of
it. Many go on to actually move here. They’re also attracted by
the fact that children from the school later go on to secondary education
at Comberton Village College, which also has a first rate reputation."
Inevitably, the desire to live near good schools keeps demand and prices
in areas such as Cambourne constant, even when other locations are faltering
- good news for investment buyers in particular.
So, what are the facts about standards at both Monkfield Park Primary
and Comberton Village College? In the National Education League Tables
2002, both score well above the national average in all aspects.
Monkfield Park Primary produced the highest possible score of 100% in
both English and Science compared to national averages of 75% and 86%
respectively. It achieved 83% in Maths, 10% higher than nationally. The
school also received a glowing OFSTED Report in 2001 placing it in the
top 25% of schools nationwide.
Monkfield Park Primary is also attracting a number of prestigious accreditations,
including the Naace Mark, a national accreditation mark for quality of
standards and quality of ICT in schools. Only six such coveted accolades
have been bestowed in the entire country.
It has also achieved Health Promoting School status, an initiative launched
in 1998 to promote the health of staff, pupils and their communities,
as well as the social and mental wellbeing of the school as a whole.
Furthermore, one of Monkfield Park Primary’s teachers, Debbie Strain,
has become the county’s first primary school advanced skills teacher
(AST). The role of AST was devised to reward teachers who want to stay
in the classroom but spend the equivalent of one day a week sharing their
skills and experience with other teachers, including those from other
schools.
There are now over 250 pupils at Monkfield Park Primary in ten classes.
Phase III has now been completed in time for the start of the new academic
year, providing six additional classrooms specially designed for the 4-7
year old curriculum.
Having completed their primary education, children attending Monkfield
Park Primary are eligible to go on to nearby Comberton Village College.
This year, pupils at the school achieved spectacular GCSE results, exceeding
those of any state school for 11 to 16 year-olds in the country in 2002.
At A* to C grades, the percentage of students achieving five or more passes
was 85.2% and every pupil achieved five or more A* to G grades. The results
convincingly beat all previous Cambridgeshire state school records.
Comberton Village College is a Beacon School, that is to say a school
nominated by the Department for Education and Skills as an example of
good practice in teaching. Beacon Schools then go on to share that expertise
with other schools. Comberton Village College has also gained status as
a Specialist Sports College, although its Arts tradition remains as strong
as ever. This year it was awarded with the Arts Mark Gold – a national
accreditation that recognises excellence in the Arts.
Taking all of this into account, it is perhaps small wonder that Cambourne
is attracting residents keen to secure a top class education for their
children. Of course, there are plenty of other good reasons to move there.
The developers - Bovis Homes, Bryant Homes and George Wimpey - aim to
provide a whole new ‘living environment’ of over 3,000 homes
with shops and services on the doorstep that will encompass the best of
the past with all the benefits of modern planning.
With already 900 homes occupied and a wealth of amenities built and open,
Cambourne really is an exciting and bustling new community. For more information,
please contact the Cambourne Concept Centre on 0800 389 7525 or visit
the web site at www.cambourne-uk.com
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