Bassingbourn, cambridgeshire (near royston)

[AlVal]

Does anyone have an opinion to offer on this area? Potentially moving there, but don't know much about the place yet.

Thanks!

[Rawwr]

I first rode a motorbike there. True story.

[5potTurbo]

Perhaps better placed in "Homes, Gardens & DIY", as with questions of this type?

[ofcorsa]

Did Basic down there years ago. They filmed Full Metal Jacket there IIRC

[squicky]

The army barracks nearby is shutting down this year/next year. I wouldn't be surprised if that affects the house prices around the area for people who moved there to be nearby.

[Smirnoff]

I know the Army base far too well, pity its closing, yes they did film Full Metal Jacket there, and the next village east which I can remember the name of has a Pub that was run by a witch (proper Wicken type).

[Eric Mc]

Dopn't forget "Memphis Belle" - and all those Lightnings.

Was it down to be turned into an eco-town by Prescott?

[V6Paul]

Smirnoff said:

I know the Army base far too well, pity its closing, yes they did film Full Metal Jacket there, and the next village east which I can remember the name of has a Pub that was run by a witch (proper Wicken type).

Barrington has the pub with the witch!

I live in the area, have only lived there for a year though. What would you like to know about the area?

Facilities-wise, you've got a large Tesco extra at Royston but not much else in the local area in the way of shopping.
Commuting-wise, I commute into Cambridge (albeit along the A10) and have a colleague who commutes along past Wimpole which I think would be your road. Takes around 30-45 minutes into the city center (but is much better when the schools are on holiday). I guess it's getting on the same sort of distance into Stevenage, or a bit further.
Pubs/drinking/eating-wise there are a few nice places around, but I'm not very well placed to comment as I usually do my drinking in Cambridge after work.

As a village I don't rate Bassingbourn very much, but a brilliant Indian has just opened in Kneesworth. Well worth checking out if you decide to move!

[AJS-]

I think it should be wiped off the face of the earth.

[squicky]

V6Paul said:

As a village I don't rate Bassingbourn very much, but a brilliant Indian has just opened in Kneesworth. Well worth checking out if you decide to move!

That the Yuva? Been pondering trying that one after hearing a few good things about it.

[GTIR]

There's an excellent bridal shop in the town. You should pop in a check out the nice ladies.

Good car wash at the end of town and a garage.

Royston is a bit poo.

[kit80]

I lived in Cambridge and surrounding for a long while, Royston isn't the best but then that is comparing it to some quite high standard villages near by. Cambridge itself I love and can't fault it would move back there any day, so any outer village would be fine for me anyway.

Edited by kit80 on Tuesday 9th October 17:03

[V6Paul]

squicky said:

That the Yuva? Been pondering trying that one after hearing a few good things about it.

It is indeed. Quite pricey but good food. Tends to get very busy Friday and Saturday nights and service can be slow later on in the evening, but either go a little earlier or during the week and you should have a good experience!

[AlVal]

Thanks for the input. my reasoning may seem strange to some, but here it is.

I have a new baby. I'm already thinking about schooling for her.

Statistically, Cambridge University admissions are dominated by top-end private schools which I can't really afford, with the notable exception of students coming from state-run local Cambridge school hills road sixth form

see
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-14069516

So even though I accept my child mightn't even end up having the required skills or interest to go to Cambridge, I'll be damned if I won't do what I can to at least try and make such an option possible for her.

So to get into Cambridge without going to private sixth form, you gotta go to Hills Road. Fair 'nuff. So how do you get into Hills Road? Well, by coming from one of the catchment area schools for hills road, which although are mostly in very expensive areas of Cambridge, there is one school outside Cambridge in much more reasonably priced Bassingbourn village from which children can continue on to Hills Road.

The primary/secondary school in Bassingbourn seems pretty good according to the Ofsted results (not that I place a whole lot of trust in those reports).

So there you have it. Call me crazy if you will for thinking about how my 3 month old kid could get into a Russell group university, but the way I see it, I HAVE to think about it now, since the uni is fed by specific sixth forms which are fed by specific secondary schools which are fed by specific primary schools

[BigBen]

I live in the area and Bassingbourn is possibly my least favourite of the villages surrounding Cambridge (that I know of) it seems not to have much to it.

Melbourn is a better option if you need to be close to Royston for commuting purposes or further North Comberton has an excellent school and I would imagine feeds into Hills road, certainly some of the kids round here (Cambourne) go to Hills road via Comberton

Ben

[Apache]

squicky said:

The army barracks nearby is shutting down this year/next year. I wouldn't be surprised if that affects the house prices around the area for people who moved there to be nearby.

It's not closing, in fact it's future is currently alternating between a new home for a couple of BAOR Regiments or/and basic training for Afghanistans remaining years

I live in Melbourn and can confirm it is a lovely area with good links to the A1 and M11 as well as on route for St Pancras.....we're selling too

[Apache]

squicky said:

V6Paul said:

As a village I don't rate Bassingbourn very much, but a brilliant Indian has just opened in Kneesworth. Well worth checking out if you decide to move!

That the Yuva? Been pondering trying that one after hearing a few good things about it.

don't bother

[V6Paul]

Apache said:

I live in Melbourn and can confirm it is a lovely area with good links to the A1 and M11 as well as on route for St Pancras.....we're selling too

I generally like to refrain from posting too much about myself on a public forum... But I live in Melbourn too, difference is I quite like Yuva :P

My OH went to Hills Road sixth form, as you know it's by far the best state sixth form in the area, better even than some of the public sixth forms (Perse for example). She didn't go to Cambrige Uni but did get 4 As at A level and I think a large part of that is the standard at Hills Road is very high, students are pushed to achieve their very best.

That said, I'm not sure I'd choose this area for schooling - there are better secondary schools around Cambridge, and being South you pay the premium for being closer to London.

[AmitG]

AlVal said:

I have a new baby.

Congratulations

AlVal said:

Statistically, Cambridge University admissions are dominated by top-end private schools

Another way to look at it is that statistically, Cambridge University admissions are dominated by those with strong academic history and potential, and that there is a correlation between those individuals and top-end private schools.

AlVal said:

So to get into Cambridge without going to private sixth form, you gotta go to Hills Road.

Not true at all. Some colleges in Cambridge (e.g. St Johns) are private school dominated, because they have a higher proportion of places for subjects that tend not to feature in state schools (such as classics). Others, such as King's and Churchill, have a much higher proportion of state school kids. They come from all over the country, not just the local sixth form. The one thing they all have in common is that they have exceptional academic records.

AlVal said:

Call me crazy if you will for thinking about how my 3 month old kid could get into a Russell group university, but the way I see it, I HAVE to think about it now, since the uni is fed by specific sixth forms which are fed by specific secondary schools which are fed by specific primary schools

I completely understand your desire to give your daughter an advantage in the long term. I would like to offer the following thoughts.

1) These days, except in very rare cases, Cambridge does not favour applicants based on their family background, the public/private status of their school, or the geographic location of said school. They go on academic record, personal achievements, and academic/personal potential. I state this sincerely, as someone who came from an unexceptional state school and got into Cambridge to study engineering, who mixed with a huge range of state school kids when I was there, and who has had a fair bit of insight into the selection process over the past fifteen years.

(The rare cases are e.g. members of royalty and children of world leaders, where it is indisputable that background plays a part.)

2) Naturally, some schools have stronger links with the university than others. Private schools turn out a higher calibre of student on average, because they have more money and because they select their intake (so the slower kids never even get in the door). Many state schools tell their students not to even bother applying. But the idea that certain schools have some kind of privileged status, and Cambridge gives them first dibs on the places available through some kind of secret back door, is simply not true.

3) If your daughter is bright, as she no doubt will be, she will excel regardless of where she ends up.

[70proof]

AlVal said:

you gotta go to Hills Road. Fair 'nuff. So how do you get into Hills Road? Well, by coming from one of the catchment area schools for hills road, which although are mostly in very expensive areas of Cambridge, there is one school outside Cambridge in much more reasonably priced Bassingbourn village from which children can continue on to Hills Road.

since the uni is fed by specific sixth forms which are fed by specific secondary schools which are fed by specific primary schools

hope this helps mate..... hill road sixth form college has no catchment area or schools, kids from all over cambridgeshire go there.... they run an admissions policy almost like uni (incl interviews i think), so only the best students get in, and that is why many get into cambridge uni....i know for a fact many students there convert from the provate schools after gcse incl pupils from the perse and leys....

so don;t work in terms of catchment.... you have to live in cambridgeshire for sure, after that it depends on the kid..... not postcode.... swavesey and comberton have the best village schools.... our friends moved to swavesey for schooling and all three of their kids went to hills road.... also, comberton is one of the very good schools nationally

if you can move into town, then milton road primary school is the best primary school and feeds into chesterton community college, from where we know many kids have gone to hills road.... there are rich areas feeding into milton road, cheaper too.. catchment is important for milton road. HTH

Edited by 70proof on Wednesday 10th October 08:48