Cottenham Village College
How would you rate Cottenham Village College?
Reviews
Based on 28 reviews and 246 answers
Ratings by area
Average of 28 reviews with area ratings
- Food2.9
- Outdoor environment2.7
- Activities2.5
- Indoor environment2.4
- Safety2.2
- Communication2.1
- Education2.0
- Staff2.0
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- Student1.04 October 2025
CvC is really bad
The food is so overpriced it put my parents in debt now we’re homeless and the safeguarding team yeah right more like the C1 team every day it seems like I get a complementary detention for being a good person and telling the truth and I take 1 step off my bus and I get greeted by the school motto TUCK YOUR SHIRT IN CHILD Then Miss Goudie will sit on you and fart They don’t even let you get on ur bus you have to wait and I’ve missed my bus many times because they didn’t let me get on while o...
- Parent1.025 January 2025
Discrimination rife in this school.
Inept senior leadership team. Disability discrimination rife. No understanding of children and their mental health. More interested in what students are wearing than providing a nurturing and safe learning environment. No accountability for mistakes. Principal Zoe Andrews is dishonest in her communications and clearly on a power trip.
- Student1.01 January 2025
terrible school
this school is just generally really bad. all they care about is your uniform and if you have your socks in the correct colour, dare and wear white socks you will be in detention within seconds, if you are not wearing the correct uniform they will give you uniform from the school and make you change. they don't care how you feel, how your doing, if you're struggling with anything or not what they care about is how you present the school, they expect 11-15 year olds (literally just teenagers) to...
- Student1.023 October 2024
This school is going to get shut down soon
I’m currently in year 10 and this school is horrible the current head teacher only comes out her office if there are visitors to the school it is also far to small for the amount of kids that attend the school also the most the teachers only care about results as all the good teachers have left because of how bad the school is teachers also refuse to listen to you when you are trying to talk to them about any school rules not to mention the article Cambridgeshire live wrote about this uniform problems
- Student1.023 October 2024
hair in food ?
hair in my food ?? I will NOT be having hair in my food that's is UNACCPECTABLE
- Other3.021 September 2024
Tis time for ADVENTURE
An Epic Review of Cottenham Village College: The Adventure Awaits In the heart of Cambridgeshire, nestled between rolling fields and the whispers of ancient history, stands a school unlike any other—Cottenham Village College. But this is no mere institution of learning; it is a crucible of adventure, where every student embarks on a heroic journey from the moment they pass through its legendary gates. This is not a review of a school. No, this is a tale of valor, wisdom, and the trials that forge young minds into legends. The Realm of Cottenham: A Place of Discovery At first glance, Cottenham Village College may appear like a typical school, but look closer and you'll find a realm teeming with possibilities. The school’s sprawling grounds are more than mere buildings—they are the battlegrounds where students face their greatest adversaries: ignorance, doubt, and the looming specter of unfinished homework. The classrooms are not just rooms, but arenas of intellect where the clash of ideas resonates like the ringing of steel. In every lesson, whether it’s Mathematics or English, History or Science, the students are called to prove their worth. The teachers, wise sages in their own right, do not simply impart knowledge—they issue quests. Each lesson is a map, leading to hidden treasures of understanding and mastery, with the students themselves cast as valiant heroes on the hunt for truth. The Trials of Learning: A Hero’s Path Every day at Cottenham Village College is a test of endurance and willpower. The bell rings not as a signal to begin class, but as a trumpet announcing the start of the day’s challenges. The quests are many and varied: the Pythagorean Quest in Mathematics, the Narrative Saga in English, the Chemical Trials in Science. Each subject is a different domain within this vast kingdom, ruled by its own arcane laws and logic. Math lessons are not just about numbers—they’re the deciphering of ancient codes, the solving of riddles left by wise scholars of old. Science is no simple subject, but an alchemical pursuit, where experiments are the forging of new paths in the elemental world. In History, students are time travelers, uncovering the tales of ancient civilizations and forgotten empires, learning the lessons of those who came before. And let us not forget the Library, a place that rivals the legendary archives of Alexandria, where students seek sacred texts (and probably some YA fiction) to aid them in their quests. The Fellowship: Friends and Allies As every adventurer knows, no journey is undertaken alone. At Cottenham Village College, students do not simply sit side by side—they form fellowships, bound together by common trials and shared victories. Together they face group projects, collaborative assignments, and the fearsome school plays where courage is tested onstage before the entire school. Friendships forged here are not just fleeting bonds, but alliances made in the heat of scholarly battle. Lunch breaks in the Great Hall (also known as the cafeteria) are not mere moments of rest, but gatherings of strategists and warriors, sharing tales of their battles with algebra, recounting the heroic victories in last week’s debate, or planning their next assault on the dreaded pop quiz. The Masters: Guides Along the Journey No epic journey would be complete without mentors—those wise guides who push heroes to their limits, only to reveal the strength they had within all along. At Cottenham Village College, the teachers are the true masters of this domain. Whether they wield whiteboards or projectors, they are the ones who shape the futures of their students with words of wisdom and, occasionally, mysterious homework assignments. Take, for example, the Masters of Mathematics—strategists and number-wielders whose minds are sharp as blades. Or the Elders of English, whose command of language is so vast they can transport their students into worlds unknown, through the power of storytelling alone. The scientists, those alchemists of knowledge, concoct their experiments like wizards summoning unseen forces. But even the strongest students will encounter failure on this path. There will be battles lost—homework forgotten, tests failed—but it is here, in these moments of defeat, that the true strength of Cottenham’s students is revealed. For no hero rises without first stumbling, and the teachers here understand this well. They guide, support, and challenge, ensuring that each student leaves stronger than when they arrived. The Arena: Sports and Combat Beyond the classroom, Cottenham Village College has its own proving grounds: the sports fields. Here, students test their physical limits, learning the art of teamwork and discipline. Whether on the football pitch, the basketball court, or in the athletic competitions, these arenas echo with the cheers of victory and the groans of near-defeat. P.E. lessons are not mere exercises—they are training sessions for warriors in the making. The dodgeball games are reminiscent of battles from ancient myth, where agility and strategy are as important as strength. And in each game, a new hero rises, determined to prove their worth. The Final Exam: The Ultimate Test Every adventure must come to an end, and for the students of Cottenham Village College, the final year is the ultimate trial. The GCSEs (General Certificates of Scholarly Excellence, as they are known in this epic realm) loom like a dragon guarding the treasure trove of academic achievement. Only those who have honed their skills over the years, mastered their subjects, and shown true courage will survive. In the weeks leading up to these exams, the students undergo their final tests of perseverance and intellect. The teachers, now more like battle-hardened generals, give their last pieces of advice before sending their young warriors off to face the trials alone. Conclusion: A Legend in the Making Cottenham Village College is no ordinary school—it is a land of adventure, where students become legends in their own right. Each student, upon walking through its gates, begins their own personal epic. And while some may falter and others may triumph, all will leave having been shaped by the challenges they faced. So, if you seek an adventure unlike any other, a place where learning is not just a chore but a quest, and where every student can become the hero of their own story—then Cottenham Village College awaits. Its gates are always open to those brave enough to answer the call.
- Other3.021 September 2024
A school
Review of Cottenham Village College: An In-Depth Exploration of Every Possible Aspect When I first heard about Cottenham Village College, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. Nestled in the picturesque surroundings of Cambridgeshire, it's a school that, on the surface, seems much like any other. But is it? I spent considerable time contemplating, reading, and observing from afar before deciding to write this extensive and ultimately circular review of what is, by all accounts, a functioning school in the United Kingdom. Let's dive in, shall we? The Location: It Exists, and It's in Cottenham Cottenham Village College, as the name suggests, is situated in Cottenham, a village that’s undoubtedly a part of the world we live in. The village itself is there—trees, buildings, streets, and probably a post office. It exists in time and space, and I can confidently say it is geographically situated in the right place. Whether you’re driving, walking, or arriving by some other means of transportation, you will indeed find yourself at the college if that is your intended destination. I think this is a crucial point that cannot be understated. The Building: Yes, There Are Walls The school buildings are, as far as I could tell, made of materials that one would expect buildings to be made of. Bricks, glass, and steel all come together to form what we know as a "building." It has walls, and these walls seem sturdy. The doors? Functional. The windows? Transparent. The roof? Firmly above your head. All in all, it meets the standard criteria of a building and goes beyond by having rooms inside where things happen—like learning, perhaps, or just sitting around. The Students: They Are There Students attend Cottenham Village College, and this is a key part of what makes it a school. These students range in age, as students often do, and they seem to exist within the bounds of the student-teacher relationship. What struck me was the sheer variety of students. Some had backpacks; others did not. Some were walking in groups; others walked alone. This diversity of movement is not unique to Cottenham Village College, but it is certainly present. What are the students like? Well, they look like students. Some wear uniforms, which could be considered clothing, and they walk from one class to another as students tend to do. I didn’t ask any of them what they thought about the school because that didn’t seem necessary. The fact that they were there spoke volumes. Are they learning? I can’t say for sure, but something must be happening. The Teachers: People Who Teach Teachers at Cottenham Village College fulfill their roles as educators. They stand in front of classrooms, sometimes with chalk, sometimes with markers, and impart knowledge or, at the very least, information. What do they teach? A variety of subjects, I imagine, though I didn’t ask. I can confidently say that lessons are being delivered, whether in maths, science, English, or something else entirely. These teachers are professionals in the sense that they are paid to do what they do, and the students listen, or at least they seem to. The Curriculum: What You Would Expect Like all schools, Cottenham Village College has a curriculum. Whether that curriculum is cutting-edge or utterly average is a mystery I have yet to solve. I assume it involves standard academic subjects like English, mathematics, and the sciences. I suspect there are history lessons, maybe some physical education, and likely a bit of art thrown in for good measure. The important takeaway here is that learning, in one form or another, probably occurs. How well is the curriculum delivered? Well, that’s something I cannot say with certainty, having never attended a single lesson. But I did observe students walking in and out of classrooms, which is a positive sign that things are happening. And isn’t that, in the end, the essence of education? Things happening? The Atmosphere: People Are There The atmosphere of Cottenham Village College is undeniably atmospheric. You can feel the sense of schoolness in the air. It’s a place where things have a certain texture and tone that can only be described as “school-like.” There are hallways, which are ideal for walking through, and classrooms, which are ideal for sitting in. There is a canteen where food is consumed, which is exactly what you would expect in such a location. The vibe is neither too exciting nor too dull. It's just there—calm, collected, and precisely what one imagines when they think of "school atmosphere." It exists in a state of relative calm punctuated by the occasional ringing of a bell, which presumably signals something like the end of a class period. Extracurricular Activities: Probably Happening Cottenham Village College, like many schools, likely offers extracurricular activities. What those activities are, I didn’t bother to find out. Perhaps there is a football team or a drama club. Maybe they have a debating society or a chess club. The possibilities are endless, though realistically, they are probably finite. Whatever the case, I am sure that students can engage in something beyond academics if they choose to. These activities are likely structured and occur at regular intervals, possibly after school hours. It is important to recognize that the mere potential for extracurricular involvement is a positive feature, even if I didn’t personally witness any activities taking place. Conclusion: A School That Is Definitely There In conclusion, Cottenham Village College is a school. It’s there, it’s functional, and students attend. There are teachers, lessons, and a general sense of learning in the air. While I can’t confirm the effectiveness of the education or the happiness of the students and staff, I can confidently say that Cottenham Village College exists and operates as one might expect a school to do. Is it the best school in the world? I don't know. Is it the worst? Unlikely. But Cottenham Village College stands as a testament to what a school can be: a place where people go to learn—or at least to be present while learning happens around them. If you’re looking for a school that fits all the necessary criteria of “being a school,” Cottenham Village College will meet your expectations.
- Other4.019 October 2023
Lovely School
Absolutely amazing school. I couldn't be happier teaching here. The students are all lovely, the staff as well. Lessons are well planned out and the children understand what is expected of them. Great behaviour policies in place as well!
- Student1.016 April 2023
DO NOT Recommend!
Hateful school! I Don't recommend, teachers are meant to help students and inspire whilst the teachers here are doing the opposite!! They are just walking around letting their anger out on kids still learning.
- Student3.016 April 2023
Do not recommend!
The school meals are great but the teachers aren't, teachers are meant to help students and inspire whilst the teacher here are doing the complete opposite.
- Student1.07 March 2023
Looking to move my child to another school
Kids are not allowed to be kids. They are treated unfairly and will be suspended for silly reasons. School unable to.advise where my child's send funding is going and grades have dropped year on year. She is very unhappy along with many other children who attend
- Parent1.07 February 2023
Failure!!
Awful school! Send department is a complete joke! No care at all for students, no one listens to the young persons voice! Always passing the buck - not my job, I’m new in post!! Failed my daughter from day 1! Not organisation, no continuity, no care, no respect for parent views or students! Just worried about ticking boxes and getting everyone to fit into them! If you don’t then they disregard you and ignore you! Shocking!! I would not recommend!! Keep your kids away from this toxic environme...
- Parent1.07 February 2023
Psychological abuse, and failure of SEND
As a former parent nothing to do with current situation has changed. The school is appalling. They fail in identifying students who present with difficulties and they’re written off with bad behaviour! Two children of the sane family soul destroyed by sheer ineptitude. Get staff who are qualified not flaming wannabe MP status snob teachers or teachers who are past their prime!
- Student5.010 January 2023
Cool school!
A certain head of a subject at this point in time is awesome, a certain form likes them very much, the school is amazing, thanks :)
- Student1.030 November 2022
worst school
noone is taking care of one of the biggest problem that is in this school which is bullying. Every single day lots of students are getting bullying or harassed and noone has a word about it. I can't even remember how many times we've those things to the principal but nothing changed.. It's just disappointing
- Parent1.021 October 2022
School refuses to investigate complaints
Want to make it clear I'm a parent not a student. I have today had to speak with my local mp as the school refuse to speak with me about a complaint I have made regarding a teacher. Rather ties with the extremely worrying review below. I'm now extra worried. My younger children will attend this school over my dead body
- Former Student1.02 October 2022
Don’t care about mental health.
Left a few years back. Some great staff and also some very untrained staff. The school is not fit to deal with mental health and in all is more worried about uniform over their’ students actual well being. There was the odd teacher who actually cared and was willing to be there but there were too few like this for the school to be considered a good place to learn. At best the school was poor.
- Student1.03 July 2022
stay away
overall not a very good school. a few of the teachers aren't nice, they're overly strict and they will humiliate you in front of the class if you don't know the answer to a question they ask. i'm not sure why they do this, maybe they think it'll encourage the students to work harder. but it doesn't work, and it just lowers the student's self esteem. as well as this, they don't deal with bullying.
- Former Student1.01 July 2022
bad school
awful school. i attended and was forced to move schools due to being raped on a school trip. nothing was done to the student not even a talk so they completely got away with it. this is not only the schools fault but also the police forces'. its an unfair school with obvious favourites. now they make the children do "drills" as if they are in some sort of army camp just to show authority. its humiliating and not a good learning environment. not only this, but the new head is no where to be seen.
- Student2.027 April 2022
Discrimination
Experienced misogyny, homophobia and racism all in this one school. Many teachers overhead people saying bigotry things and say nothing. But then the teachers decide to protect the person who sexually harassed and assaulted people by not giving him proper punishment. They claim he's getting bullied but he is not. Faculty always defends the wrong people
- Student4.016 October 2021
My cottenham village college review
It's a really nice school lovely people I do recommend thus school
- Former Student1.08 October 2021
Don’t send your children here.
This is the worst school in Cambridgeshire by far. Many students got sexually assaulted here and nothing was done about it. Me and many other students were victims of bullying, homophobia and racism and after reporting this to the school many, many times over each year I was there they did nothing about it because there “wasn’t enough evidence” or it was a “waste of time” and they had “better things to be doing”. The teachers did not care about students mental health at all. I went seeking for h...
- Former Student1.028 August 2021
ex-student, bad experience
got sexually assulted on a school trip. they didnt do anything about it because "they couldnt". i had to leave and the person involved got zero punishment. i go to a new school now. much better. they need to focus on what students say and not what they think.
- Student2.025 June 2021
Awful Experience
School focused too much on things like how smart you look instead of your wellbeing. They take pride in having a smart appearance and strict rules rather than properly caring for students. Autistic people need better help and so do people with anxiety. Was extremely stressed here and depressed. Clearly was struggling but got rubbish support despite constant meetings with parents. Was too anxious to even eat and detentions were handed out left and right for thing so such as shirt collars being tucked in. Staff distrusted lessons to do uniform checks because if we had earrings or the wrong jewellery it would be "distracting" though taking 10 mins from a lesson just to check was distracting enough. Was told I don't look autistic and got shouted at multiple times when upset, a teacher turned me away from my mum and whispered in my ear instructions to stop crying and leave Mum. Also witnessed students making fun of another student (her clothes had a stain and they thought she spoke strangely), teacher sat, watched and did nothing. Worst years of my life. Glad I'm not going there anymore.
- Student2.017 April 2021
Educate us on matters today
Although the schooling is good. People are not educated well enough on activities and movements that happen today. For example most people are very sexist yet the teachers don’t do anything about it
- Student3.023 November 2020
Too focused on looks.
Education is good, but we need a headteacher who spends more time on our wellbeing and quality of education then uniform and shoes and skirt length. Promised by astrea academy air conditioning as well as other new things, only thing we got was new uniform.
- Student4.023 October 2020
Student of Cottenham Village College
Whilst the education is mostly average and at times astounding, the handling of behaviour is poor. When a student acts out in class they are typically given a warning and then a detention, however, often that student isn't dealt with accordingly. They repetitively act out and only get warnings.
- Student4.031 August 2020
Decent
Pretty decent, but could do with a better headteacher, one that actually does something to improve the school and doesn't just change the uniform.