(Education) Cambourne is currently served by one secondary school, Cambourne Village College, which is part of The Cam Academy Trust. The Trust applied to the Department for Education (DfE) to open a 6-form entry/900 place Free school as part of Wave 12 of the Free Schools Programme, in recognition of the significant level of planned on adjacent land to the west of Cambourne village (2,350 dwellings). However, this was unsuccessful.
Since this decision, the Council have been working collaboratively with the Trust on plans to expand the existing school to ensure that there is sufficient capacity to accommodate both the existing community and families moving into new developments within the town. Once complete, Cambourne Village College will have capacity for 11FE/1,650 places, as well as a 350 place sixth form for young people aged 16-19.
The increase of 1,950 dwellings within the town could therefore pose an issue with regards to appropriate mitigation. There is limited scope for further expansion on the school’s current site, however, the additional housing will not create enough demand to make a new secondary school viable. The Council would therefore be supportive of the view that additional development should not simply be about delivering more housing, but instead, focus should be upon how this area including Cambourne and Bourn Airfield and nearby villages will function as a place, and its relationship with Cambridge, to enhance its sustainability.