New Intake

A Parents' Guide from The Cam Academy Trust

Starting secondary school is a big step—not just for your child, but for your whole family. It’s the beginning of an exciting new journey filled with opportunities to learn, grow, and thrive.

As your child enters this important phase of their education, your encouragement and involvement will make all the difference. Feeling confident, supported, and well-prepared can help them make a positive start in their new environment.

This helpful booklet has been created especially for families navigating secondary school for the first time. Inside, you’ll find:

• Practical tips for managing the transition
• Insights on academic expectations
• Ideas for getting involved in the school community
• Resources to support your child’s wellbeing
• An overview of extra-curricular activities and attendance guidance

Download the full guide here

Pupils from non-feeder schools

If your child is coming to CamVC from out of catchment, please watch this video with your child before new intake days. You do not need to watch if your child attends a feeder primary school, as we will be visiting the school and delivering the assembly in person.

There are many useful documents in the download menu for this page, including activities used by our teachers during their visits to our feeder schools and our reading passport scheme.

Bridging activities for non-feeder schools

Unfortunately, we are unable to visit all the non-feeder schools to do bridging activities in person. However, these will be added to our new intake page on the website in early June, to download and complete at home. There will be a maths activity and English activity, along with a pre-recorded welcome assembly for your child to watch before new intake days in July. Please can your child bring an example piece of their work (handwriting based) to their first day in September; this will be collected in their first English lesson.

All Pupils

Tutor Groups

During the summer term, we will create the new tutor groups for Year 7. We group pupils to ensure a balance of gender, ability, behaviour, Special Educational Needs, and the particular gifts and talents of the pupils. We take advice from primary schools regarding the placement of pupils with Special Educational Needs and we ask the schools to advise of any pupils who should not be grouped together. The Year 6 teachers have no other input into the formation of tutor groups. We ensure that all pupils are placed in a tutor group where they will know at least one other pupil from their primary school, if possible. The pupils meet other members of their tutor group on the new intake days and quickly make new friends in September. 

In Year 7, pupils are taught most lessons in their tutor groups for the first half term. During this time, teachers will be able to assess pupils, and ability sets for Maths are formed during the first and second terms. The PE department also regroups pupils; therefore, your child will not spend all of their time in the tutor group and will be with different combinations of children across lessons.

Languages at Cambourne Village College

From September 2025, we are broadening our Year 7 Languages offer, to maximise student choice and engagement. All students study a Modern Foreign Language: your child can elect to study either Spanish, French, or German. Students who show an aptitude for language study will be given the opportunity also to study a second language from the mid-point of Year 7. We will group students according to their language preference, so we ask that your child makes their choice of Spanish, French, or German. You will be asked to indicate their preference on the registration documents (coming in May). We will do our best to accommodate all students’ preference.

iPads at Cambourne Village College

At CamVC, we have a rolling programme to ensure that all pupils have access to a 1:1 iPad for learning. This is because we believe that iPads empower us to work together to open new avenues to learning, so that our students are flexible and creative, and better prepared for the future. Since September 2021, all of our students have been enrolled in this scheme. Your child’s intake will be the latest year group to join the iPads for Learning programme and reap the benefits of this technology. To be able to move forward, we are reliant on parents and carers sharing our vision and supporting our plan with a monthly voluntary contribution towards their child’s iPad.

We have been working with Albion, an Apple Solution Expert for Education: www.albion.co.uk/education/apple-in-education and an educational charity whose mission is to work with schools and their parents to provide devices to pupils so that they can use technology for learning, both in school and at home. We have thus been able to provide a scheme that is funded using voluntary parental donations; the College makes no profit from this arrangement. We now have substantial experience of the enhanced learning opportunities the iPad will give our pupils and we hope that parents/carers are able to make a voluntary donation of approximately £13.53 a month over 60 months, starting in September 2025. In return, your child will receive the newest version of iPad plus case, wall charger, full insurance against damage and theft, all software and applications needed and technical support during school hours. 

The College has been able to secure funding to allow us to offer financial assistance to families who are experiencing financial difficulties. If you think your child may be eligible, please contact us via Reception (thecollege@cambournevc.org). The College has also tried to ensure the scheme is as cheap as possible and will continue to look at other possible solutions to ensure the benefits of the scheme are open to all. Full details will be within your registration pack and details of a separate parents’ iPad information meeting will be sent separately.

Cycling to School

We expect all Cambourne-resident pupils, except for some of those with special educational or medical needs, to walk, cycle, or ride scooters to school - there is cycle and scooter accommodation on site. Pupils should provide a padlock and lock their bike or scooter securely each day.   Pupils who cycle to school are advised to wear a correctly-fitting cycle helmet and to have completed Bikeability training.  The following opportunities are available:

• Level 2 Training  - for those who have not done this at primary school and wish to cycle to school in September:

Days: Monday 11^th and Tuesday 12^th August 2025

Maximum number of pupils: 12

• Level  3 Training  - for those who wish to improve skills and confidence

Days: Wednesday 14^th OR Thursday 15^th August (1 day course) 

Maximum number of pupils: 9 each day

Please ensure your child is correctly dressed for the weather conditions, including sun protection and bring plenty of water and a packed lunch. Please note that all bookings for these courses are managed by Outspoken Training directly, and can be made here: Level 2 and Level 3

Please see our website for contact information: Bikeability - Cambourne Village College (cambournevc.org)

Uniform Purchase

We believe that wearing uniform helps to create a sense of identity and community in school. Our uniform is smart, practical and comfortable and we expect pupils to wear it with pride. School-branded items should be purchased from our school suppliers (total clothing and Schoolyard). Please purchase directly from their websites: https://cambourne.schoolyard-online.co.uk/ and https://www.totalclothingshop.co.uk/camvc. This should be done ideally before the beginning of August to allow for busy periods with our supplier and delivery times. Total Clothing will also be holding a pop-up shop within the school on Thursday 3^rd July between 3-5pm.   Note: this is to try sizing; you will have to purchase online at home. Your child will be expected to be in full uniform on their first day at Cambourne Village College.

We have a range of second-hand uniform available to purchase.  Please visit our school website and complete the Second-Hand Uniform Request form to enquire about items and sizes currently available  Uniform - Cambourne Village College (cambournevc.org). If you have difficulty in providing school uniform for your child, please contact Mrs Ecclestone in confidence (secclestone@cambournevc.org ), so that a way forward can be found.

Questions:

Documents and admissions Admissions@cambournevc.org

General query or pastoral info Sminnaar@cambournevc.org

Open Evening (for new intake Sept 2026)

Thursday 23^rd October 2025  5:00 pm - 7:00 pm