Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Original poster

Racing against time with choosing secondary schools in Islington / surrounding boroughs

38 replies

Queen4Life · 27/10/2020 20:55

I'm totally out of the loop with all the secondary schools in Islington and neighbouring boroughs, so I'm struggling to pick a few in time for the deadline on the 31st of Oct (this Saturday!!!).

Have heard that Stoke Newington & Sixth Form is a good school (although i'm aware it is in Hackney borough), so will be putting this school as my first choice, but unsure about other schools locally to list! I'm conscious of catchment areas so am skeptical about listing further out schools in like Haringey for example, just really need to hear from mums who's kids currently attend schools like City of London Academy Islington (Prebend Street) and St Mary Magdalene Academy. I've heard negative reviews about Beacon High, Islington Arts and Media and of course the 'stigma attached' Highbury Grove - so will be steering clear of these! Also wondered if there any positively reviewed schools on the border of Islington, like Camden, City of London, Haringey boroughs?
Anyone got any suggestions on any decent schools that have a no nonsense approach to things, not have a headteacher that's been there donkeys years who has zero passion, enthusiasm for making the school the best it can be, have a certain level of strictness so pupils are disciplined and well mannered, have a good teacher turnaround each year (not too many leaving / starting each year), a decent and over subscribed school normally does indicate the school is in high demand for parents - as i've learned from my child's primary school being constantly under subscribed = making it a bad school no one wants to go to! Any schools that specialise in competive sports, the arts (drama orientated), music (preferably teaching drums) and really into coding (computing) would be very welcomed as my child is into all of these.

Many thanks in advance for your help!

OP posts:
ExiledinIslington · 28/10/2020 16:27

Ah so Acland Burghley is too far. Highgate Wood went up to 1.39miles on 1st Sept this year.
I know someone with a DD around your area and they have Mossbourne and Petchey on their list. I know nothing about these schools. Apparently Petchey is to avoid Highbury Grove. Are you too far from Central Foundation?

LarkDescending · 28/10/2020 15:55

You definitely won’t get into APS or Fortismere under the distance criteria from where you are.

LarkDescending · 28/10/2020 15:54

Is he at an Islington C of E primary school? This is relevant for distance places at St Mary Magdalene (assuming he doesn’t qualify in a higher admission category).

Last year the distance cutoffs were:

Foundation places (for those in Islington C of E primaries): 1.038 miles.
Open places (for those in other primaries): 0.376 miles.

Original poster
Queen4Life · 28/10/2020 15:48

Thanks for your informative reply, much appreciated. I've checked the out of borough school cut of points for distance and it really does seem to be getting tighter and tighter, so just not holding out for my child getting into schools like APS, Fortismere etc. Thanks all the same

OP posts:
Original poster
Queen4Life · 28/10/2020 15:45

Thanks for the very informative reply! Much appreciated. I'm based off Balls Pond Road and I have a boy child otherwise Highbury Fields would have been a top choice. But to be honest, I would rather stick with mixed schools.

OP posts:
Original poster
Queen4Life · 28/10/2020 15:40

Thanks so much for the awesome feedback, really appreciated. Some helpful points in there!

OP posts:
Original poster
Queen4Life · 28/10/2020 15:39

Thank you so much for your awesome feedback. Really appreciated.

OP posts:
LarkDescending · 28/10/2020 10:39

(AMSI = Islington Arts & Media)

LarkDescending · 28/10/2020 10:32

I don’t agree with your assessment that undersubscribed = bad school.

Camden has some good but undersubscribed schools due to local demographics and historic factors. E.g. Haverstock, mentioned upthread - mixed history, now good and improving under strong leadership, with places available in all year groups.

In islington you are right to avoid Beacon High, but AMSI is worth considering despite persistent undersubscription.

If you have a daughter, have you considered Highbury Fields?

LarkDescending · 28/10/2020 10:23

COLA Islington’s banding tests were scheduled to be held on 3 and 17 October. Stoke Newington School runs them in November for out-of-borough applicants.

OP can you give us more of a clue where in the borough you are?

St Mary Mags is very popular and well thought of, as a result of which it’s hard to get in on distance.

Vinorosso74 · 27/10/2020 21:11

I believe Haverstock in Camden is under subscribed and there's some positive posts way down about there.

ExiledinIslington · 27/10/2020 21:10

We have AMSI as our 6th choice. I know someone with a DC there who is thriving and says the pastoral care is really good. I went to look around last year and it has some good facilities (a wonderful theatre) and keen staff. I would say the younger years are starting to take from a broader social intake. I think it has the potential to be a decent school do don't rule it out. It's 6th as I don't think it's quite there yet.
Your DC would need to do banding tests for the COLA schools and I'm not sure in the deadline for those. Likewise I believe Hackney schools require a banding test (they weren't on our radar).
Do you have a DD or DS? Highgate Wood is well regarded and Haringey helpfully lists the cut off distances as of July (or maybe September). Acland Burghley is Camden but their cut off is quite small and there is less waiting list movement-that's quite
a creative school.
I can't comment on boys schools as I have a DD but you only mention mixed schools.

MercurytoLibra · 27/10/2020 21:02

Mary Mags is a really good school my son went there and is now at 6th form there. Highbury Grove has a terrible reputation. You didn’t mention if you have a boy or a girl. If you have a girl Elizabeth Garrett Anderson for girls is excellent and where my niece has put as her first choice.