City of London Academy (COLA) Shoreditch Park

I’m so pleased you managed to sort thus out. I’m sure our children won’t be the only ones who don’t know anyone. Let your DC know he’s not on his own in that experience.

It’s such a stressful situation applying for schools, and I totally relate to the initial reaction. I knew very little about the school, basically we knew nothing and got quite worried. So we just started researching immediately! We looked up grading results, saw they out performed all the super sought after schools. For example theres a big thing about sending your child to SMMA in Islington, and Central Foundation boys again considered one of the best, and several others too, but Shorditch Park is out doing all of them! We were a bit taken back by this as it just wasn’t on our radar, and now I’m not sure why… We just put it down as an option because I had remembered hearing it was good a few years back. Then we looked up the Ofsted report online and discovered the school has just been rated outstanding in every area. So from there we spoke to people we knew who had kids there. And all feedback is fantastic. They are strict but not crazy strict, and the kids seem to be super proud and happy there.

Often it’s easy to miss a school because it’s rating isn’t outstanding, that’s our story for sure. Now they are rated outstanding I can imagine Shorditch Park will become very popular over the next couple of years. So we’ve got in and a good moment. When we might miss out in later years.

Anyway, I’m glad you got it sorted out and your DC can enjoy the rest of his time in junior school knowing he has a great secondary waiting for him.

Hi OP. We know several families with children at COLA SP and they are all happy and thriving. Can you phone Hackney Education and keep your offer. My DS didn't get Mossbourne either and in hindsight he is happy given what's going on and now we know what the culture is really like. Also COLA results are great, academically it's in line with MCA as far as I know.

My son got a place at Shorditch Park, we had wanted central foundation boys, but after looking into the offer we saw it's out performing EVERY local school, we are in Islington and have loads of Outstanding schools, but shorditch park is out doing them all. The head went to Cambridge university and is of the mind that every child deserves the best standard of education private or state.

I panicked at first as we had put it third or fourth, we had heard it was great but hadn't looked much into it. We did lots of research fast!! And can honestly say if Central Boys Foundation come back with an offer we wouldn't take it.

I don't know if theres any way you can undo the rejection? Because t won't stop you child getting offered a place at a preferred school if something opens up. It's just a safety net in case you aren't offered your preferred choice.

It's likely that a place might open up, especially if you preferred Mossbourne because the allegations were not public knowledge when parents made their school preferences, and i can imagine a lot of parents regret putting it first.

We are now over the moon, our son doesn't know anyone either, but while he's a little afraid he is excited to meet new people, if he was really worried it would be a harder choice, so i understand. Usually it's the idea, like anything in life, the reality is rarely as bad as the fears we have.

I would strongly advise you to look into the controversy that has arisen at the Mossbourne Academies, including numerous credible allegations of abuse, before making any decisions.

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/mar/02/pupils-uk-schools-academy-essex-mossbourne

I gently suggest you rethink re: rejection. Unless you want to homeschool your DC until there is a place at Mossbourne? Have you talked to Hackney Education? They can explain to you how the system works. Also, you can appeal - have you considered that?

You can also apply to other schools if you really don't want your DC to go to Shoreditch school - maybe more local ones like City Hackney or Cardinal Pole or Urswick?

Oh dear. Can you retract your rejection I wonder? What are you going to do as your DS now has no school place? Did the LA make any other offer?

I was in exact same position last year with my DC. I was very upset and annoyed but in the end accepted the place at COLASP, got a place at Mossbourn dueing the winter term and rejected it as my DC would not hear of moving.

Are you aware of what's going on at Mossbourne? It's a tough place, not all kids can cope with it. They practice 3 hour detentions, Saturday detentions, isolations. Teachers screaming at kids. It's a good school academically but not good in terms of mental wellbeing and happiness.

COLASP is a good school, just been rated Outstanding. It's also very strict but not as bad as Mossbourne VP. The head is great, and I like the teachers.

I suggest you accept the place and apply for in year transfer. Places at Mossbourne always come up as a lot of kids leave because they can't cope so you might get a place even in August/ September. But you might actually like COLASP like we did!

Yes agree, please accept the place offered. If you reject it, the LA is under no obligation to offer you another place, so unless you are happy to HE or go private, accept it. Doing so will not harm you chance of an appeal or stop you going on waiting lists.

Was this school on your preference list? If not, are there nearer schools that were and that you were rejected for? Did you apply to your catchment or closest school?

You can appeal for any school you listed and go on waiting lists of any you would prefer – so if there is a school locally you didn't list but that you might get into on a WL place and be happier with, ask to go on the WL. I imagine there is a lot of movement in London between now and September.

Meanwhile talk up the offered school and what is great about it. He won't be alone and IME primary friends are quickly replaced at secondary.

ETA: there are lots of threads on here about appeals so look at some of those for ideas of what to focus on. But his passion for sport and the sport offer at his preferred school would be a good start.

I'm a bit confused. Was Mossbourne one of your preferences?
Either way don't reject the offer. You can still appeal for any schools you are on the waiting list for, whether you are holding an offer for another school or not makes no difference to the appeal. So you can accept the offered school and appeal for Mossbourne (assuming it was one of your preferences and you are now on the waiting list for it). If you didn't originally rank Mossbourne higher than COLA Shoreditch, you can still accept COLA and asked to be added to the waiting list for Mossbourne and then appeal.
It's also worth trying to find out where you are ok waiting lists since they often move around a lot in London.