Haggerston School in the east end

[iamnotaprincess]

Can anyone tell me anything about Haggerston? I know a lovely girl who goes there, but otherwise nothing else. So far I am incredibly impressed with the new secondaries around here.

My DD started at Haggerston in September has settled really well. I am very pleased with them so far, depsite a little rocky start with a touch of bullying which was swiftly dealt with by the school.

Expectations are very high and it seems pretty strict which I don't think is a bad thing.

I live nearer to Bridge and I didn't want DD going there. The behaviour is very poor IME and I see large groups of them hanging around after school most days. I have even witnessed a large group of Bridge pupils ganging up on other school students after school (which was reported to the school)

I am very happy with Haggerston and put it first choice, even above Mossbourne (too strict), Petchy (dodgy layout of building), Bridge (no chance!) and I even put City just to fill up the spaces lol

Hi TheCheeseAlarm,

Based on our experience at the Open Day and all I have been hearing we would be very happy if DS1 were offered a place at Haggerston. I thought the Head Teacher was very impressive and the discipline seemed good and the pupils were lovely. However DS1 has now got his heart set on Latymer because he is worried he will lose touch with our neighbour once they move. I don't want to discourage him but not sure what his chances are, there are 6 kids from Rushmore taking the test and they all seem pretty bright but obviously the majority won't get through. DS can do the NVR and Maths tests OK, English not quite so strong though and he is still pretty bad at checking over his work so will lose lots of marks on silly mistakes. I don't think we are in the same situation as you, in that your DS would have been offered a Latymer place if you had listed it as first preference.

Last year there were about 20 Yr6 Rushmore students without an offer in March (and we have 60 per year group not 75). We are listing 6 schools but I suppose we could be called unrealistic in not accepting the suggestions of the Choice Advisor to put Hackney Free, Cardinal Pole and Lammas! It's such a stressful time but if we get a Hackney school we are happy with we will only have to do this once as DS2 would just make it in under the sibling policy (Petchey isn't one of our choices). However if DS1 did get into Latymer then we would have to do it all again in a few years, when there would probably be even more children trying for a place.

I suspect Hackney Free in 2/3 years will be highly desirable though, so an extra choice for everybody. We know two lovely families who are sending their boys there next year..

I saw the other day a lonsome Latymer boy walking by the cemetery, he looked so young and sweet.
Do you know anybody who went to Latymer, but did not cope with the work/journey, etc. Also do you know how mixed Latymer is, is it mainly white upper/middle class or also some working class children, racially mixed, etc