Mossbourne or Stoke Newington School

[horseygirl148]

I am able to choose either of these schools for my very bright DD - which should I choose and why. She is a high achiever but I would like her to be nurtured and encouraged in her music and art abilities as well as academic abilities. Would like a school with excellent pastoral care.

I sent my eldest to Stokie last year. It has been a nurturing and creative environment. He is learning an instrument there and playing in excellent bands, and getting lots out of creative lessons like art and drama. He is achieving well academically too. In year 7 there were some issues with peers but these were dealt with quickly and effectively ? the teachers and other staff are friendly and I have had good communication from them. Now, I have to chose a school for my younger this year. Since primary school friends had been hyping Mossbourne, I checked this school out. In my opinion, it seemed soulless and grim by comparison, so definitely will be choosing Stokey again. Just my personal opinion, I know every child is different, but I feel lucky to be living near such a great local comprehensive school as Stokey.

friend's son has just got straight A's and A from Stoke Newington at GSCE. He was very bright, quite geeky, and was happy there. He moved to another school for A-level, but she said she thought he would have done very well in his A-levels there too, just wanted a change. She was sad to change his school at A-level, very attached to Stokie. I think he attended some heavily subsidized brilliant Hackney music school though which was on Sat mornings, so that's where he got the musical input. Her first son did alright at GSCE, and got an A at A-level there in an Arts subject, though less well in science for A-level. So clever children definitely not held back from her description. I find interesting how little homework etc her son seemed to get compared to mine in Yr 7 (a pushy comprehensive in West London) yet he has still done really well. Not sure whether it is just native talent, or the teaching, but clearly not held back by the teaching!

Thank you both, very helpful. My heart says stokkie, but the hype around Mossbourne made me think perhaps I am wrong.

swanthingafteranother, the music school might have been the Hackney Youth Orchestra, which meets in Stoke Newington School every Saturday morning. You can have lessons there or simply join for the orchestras (there is a junior orchestra and a chamber orchestra) and there is a concert once a term. Stokey school itself runs various music groups, including a string ensemble and a jazz band, and others too. When I went to Mossbourne open evening I looked at the instrumental timetables on the notice board and they seemed exactly the same as Stokey (seemed to be same number of visiting instrumental teachers, and I assume some have waiting lists).

you probably already know this but Mossbourne are operating a new system for the first time this year which is a lottery, so there are no guarantees for entry however close you may be to the school - at least that is how I understood it.

My friends refer to M as 'the local Military School' as it is so regimented and strict and autocratic. One firmly believes that the regime there has given his son self-esteem issues. Though clearly it has been very effective for lots of pupils.