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

[Queen4Life]

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!

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.

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.

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

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.

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?

(AMSI = Islington Arts & Media)

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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?

Central Foundation distance cutoffs depend upon the results of a banding test in December.

Distance cutoffs as at National Offer Day 2020 were (in miles):

Band 1: 1.205
Band 2: 1.524
Band 3: 2.244
Band 4: 1.671

That could be a safe and good option then?

Heard good things about Mossbourne, some friends in the area favour that over Stoke Newington high. Believe that the Hackney CATS were last week though.

Hmm, no he's currently not in a CofE school so I know this limits the chances of getting in Mary Mags :(

Yeah not too keen on Burghley tbh and central foundation is a boys school and really want mixed. Thanks

Thanks but quite uncertain about Mossbourne as not keen on Hackney Downs area. Thanks all the same!

OP: do have a look at Haverstock, in Chalk Farm (Camden borough).

Unfortunately you have missed the in-person visits they were offering prospective applicants before half term, but there’s a welcome video from the students on the website, and a prospectus linked there too, as well as virtual open day videos.

www.haverstock.camden.sch.uk/406/admission-to-year-7-in-2021

It’s a straightforward journey from where you are: 393 bus from St Paul’s Rd to the school doorstep, or Overground to Kentish Town West and a 10min walk from there.

Thank you LarkDescending! I have looked into Haverstock and it seems like a good school, just worried that we're way out of the catchment area to be considered for it! But then again I have been hopeful in trying my luck at APS and Highgate Wood, so I guess it wouldn't hurt to list Haverstock. And the route would not be that bad either so yeah maybe worth listing. Just a shame I missed out on the open days! Thanks again

Haverstock doesn’t have a defined catchment area, and in past years has been undersubscribed. Your son has a very good chance of a place there, though obviously things can change from one year to the next.

In its area there aren’t huge numbers of school-aged children, so there’s a surplus of school places. The local primaries (Rhyl and Carlton) are likely to merge for this reason, subject to consultation. Haverstock also loses potential pupils from nearby Belsize Park and Hampstead to the private sector - so the fact that it’s undersubscribed shouldn’t alarm you.

I hope it all works out well for you and your son, wherever he goes. Do make sure you list your 6 choices in your genuine order of preference, including at least one “banker” dead cert on the list. Best of luck.

Thank you so much LarkDescending!!! Very grateful for your help in this!!! You give a lot of food for thought in your theory of Haverstock being undersubscribed due to there not being enough school aged children in the area and that state schools lose out on potential pupils to private schools. It makes a lot of sense. The fact that Haverstock has no defined catchment area is an added bonus!! Do have any recent knowledge on UCL academy, Regent, Acland Burghley and Hampstead school? Thanks again for all the help!

I have no personal knowledge of secondaries (my DC is in primary). It seems to me that despite its Outstanding Ofsted and good results, Islington middle class parents are not sold on City of London Academy Islington..

A lot of the schools near you are Hackney schools and a couple are new. I know someone who moved her DC from Hackney New School as it was too disorganised (changes of headteacher). They are still building City of London Academy Shoreditch Park but the school is open so you could check that one out, depending on whether the banding test is to come or not.

Acland Burghley: you’re likely to be too far away - and its ethos may be more liberal than you have in mind. Those who like it love it!

UCS Academy: you’re likely to be too far away. I have heard mixed reviews but don’t have personal knowledge.

Hampstead School: I know nothing about this school.

Regent High - nothing I’ve heard would persuade me that it’s worth travelling from Islington for. (Disclaimer - info may be out of date).