Mossbourne vs. Stoke Newington

[purpleturtle1]

Hi,
I know there have been previous posts on this topic which I’ve read… just wondering if anyone has any up-to-date thoughts on either Mossbourne (Community Academy) or Stoke Newington School? Applications deadline is looming. My very bright and academic, but also very sociable, DD has been increasingly leaning towards Stokey rather than a couple of other all-girls options - because she likes the idea of a local school, and most of her primary school friends will be going there. I’d (possibly unfairly) pretty much dismissed Mossbourne as an option because I didn’t like the sound of their very draconian behaviour policy. But we visited Mossbourne last week and I was really impressed - seemed like great facilities and fantastic teachers. I must admit I like the idea of academic setting, too. DD really liked it too, more than she was expecting to.

I know the lottery system means we’re much more likely to get Stokey, but am now second-guessing whether we should put Mossbourne down 1st. It’s also a fairly local school, unlikely that any of DD’s close friends will be going, but she should still know a few kids there…

Probably naively, I didn’t realise how much angst would be attached to this whole process. Any thoughts from anyone welcome!

I’m interested in this too. I’d assumed we were too far away from Mossbourne, but having looked more closely at their admissions we’re within the “outer zone” distance. Unfortunately I didn’t realise this until after the open evening!

Any experiences would be very welcome. DS has some SN; he’s academically capable and his behaviour is great (at school!) but inclusion and pastoral care are still very important for us.

Hi mrsfrumble,
I’d be interested in hearing about pastoral care at Mossbourne too. I was really impressed at the open evening. I know they’re putting on a show to some extent but it really made me think again about it as a serious option for DD.

I know a couple of kids who went to Mossbourne and did well. I wouldn't say they loved it but they are lovely kids and have gone on to RG universities. But it is seriously strict. I don't think it would suit my DD.

Hi @flumpetto. Would you mind giving examples of “seriously strict”? I’ve read their behaviour policy and it seems quite reasonable, but there’s a thread running ATM on AIBU or Chat about very strict schools, and people are mentioning students getting detention for turning their heads in class and not being allowed to remove their blazers etc (although not mentioning specific schools). Would you say Mossbourne’s version of “super strict” was actually unreasonable, or just not suitable for some families? Thanks!

Sure

No talking in halls
Punishments for having a mobile phone whilst in uniform (not in school)
Not able to challenge teachers
Punishments for yellow shoe laces

I've not witnessed any of this by the way! Just things kids and parents have told me.

Thanks, that’s very useful!

I think quiet hallways would probably suit DS, and strict uniform policies are fine as he doesn’t care what he wears (although if they are a “blazers at all times” school I wouldn’t be happy). The “no mobiles in uniform” does seem to draconian when I think of my tiny PFB travelling through Hackney by himself with no means of contacting us.

Have you ruled out Haggerston? I have a few friends with kids there and they seem happy (the parents and the kids)

The Mossbourne mobile phone policy was a deal breaker for us.

I can remember being quite shocked by the lack of flexibility of this. My son has an EHC Plan and lives 3 miles away, but was told he would not be allowed a phone (or any cash) for the journey to and from school.

No problem with no phones in school, silent corridors, strict uniforms, detentions (they are just not a big thing and usually used to do homework), but he needs the security of his phone, in case something goes wrong when travelling around London.

Senco’s suggestion was for LA to fund transport 😂 They are reluctant to do this with anyone - let alone someone who is more than capable of travelling independently.

Totally agree. My friends daughter has sen, totally obedient but vulnerable and they were upset by the phone policy.

It does come across as if Mossbourne know they’ll always be so oversubscribed that they can get away with being unaccommodating. It’s a shame because I love the look of their curriculum and their music provision. We’re in the outer admission zone anyway so only a handful of places available per band.

I was erring against Haggerston as it would be a hassle to get to from where we are, and I don’t think I’ve got time to go and look round. Lots of people love it, I know.

We’ll see how we get on at Stoke Newington at their open morning on Saturday. It’s our closest school and at least of couple of DS’s current classmates will be going there, which appeals.

I think Stoke Newington would be a great option and having friends there would be a major plus.

No mobile phones even on the journey to and from school?! DD has no SEN, but even so - what happens if there was a change of plan or something went wrong or she needed to contact me or her dad? This rule seems a bit bonkers. I’m afraid I’d probably tell DD to quietly ignore it 😂 Maybe I’m not quite rule-abiding enough to be a Mossbourne parent.,,
It’s a shame, because I think some of the other rules make a lot of sense, and I really liked it at the open day, as did DD. There seemed to be some excellent teachers, great facilities - and I am a huge fan of academic setting.
I love so many things about Stokey school, but the lack of any kind of academic setting, even in maths - why?! 😩 A sort of anti-elitist thing, I guess?
Anyway, we’ll be at the Stokey Saturday open day too, mrsfrumble 😊

Ha! I’ve just started a thread about academic setting, or lack there of. Setting in Y9 was the only thing that made my 1990s comprehensive experience bearable.

How much did they talk about the rules and discipline at the open evening @purpleturtle1?

Mrsfrumble the open day didn’t involve a talk from the headteacher (I think because of Covid they didn’t want to get everyone crammed into the hall to hear the talk) so it was just visiting different areas, trying out different activities, and chatting to teachers and students. So there was no chance for an official line on the behaviour policy.
By chance I ran into two Mossbourne students outside a local shop a few days ago, explained I was a year 6 mum and asked them about their experience of the behaviour policy (yes, I am at the stage of asking random kids in school uniform what they think of their school ) They were in year 8 apparently - both laughed when I asked them and seemed encouragingly relaxed about the whole thing. Said “you learn what you can get away with” and which teachers are the most strict etc. But I was encouraged by their relaxed attitude to the rules - didn’t seem stressed or anxious about them at all.
I do suspect it may be a bit of a Marmite approach - but am increasingly thinking it could work for DD.

Am following your thread on academic setting with interest btw! I very much agree with your perspective. Think it’s a huge shame that it seems have been done away with at so many schools.

Open Days are always impressive - it's really hard to tell from them! I think you should dig into how Mossbourne get their results. One is that they study GCSE's over 3 years not 2. Increasingly schools do that, but it means that unless your DD opts to do Music/ Drama/ Art for GCSE, she won't study them past year 8. Other Hackney schools commit to arts through year 9 (Haggerston definitely does - as others have said, that's a great school, it's worth travelling to!)

At Mossbourne they race through the course content for GCSE in years 9 and 10, then in year 11 it's just going over and over old papers. It gets them great results, but isn't much fun. I suppose it depends what you want though - Mossbourne kids do get higher grades as a result.

On discipline, it really is full on. A friend's DD who went to Mossbourne for sixth form told me she often hears teachers yelling as she walks past classrooms. She's been really shocked by it. I've heard similar from parents of children there too. If you study there, you have to buy in and then you can duck under the radar, but it sounds pretty stressful!

This is a few years ago now, but one of my DS's friends transferred there in year 8. He was one of 6 new kids starting in the spring term - I think that tells you a lot - why were 6 kids leaving in year 8 - they won't all be just moving house! A lot transferred out of my DS's school to go in year 7 - places seemed to come up all the way through the year. There's always a waiting list, so Mossbourne easily fill places. It's selection in a way - if you don't fit, you're encouraged to leave and that leaves Mossbourne with the kids who toe their line.

I'm guessing the kids you met at the shop will be kids who've bought into the system - it really does work for some, but I'm not sure it's much fun and for some kids it's really too much. Good luck with your choice. It's not easy I know!

Argh, I’m wavering on Haggerston now! It doesn’t look great on paper but everyone who goes there seems to love it. I wish I’d gone to see it for myself. I like that they have specific G & T support; not that I think DS is but I like that they’re committed to supporting and stretching the most able students too. Do they do any setting?

Mrsfrumble, I'm pretty sure Haggerston set from start of year Yr 7 for the more academic subjects - things like drama, music, PE are mixed.

The videos they did for the incoming year 7s in lieu of a transition day are still up. I didn’t find them very inspiring. www.mca.mossbourne.org/2021/06/23/year-6-transition-2021/

Those are really helpful thoughts about Mossbourne - thank you.
I hadn’t considered Haggerston at all but should look again I think.
Aarrghhhh! So undecided.

Our closest school is Stokey but we chose Petchey Academy instead. Stokey seemed chaotic, too many students in a small space and had to me what seemed like strange options for GCSE.

My child is thriving at Petchey, lots of opportunities, and diverse intake. They are set in Maths, Science, English, and PE.

So far it's been the right choice.

Ooh, interesting @shamoola. Petchey has been a last minute addition to our list, and we just managed to scrape onto their last open morning on the 21st. How long has your child been there? How are they / you finding it behaviour-wise?

I have to laugh a little at setting for PE. DS is certainly no athlete so would undoubtedly be in the bottom set 😂

Just for anyone considering Haggerston....its STRICT...ridiculously so, I have moved 1 kid in yr 9, and just removed another at the start of yr 8 due to them not adhering to his EHCP, I'd definitely not recommend for a kid with SEN, I still have 1 kid there in yr 10, so far shes doing OK but cannot wait to leave for 6th form...

@Mrsfrumble my DC is in year 9. I'm not aware of any outrageous behaviour issues - nothing that you wouldn't find anywhere else. My child says that people are well behaved in their classes (may not be the same across-the-board)

He is studying Mandarin as his MFL and a two week trip to China is planned at some point - amazing opportunity.

They do seem to get very little homework but I'm not always sure how beneficial homework actually is.

We took a bit of a gamble as Stoke Newington has a good reputation and Petchey doesn't have a great one but I think locals are very loyal to Stokey and many are affluent which means lots of kids have great parental support meaning that the results are good. I'm not clear how much of that is down to the school.

I think you always try and find reasons to justify your decision. But think I would make the same one again.

Meant to say, for those pondering on Mossbourne, I picked a copy of the book Re-educated by Lucy Kellaway today. She a journalist who retrained as a teacher in a her 50s, and trained and now teaches at MCA. It’s an easy read and very insightful about the culture there.