Haggerston School: recent experiences

[sprinkleparty]

Currently in the purgatory that is Year 7 applications. Haggerston is DC’s top choice and we did get a good feeling looking round but I have some doubts.

It seems like a nurturing school and at the open day the head said that pupil wellbeing is high on their agenda - is this true in practice?

They claim to be big on the arts but it doesn’t seem like pupils learn an instrument unless they pay for extra lessons. The receptionist I spoke to said they have people coming in to teach instruments but wasn’t sure; I’m waiting to hear back via email from the music department. Does anyone know if the music is mainly theoretical rather than practical?

The curriculum seems limited in other ways too, for instance only teaching Spanish as a MFL. It seems unusual to not offer a choice of at least two?

The last Ofsted was critical of maths teaching and results. Any knowledge of whether this has improved since 2017? Do they challenge the more able students?

Sports also seem bog standard (eg not even the option of swimming), although they do have lots of outdoor space which is a plus.

Is there an active PTA/class WhatsApp groups that looks to improve things?

Overall I’m wondering what its good reputation is based on, even though as I say we did get a good vibe about it. Talk to me about recent experiences please!

Hopeful bump.

I wish I could help, but I don’t have much experience. We ended up putting it 4th on our list for DS last year. I liked what I saw, but it was a bit too far away for us so we put the closer options first. DS did his banding test there though, and the staff were so lovely and helpful (he has SEN so I was worried about the unfamiliar environment, but they were great). I hope you get some more useful feedback soon!

Thanks for taking the time to reply! Glad your son’s brief experience there was positive!

Following as we’re weighing up the same, though distance is a concern of mine.

@QueenofFox May I ask if you did select Haggerston? We need to choose a Hackney secondary and I'm really in a quandary. Haggerston is top of list right now....

Sorry that was meant for @sprinkleparty

Although @QueenofFox do say if you chose Haggerston!

We did put it on our list @Ponypitter. Curious as to your timing of choosing of schools now, after Oct deadline?

I'm a couple of years away from needing to choose but was talking with a neighbour and it came up so I did a search. I'm not keen on the Mossbourne Academy type place, have heard that Bridge is a bit rowdy. So Clapton Girls and Haggerston are likely choices but the journey from our house to Haggerston is lovely. CG less so.

I'm a planner!

Makes sense, definitely less stressful to start planning a long time in advance!

Are you asking about the music curriculum or individual music lessons? All music lessons will cover variety of instruments but it won't be played to a level thas remotely useful. Individual lessons have been paid for since Tories came in. It was free in Hackney before that.

Thanks for making the distinction @Nevermindthesquirrels. Enlightening to know about the group lessons not getting them to any useful stage and also that there are separate individual lessons that have been paid for for ages. Wasn’t aware of this previously, only just started looking into secondary education last year.

@sprinkleparty have a look at the music ks3 curriculum. It's not really group instrumental lessons they have. They will have a go but it'll be to show the genre they're studying etc. Maybe learn a short tune for a performance but it's mostly just music knowledge and theory they learn in music lessons. Music, as well as creative subjects like art and drama, aren't really very big in the new curriculum. Gone are the days of a double art lessons in y7. It's quite sad and not dependent on school. It's the curriculum they have to follow, unless it's an indie.
Individual lessons they get taken out of lessons for and you're expected to have access to the instrument at home etc.

So helpful to know @Nevermindthesquirrels . Depressing though, about the general lack of valuing of the arts.

@sprinkleparty Depressing indeed. Even more depressing is the fact so many are forced to start GCSEs in year 9 so unless they choose them, creative subjects as well and Geo and History, end at 12/13.

Grim. Such a shame to close off their options for the sake of exams.

It really is grim. I think given the times we live in, history especially should be taught for much longer.

That is not the case at Haggerston. GCSEs are chosen in Year 9 to start in Year 10. In Year 9 creative subjects are still taken and History & Geography. The only narrowing in Year 9 is a choice between Computing or Technology.

I never said they were chosen in y8 in Hagerstown. I said for so many they are. I don't think there should be narrowing of anything, it's ridiculous that we narrow it down for y10 and 11 anyway, let alone earlier.

@Circleoffifths Do you have direct experience of Haggerston? Would love to hear your impressions of the school if so as it’s on our list for Sept 2023 entry.

Hi @sprinkleparty - I have sent you a quick PM as a test, if you let me know if you receive that then I will send you a proper message.

Thanks @Circleoffifths, have replied.

Hi @sprinkleparty - have sent a response as a PM. Happy to respond to any specific questions you have.

Hi all, realise been a little while since last post, but as it’s national offers day - and we have just heard we have a place at Haggerston. It was our fourth choice, so bit disappointing.
But we obviously liked it enough to be on our list.
Would love to hear about any recent/current experiences…

Hello everyone!

We are in the process of finding a secondary school for my son (currently Y5) and unfortunately we live outside most of the catchment areas of the schools we would like to be in. We live in North road (Islington) near Caledonian park. At the moment we are looking at Highbury grove because looking at the last catchment area report we should be in but we don't have many feedbacks regarding how good is the school. We attended the open day and we had a good impression, teachers sounds prepared and commited and very honest in saying that the school used to have a bad reputation but there was a shift of Headteacher (about 5Years ago) and thinks have improved since then. Our son loves music, maths and languages and we found the school is well equipped for that but we also have some worries about the last GSCEs results looking quite low compared to other schools, size of school, traveling time It'll take him (probably bus 393) to get there as i know how Highbury corner can be during peak times and in general if there are any issues with bulling or anything else we should be aware of. We are planning to go and see with our eyes and a get a feeling of the kids at school rush hours when they hang around but it would be great to hear from anyone that has/had kids there or have anymore clues and interesting news about the school.

Many thanks in advance

Marco

Hi Marco - you'd probably better start a new thread, since this one is old and it's about a different school entirely. So you may not get responses here

There's a drop-down menu at the top, next to where it says "Talk - secondary education", and from that menu you choose "start a new thread". (This is on the web page, it may work differently on the app)