City of London Academy (COLA) Shoreditch Park

[Afrokimmy]

My child has just been offered a place
at City of London Academy Shoreditch
Park, but he's feeling quite nervous
since none of his friends are going there and he's going to have to travel alone.

He has asked me to reject the
offer, and as a parent, I want to make
the best decision for him as he is a very bright and intellectual child with excellent grades.

I'd really appreciate your views about the school-both academically and socially.
His preferred school was Mossbourne
mainly because of his keen interest
in basketball and the potential to
secure a basketball scholarship. Should I reject this offer and make an appeal for Mossbourne? Has anyone gone through the appeal process?

Academically, I want to ensure he's in an
environment that supports both his
education and his passion for sports. As a mum, I also understand his anxiety about being alone.

Looking forward to your thoughts, and
thanks in advance!

Super-worried mum.

Thanks sounds good, I am going tomorrow to talk to them about my daughter maybe starting there

Hello all. I'm thinking of making an in-year application for my child who would be in year 9 come September. (we were offered an in-year place early on in year 8 which we rejected and I now regret- due to current school not being quite right) I would really like some insight as to when they choose their GCSE subjects. does this happen in year 9 or does it happen in year 8. My child is really interesting in computer science and would like that as an option- I'm just concerned if we've missed the options window. I'd also like to get an idea of how the students are monitored once they leave the school premises at end of the school day(if at all). Do teachers wait at bus stops? Or along the side roads? to make sure that the students are ok/going home ( This isn't a big deal I just know that some schools do this). Also I'd be interested if the school offers field trips and where too. I have visited the school before but sometimes school visits are not enough and parent insight is valuable. appreciate any information. thank you

Be good to hear from parents that have kids that have started, as most parents on this thread have children who are about to start. It’s a pretty new thread. Looking on Google you’re in good time for picking subjects, this happens during year 9 apparently.

I didn’t hear any mention of teachers standing at bus routes, I like this idea and will ask.

We did a one on one tour and asked lots of questions, directly to the child giving us the tour. We had a member of staff with us too. They get involved in lots of trips, because they are so well behaved they get invited to go places. And if you do well in class and basically do your best a small group get taken out for a treat. Thry are very focused of behaviour and good communication. I think the context is set for them that they’ll do well in life if they know how to behave and communicate well, rather thank killing their spirit and turning them into robots. They are given the social skills a lot of private schools teach.

Definitely not too late to pick options. I visited yesterday on the last day of year 9 and they were finalising them. But there isn't loads of choice. If you're on the GCSE track you do RE and Spanish as compulsory, and you choose between history and geography. So that only leaves one free choice, though there's quite a range. On the more vocational tracks you might get more choice.

The student showing us round mentioned skiing, aquarium, battle grounds.

I don't know about supervision getting home. They might be open to the suggestion as they're very keen on improving behaviour, reducing opportunities for bullying etc.

OP, how is your son finding it now he has started? We live nearby and just looked at it yesterday; we thought it seemed great but are perplexed at how under our radar it was. Would be good to know from some of those who have just started whether it is living up to expectations so far?

Hi there!

Sorry, it's still early days.

So far, they do seem quite tough on rules and discipline, but I’m hoping that will be handled fairly and turn out to be positive in the long run.

One thing I’ve found really helpful is the merits/behaviour points on MCAS, the school app, which keeps parents updated with how a child is getting on day to day.

Talking about that, my son has had two incidents already where he wasn't part of an 'issue' but got behaviour points as the teacher refused to listen to explanations. I am considering booking a meeting to discuss both and hoping it's resolved and not cause my son to dread school as he's usually very well behaved and always had positive feedback from all his teachers. I never got a home contact call or behaviour concern all through his time in primary school.

Asides that, not much learning has been done yet, they only resumed last week.

I’m not the OP but my child has just started at Shoreditch Park without knowing anyone, so I can share our experience so far too. Bear in mind we are still new to the school and learning. This is my DCs second week.

Our child loves it. The infrastructure and pastoral care are excellent and the teaching goes beyond delivering subjects. They show the children why each subject matters and build a sense of purpose, more like a good independent school. The focus is on the whole child and on raising each student’s expectations of themselves.

It is a strict school but not punitive. When I asked about bullying my child said they have not seen any. That does not mean it never happens, only that we can speak to our own experience. If a pupil struggles or acts out, the behaviour tends to be directed at the system rather than at other children. Teachers are not left to cope alone. There is a clear process for immediate support so another staff member can step in and help that child get the right care without interrupting the class.

Every detail is designed around learning and inclusion. Their SEND provision is fully woven into daily teaching and supported by outside specialists. I went to a coffee morning focused on this and was struck by how thoughtful and integrated it is.

The academic results are equally striking. In the email we received this month about exam outcomes, the school reported a Progress 8 score of +1.21, meaning pupils achieved on average more than a full grade higher than similar pupils nationally. That places the school firmly in the top ten percent of schools across the country, and its Attainment 8 score is also well above the national average.

The building itself helps. It is modern, clean and laid out so children can move easily. There is a freshness to it that my child says makes it easier to focus. The school is still relatively new and perhaps a little under the radar, but it has already been rated Ofsted Outstanding and its recent GCSE and A level results now stand alongside those of many high-performing independent schools.

I appreciate this is a lot of information, but we have just been genuinely impressed by what we have seen so far and are happy to share it in case it helps. Because it is such a new school it is still building its reputation. Take Mary Magdalene’s in Islington, for example: they accept only about fifteen children a year from outside their catchment and those pupils sit an entrance exam, yet their published results are nowhere near the level Shoreditch Park is already achieving. And look at Central Foundation Boys, which is a long-established and highly sought-after school. It remains very popular and families may still choose it over Shoreditch Park for now, yet its most recent Attainment 8 score is lower. After receiving the school’s latest results letter, it is clear to me that Shoreditch Park has already moved into a different league. Reputations take time to catch up with reality, and my sense is that as more families see these results Shoreditch Park will become far better known and valued.

Hi.
Thanks for sharing your experience so far.
I really need to speak to someone about two behaviour points on my child’s profile. Having listened to my child’s point of view, I do not think his teachers were empathetic and he wasn't 'heard' in both instances.

I’m sorry your son has had difficult moments already, especially when he has always had good feedback from teachers before.

I know what you mean about the discipline. They do come across as very firm with Year 7 at the beginning. My feeling is it’s about setting clear expectations rather than being heavy-handed for its own sake.

We have gone back to staff with a few questions of our own and they have been responsive once spoken to directly, so a meeting sounds like a good idea.

I also like the merits and behaviour points on MCAS. It gives a clear picture of how the day is going and makes it easier to talk things through at home.

It is still early days and lessons are only just settling into a rhythm. I really hope they are responsive and this gets resolved swiftly.

not empathetic

Oh no Afrokimmy, it sounds like your boy is off to a frustrating start! I am really sorry to hear it…

Thanks so much for this, it is really helpful! What you are saying mirrors how we are feeling about it, most appreciated!

Here is some feedback for anyone thinking of COLASP:

For September 2025, my son was offered a place at COLASP. which was our second choice. Later we received an offer from our first-choice school - which is a nationally recognised school, Although my son was doing extremely well at COLASP, we still moved him, to that other school believing it would offer better long-term prospects.. Within three weeks, I realised the mistake and I am now in the process of returning him to COLASP with great urgency and complete certainty.

When at t COLASP— every morning my son leapt out of bed eager and joyful to go to school. Every afternoon he returned home joyful, confident, and very self-motivated to complete his homework without even my needing to prompt him. And he consistently spoke with admiration about all of his teachers. We also faced zero issues at COLASP.

COLASP’s approach to behaviour seems to be consistent, structured, and relentless. I am aware there is regular or daily behaviour coaching in class, making expectations on standards of behaviour clear, with diligent follow-through and the great thing is - it really feels as though the school does not grow weary of it's tasks or goals.

The staff at reception are supportive and very approachable, The Head of year 8 is really amazing - she performs with consistent diligence, empathic understanding and care. As a parent, there is no greater reassurance than knowing your child is in safe, capable, and compassionate hands. i was never worried about my child when he was at COLASP.

I am quite sure that this school is on track to becoming the best school in Hackney and I genuinely look forward to supporting it in every way I can in the years ahead. I really hope they will get more funding so that they can expand on their provisions.

For me, COLASP is a school with heart, ambition, great professionalism and integrity — and it is where my son truly belongs.