New school to be opened by Mossbourne academy

By Hackney Citizen | Friday 7 October 2011 at 23:08

Sir Michael Wilshaw, head of Mossbourne Academy

This article titled “New school to be opened by Mossbourne academy” was written by Jessica Shepherd, education correspondent, for guardian.co.uk on Friday 7th October 2011 11.59 UTC

One of the most successful state schools in the country – Mossbourne academy – is to open a new comprehensive school nearby.

Mossbourne has been cited numerous times by politicians and education specialists for achieving exceptionally high grades, despite being in one of the poorest parts of London.

Mossbourne, in Hackney, east London, opened in 2004 and occupies the site of Hackney Downs school, which was described as the worst in Britain before it closed in 1995.

The new school, which is yet to be named, will have 800 pupils – 200 of whom will be sixth-formers. It will open in September 2014 and have four classes in each year group. It will be based on the site of Cardinal Pole Lower school in Hackney. Cardinal Pole received a satisfactory rating from inspectors when they visited in March. They said attainment was below the national average, but that pupils enter the school with below-average attainment.

The new school will be run by the Mossbourne Trust, which oversees Mossbourne academy.

This summer, with students there getting A-level results for the first time, seven of Mossbourne’s pupils went to Cambridge; one went to the Royal College of Music and 65% went to Russell Group instiutions – the 20 most prestigious universities in the UK.

Some 85% of Mossbourne pupils achieved five A* GCSEs including English and maths. The school’s catchment area is very disadvantaged, with 40% of pupils on free school meals and 30% on the special needs register.

Mossbourne’s headteacher, Sir Michael Wilshaw, has been hailed as a “miracle worker” and is tipped to be the new head of Ofsted.

He said it was important that Mossbourne “extend its influence and good practice”. “I am delighted that a new school sponsored by the Mossbourne Trust will be opening in south Hackney in the next couple of years. I am sure it will be equally successful,” he said.

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