The school is on one site on Paragon Road and our students are fortunate to enjoy relatively new buildings, equipment and facilities, including new suites of rooms for each subject area on the curriculum. We are particularly proud of our fitness centre, dance studio, climbing wall, our extended and refurbished Learning Resource Centre and our music, art, science and technology suites. With our specialist sports college status we have refurbished our playground areas, built a new multi-purpose ICT suite and three climbing walls to extend our activities.

In September 2002 we were awarded sports college status which has enhanced the opportunities around PE and Sport for all our students and members of the local community. We have also been awarded Sportsmark Gold by the Youth Sports Trust – a very prestigious award.
The school had a very positive OFSTED inspection in March 2002 and in the report it states:

“The leadership is very good…”
“The level of care is very good.”
“Behaviour in and out of the classrooms is good.”
“Older students do some admirable work with primary school pupils.”

The inspectors praised the quality of teaching and found that 94% of all lessons observed were satisfactory or better, with some excellent teaching. The school was awarded an Achievement Award for results in 2001. We are a 'full-service extended school' with a huge programme of activities after school, at weekends and during every holiday.

Aims
As a Church of England school, we aim to provide a well structured and caring community based on Christian values, and a balanced curriculum which encourages students to have high expectations and to develop their full potential for academic, moral, physical, social and spiritual growth, and to strive for the highest possible achievement. The school fosters in students the self-discipline, skills, knowledge and creativity necessary to become independent learners and positive confident adults who can contribute fully to the community. Equality of opportunity is fundamental to the Christian ethos of the school and students are taught to respect and care for each other, and to value the individual and all cultures. In September 2006 we will have a dedicated, refurbished quiet space for worship and spiritual development to enhance our Christian Ethos.

Organisation and Learning
In Years 7, 8 and 9 children are placed according to their reading ages and National Curriculum Test results into six mixed-ability groups. In Years 10 and 11, they are placed in sets according to their abilities in English, Maths, Science and French. Students follow a social education course which includes careers guidance, citizenship, health and sex education, information and study skills. Children who have special needs receive support in class or, occasionally, intensive work outside the classroom.

Support is also given to students who are gifted and talented. High priority is given to homework, which is set for all students and recorded in their homework diary. The school is linked to the Internet and students have access during lessons and in the Learning Resource Centre, before, during and after school. Staff use interactive whiteboards to inspire learning. Homework can be completed in the Learning Resource Centre before and after school.

Senior students have the help of a careers officer in making decisions about their future, as well as mentors from universities and the business community. All students are encouraged to take a full part in the life of the school through year councils, the school council and other activities.

During Year 10 all students have access to, and complete work placements. The school is also part of other programmes to support students' learning and sense of achievement.

Examinations
Candidates study for a variety of examinations, both GCSE and vocational, and some students attend other schools or one of the colleges for specific courses. Some students are entered early for Religious Studies, Mathematics, English, Classical Civilisations and Community Languages. We expect all students to be entered for all the examinations that they have been studying throughout Key Stage 4 and aim for them to aspire to achieve their very best.

Pastoral Care and Discipline
Students are under the care of form tutors and Heads of Learning and everything is done to promote their welfare and to encourage their development in the widest possible sense. The school has a firm but fair approach to discipline and all students are expected to abide by the Code of Conduct. Each year group has a senior member of staff who is linked with the year group to add additional support for students.

Parental Involvement
Student welfare and progress depends on a partnership between home and school. Parents are encouraged to make appointments with the tutor and Head of Learning regularly to discuss their child’s progress. They are given a copy of the school’s Code of Conduct and their involvement in every aspect of school life is seen as an essential factor in their child’s development. Every year, parents receive a full record of achievement. Parents’ evenings are held, and there is developing a Parents’ Association which meets regularly.

Uniform
School uniform is compulsory and consists of plain navy blue skirt or trousers with white or blue shirt and school tie. The school jumper with the school badge and black shoes must also be worn. (Trainers are not allowed).

Assemblies
Religious assemblies take place every day and St John’s Church is regularly used for school services. Our links with St John’s at Hackney are central to the life of the school and one of the clergy regularly leads school worship.

Enrichment Activities
All students have the opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument. There are regular school trips, both in the UK and abroad. Clubs include games, art, photography, drama, chess, choir and gardening. The creative arts cluster organises regular events and displays. Every year, groups visit a university and we have a direct link with Cambridge University. In addition, a Year 10 and 11 group has the opportunity to spend a week at one of the country’s universities. The school encourages students to take an active role in the local community. Pupils have recently won competitions for designing Community Health posters on HIV/Aids and smoking.

Admissions Criteria
Hackney Free and Parochial School is a Church of England voluntary aided school. As such, it is entitled to set its own admissions criteria. Children will be admitted to the school in the following order of priority. The governors reserve the right to give over-riding priority to children in public care and to any child on the grounds of documented social or medical needs, and where the school is clearly capable of accommodating those needs. The admissions criteria are, in order of precedence:

1. Students who attend a Church of England church or whose parents/carers do so.

2. Students who are, or whose parents/carers are, regular worshippers at other churches, or chapels, or other Christian denominations as defined by ‘Churches together in Britain and Ireland’; or members of the Evangelical Alliance.

3. Students who are, or whose parents/carers are, practicing members of another world faith. Please note: a letter, relating to the above four criteria, must be signed by a vicar, minister or religious leader, and must be submitted to the school at the time of application. By regular attendence we would expect a worshiper to attend their place of worship at least once every month for at least one year.

4. A brother or sister at the school.

5. Students living nearest the school as measured in a straight line on a map or using a GIS mapping system. Please note: In the event of oversubscription in any criterion, those living nearest to the school, as defined in criterion 5 will have the greater priority.

A waiting list is maintained and will be ranked in accordance with the published oversubscription criteria. Applications for mid-term will be considered in accordance with the school’s published oversubscription criteria.

In the case of appeals, the school will use The Learning Trust for setting up appeal hearings. The parent of any child refused a place may opt to have their child’s name placed on the waiting list. If places become available they are awarded in accordance with the published criteria for admissions.

Sports
Students participate in basketball, climbing, cricket, dance, football, gymnastics, judo, netball, rugby and swimming, and compete successfully in many of these sports against other schools. For the past four years the school has reached the final of the Greater London Pentathlon, involving schools from all over London and beyond. In 2002, 2003 and 2004 we won and became the National Pentathlon champions. In 2002 and 2004, Hackney Free was awarded the highly prestigious Sportsmark Gold by Sport England. Students competed at national level in athletics, cross-country, basketball, football and cricket. Several past pupils are playing for league football teams and some represent England playing basketball.

Excellence in Cities/Education Action Zone
The school has benefited enormously from the Excellence in Cities scheme. We have two Learning Mentors in place, a Learning Support Unit and a Coordinator for Gifted and Talented pupils. This enables us to meet the needs of all pupils, to stretch and challenge them, and to ensure that they all reach the highest levels of achievement. Our students also benefit by the Excellence Challenge opportunities.

We are also proud and privileged to be a member of the Hackney Education Action Zone. This has enabled us to develop after-school activities, run GCSE revision courses during the Easter holiday, enhance our ICT capability, broaden our subject offers and develop Key Stage 2-3 transition programmes.

Open days
The school will be open at the following times for visits by parents:

Monday 17 September 2007 9am
Tuesday 18 September 2007 9am

Open Evenings

Wednesday 19 September 2007 3.30pm - 5.30pm
Thursday 20 September 2007 3.30pm - 5.30pm

Please contact the school if you need an alternative time of day.

Subjects

Sixth Form (ages 16-19) Post School
A full range of subjects at GCE A level and GCSE, together with NVQ and GNVQ courses, are offered at the Community College and the B6 Sixth Form College.

For Secondary School Admissions:

Tel: 020 8820 7197
Tel: 020 8820 7402

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