Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form Review 2026: Creativity at the Heart of Education

In the heart of North Hackney, on the site of the former Clissold Park Secondary Modern School, Stoke Newington School has evolved since its founding in 1982 into one of the most culturally diverse and creatively ambitious schools in London. Under the leadership of Headteacher Zehra Jaffer, who took the helm in 2018, the school has established a distinct identity built on high expectations, artistic ambition, and genuine inclusion. With over 1,600 students aged 11-19 and a sixth form of approximately 430, this mixed comprehensive serves the distinctive community of North Hackney. The Ofsted inspection in July 2022 confirmed the school's Good rating, noting that students are proud of their school's inclusive ethos and that teaching is often strong, with some outstanding practice. Pupils describe bullying as rare and behaviour as consistently respectful across the campus.

Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form in Stoke Newington, London has a clear sense of identity shaped by its setting and community. The rebuilt and extensively renovated campus (transformed through the Building Schools for the Future programme and completed in 2010 under the architectural vision of Jestico + Whiles) creates purposeful learning spaces while retaining the original Clissold Park building's character. The entrance building, clad in distinctive cor-ten steel and housing 13 new classrooms, signals the school's investment in modern facilities without losing its historical anchor.

Creativity permeates the school's DNA. The curriculum explicitly prioritizes arts integration across subjects, and the physical spaces reflect this commitment. Beyond academic credentials, Stoke Newington has earned particular recognition for its anti-homophobia work and commitment to celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusion. Music teacher Elly Barnes was named number one in The Independent's 'Pink List' LGBT awards, representing the school's deeper ethos of genuine acceptance. The school employs behaviour mentors specifically tasked with reducing bullying and discrimination, creating accountability for safeguarding emotional as well as physical wellbeing.

Students are polite, welcoming, and articulate, according to the Ofsted report. They work with visible commitment and display comportment that reflects the school's clear expectations. The diverse intake (reflecting the vibrant multicultural makeup of Stoke Newington) generates a sense of pride among the student body. Leadership has intentionally woven equality and diversity into the curriculum fabric, ensuring that important conversations happen not as add-ons but as central pillars of learning. The school's emphasis on civic duty and belonging creates an atmosphere where high expectations coexist with genuine pastoral warmth.

GCSE Performance

Stoke Newington School ranks 1406th in England for GCSE outcomes, placing it in the national typical band (30.61%ile) according to FindMySchool data. Within Hackney, the school ranks 11th among secondary schools. In absolute terms, this represents solid, middle-of-the-range performance rather than exceptional achievement.

The school's Attainment 8 score of 52.2 sits marginally above the England average of 45.9. Progress 8 shows +0.28, indicating that pupils make slightly above-average progress from their primary school starting points. This suggests that the school is adding modestly to pupil attainment, though not dramatically closing attainment gaps for lower-achieving students.

English Baccalaureate (EBacc) performance shows 17.1% of pupils achieving grade 5 or above in the suite of subjects, with an average EBacc APS score of 4.38 compared to the England average of 4.08. This indicates stronger performance in the traditional academic pathway than in other areas.

A-Level Performance

The sixth form ranks 896th, placing it again in the typical performance band in England (33.82%ile, FindMySchool ranking). At A-level, 53.53% of grades were A*-B, compared to the England average of 47.2%. The break down shows 7.96% achieving A*, 19.53% achieving A, and 26.04% achieving B grades. This represents a meaningful strength at sixth form level, with students achieving higher grades than their secondary counterparts, suggesting that the sixth form curriculum and teaching are effectively supporting able learners.

University Destinations

In the 2023-24 leaver cohort (220 students), 38% progressed to university, with an additional 10% entering further education, 28% entering employment, and 2% starting apprenticeships. The school highlights that many leavers secure places at Russell Group universities and leading art schools. Oxbridge applications are tracked by the school; in the measurement period, 19 students applied to Oxford or Cambridge, with 4 receiving offers and 1 achieving acceptance. This represents modest Oxbridge penetration but demonstrates that ambitious university pathways are achievable here.

Teachers at Stoke Newington School bring strong subject knowledge and genuine passion for their disciplines. According to the Ofsted inspection, teaching uses a variety of methods to help pupils retain learning, with regular challenges to develop thinking and extend answers. The curriculum has been deliberately structured so that important content is revisited multiple times across year groups, supporting consolidation and depth rather than one-off coverage.

The sixth form curriculum stands out as a particular strength. Students can choose from an unusually broad range of both academic and vocational A-level courses, allowing genuine customization of learning pathways. This flexibility attracts increasing numbers of students who remain at the school for post-16 study. Reading is prioritized school-wide. Pupils at early stages of reading development are quickly identified and placed into structured interventions delivered by experienced, specialist staff. SEND pupils are well integrated into mainstream teaching, with detailed information about additional needs ensuring lessons are adapted appropriately.

One area highlighted for development is the consistency of task completion and consolidation. The Ofsted report noted that while teaching is often strong, lesson activities are not always precisely matched to pupil needs, sometimes resulting in incomplete work or knowledge gaps that are not systematically followed up. Leaders acknowledge this and continue refining teaching quality through monitoring and feedback.

The sixth form is one of the largest in Hackney, with over 400 students on roll. Many secondary pupils continue into Year 12, attracted by the broad curriculum, inclusive ethos, and supportive environment. Internal progression from Year 11 to Year 12 is substantial but not automatic; sixth form entry requires meeting specific GCSE grade thresholds that vary by subject.

For leavers at 18, the pathway data shows university dominance as the primary destination. Beyond Oxbridge, students progress to Russell Group institutions and specialist art colleges. The school emphasizes the quality of apprenticeships available, positioning these as equivalent-value alternatives to university for some leavers. Work experience placements in Year 10 and Year 12 integrate employer engagement into the curriculum, helping students crystallize career interests early.

A carefully considered curriculum from Year 7 to Year 13 sits at the heart of provision. Many subjects explicitly weave equality, diversity, and social justice throughout content, creating thematic coherence with the school's values. Teachers have strong subject expertise and employ varied pedagogical approaches to support retention and deeper understanding. The school's particular strength lies in its integrated approach to creativity, not siloed in art and drama, but embedded across academic subjects through design thinking, creative problem-solving, and open-ended exploration.

Pupils with SEND are meaningfully included in mainstream teaching. Teachers receive detailed information about additional needs and adapt lessons accordingly, with some pupils withdrawn for targeted support that is carefully aligned to the main curriculum rather than disconnected from it. The reading initiative ensures that all pupils, regardless of starting point, access literacy support early.

The extracurricular provision is exceptionally comprehensive and constitutes a major defining feature of Stoke Newington School's character. The school runs over 80 lunch-time and after-school clubs, offering genuine breadth of choice and reflecting the school's philosophy that learning extends well beyond the classroom.

Music: A Defining Strength

Music is woven throughout school life in ways that make it accessible to every student. The SNS Choir welcomes all singers, from complete beginners to experienced musicians, with no audition barrier. The SNS Jazz Band, Show Band, Band Club, and SNS Orchestra provide ensemble pathways for developing musicians. The annual whole-school musical production represents one of the year's defining moments, drawing nearly 120 student actors and singers alongside a 20-member Show Band and dedicated tech crew. This production is not a small theatrical exercise but a genuinely ambitious undertaking that involves sustained rehearsal, choreography, lighting design, and costume work across multiple weeks. Recent productions have included High School Musical, bringing professional theatrical standards to school productions. The Sound Recording Studio allows students to record and mix live music, supporting both practical production skills and careers education in audio engineering.

Drama and Performing Arts

Beyond the musical, drama flourishes through the dedicated theatre space, a versatile performing arts studio equipped with blackout curtains, partition walls for flexible staging, and professional-grade lighting. A committed Drama department offers performance opportunities across Key Stages 3, 4, and 5. Students engage with script work, improvisation, devised theatre, and technical production. The Summer Showcase provides a formal platform for performance, while the Community Evening invites families to celebrate student work in an accessible, participatory format.

Sports: Depth and Accessibility

The school operates one of the most impressive sports facilities in Hackney. The state-of-the-art 3G artificial grass pitch (ranked among the best in the borough) hosts football clubs and PE lessons, with student access on a year-group rota basis. The eight-lane 50m athletics track, funded by Sport England, supports competitive track and field. A dedicated sports hall accommodates basketball and indoor sports. The fully equipped gym offers gymnastics equipment and strength training. A modern dance studio with full mirroring wall supports both dance curriculum and recreational dance club activity. Beyond facilities, the school offers football, netball, basketball, athletics, gymnastics, and other sports through both PE lessons and after-school clubs. The sports culture emphasizes participation rather than selection, with accessible entry points for different ability levels.

STEM and Maker Culture

The technology facilities support practical problem-solving and making. Design technology provision allows hands-on construction, engineering projects, and material experimentation. Science labs provide the infrastructure for practical investigation across biology, chemistry, and physics. While specific named STEM clubs vary termly, the school's commitment to practical, applied learning means that technology, coding, and maker spaces form part of the enrichment landscape.

Creative Arts Disciplines

Art provision is supported by dedicated facilities including kiln-equipped art rooms for pottery and ceramics work. The five-bay photographic darkroom and five-bay media suite with Mac desktops and SLR digital cameras support advanced image-making work. Media suites with professional equipment enable students to produce short films, podcasts, and multimedia content. Photography darkroom work teaches both technical and conceptual image literacy. The Television Studio, equipped with post-production facilities, allows students to create broadcast-standard content. These facilities represent genuine creative infrastructure, not theoretical learning spaces.

Community and Cultural Life

The poetry club and pottery club mentioned in the Ofsted report reflect the school's commitment to accessible creative expression. The Community Evening is described as very popular, bringing together school and local community for shared cultural celebration. The school actively promotes connections to the local cultural landscape of Hackney and East London, facilitating trips to museums, galleries, theatres, and cultural centres. The explicit integration of community languages through the curriculum supports both multilingualism and celebration of students' home cultures.

Safeguarding is taken exceptionally seriously. An experienced safeguarding team has established a culture of vigilance across the school community. Staff receive regular, appropriate training and report concerns promptly. Leaders work tenaciously with external agencies (social services, health, mental health support) to secure outcomes for vulnerable pupils. Students feel safe and know who to approach with concerns. The curriculum includes explicit teaching about online safety, healthy relationships, and personal wellbeing, taught consistently across year groups and adapted in response to emerging safeguarding issues.

The school prioritizes pupils' wider development beyond academics. Sessions on healthy eating, healthy relationships, and staying safe online run across all year groups. Student voice is genuinely heard, leaders listen to feedback and adapt provision in response. Behaviour is generally very good, with pupils treating each other and staff with respect. Fixed term exclusions have risen, however, and the school acknowledges that these disproportionately affect certain groups of pupils. Leadership has made a clear commitment to reducing exclusion rates as a priority.

Mental health and wellbeing support is available through school counselling. The culture of kindness and compassion that underpins pastoral practice creates an environment where students feel known and supported.

Stoke Newington School is significantly oversubscribed at Year 7 entry. In recent admissions rounds, the school received approximately 2.88 applications for every place available. In 2024, the last distance offered has been approximately 1.766 miles, reflecting the broad catchment from which the school draws. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place. Admissions are coordinated through Hackney Local Authority using the standard distance criterion after looked-after children and siblings.

The sixth form admits 200 pupils into Year 12, with applications made directly to the school. Entry requirements vary by subject and are published on the school website. The sixth form's appeal has grown substantially, with the inclusive ethos and broad course range attracting both internal progression and external applications.

For families considering entry at Year 7, early registration with the local authority is essential given the highly competitive nature of admissions. Open events typically occur in autumn term, providing the primary opportunity to experience the school firsthand. The school's website provides detailed admissions information and current event schedules.

Stoke Newington School operates a standard secondary school day with lessons from 8:50am to 3:20pm. The school is accessible by multiple transport routes. Buses 73, 393, 106, 141, 341, and 476 serve the Stoke Newington High Street and nearby stops. The nearest London Underground stations are Canonbury (approximately 10 minutes' walk plus bus), Highbury & Islington, Manor House, and Stoke Newington, all accessible by local bus routes. The school has recently announced plans to open SNS Hub in 2026, a new multifunctional site opposite the main school, which will expand facilities and learning opportunities.

School meals are provided through the Bluebird Café, which operates a cashless ParentPay system alongside deli and snack options. Uniform is required, with PE kit needed for physical education. The school offers individual music tuition from specialist teachers across a range of instruments, charged through ParentPay. Most resources, trips, and enrichment activities are coordinated through the ParentPay system, providing families with a centralized payment platform.

Fixed term exclusions. The school acknowledges that fixed term exclusion rates have risen and disproportionately affect certain student groups. While leaders have committed to addressing this, families should be aware that the school's behavioural approach includes removal from lessons for serious breaches of conduct. The school continues working on reducing these numbers.

Oversubscription and catchment breadth. With 2.88 applications per place, entry is highly competitive. In 2024, the last distance offered of 1.766 miles means families should verify current distances before assuming a guaranteed place. Distances vary annually based on applicant distribution; proximity provides priority but does not guarantee a place. Distance criteria are measured from school gates and vary annually based on applicant numbers. Proximity provides priority but does not guarantee admission.

Pace of curriculum. The curriculum moves at a deliberate pace, particularly in core subjects. Students who struggle to keep up with the rhythms of secondary school or who prefer more scaffolded, step-by-step teaching may find the environment challenging. The Ofsted report noted that sometimes lesson activities are not perfectly matched to individual pupil needs, resulting in knowledge gaps. Families should discuss specific learning support with the school during visits.

Stoke Newington School is a distinctive comprehensive that has successfully created a culture of high expectations, genuine inclusion, and creative ambition. The rebuilt facilities, energized faculty, and clear commitment to celebrating diversity make this a genuinely welcoming environment for most learners. The depth of extracurricular opportunity (particularly in music, drama, and arts) sets it apart from many schools in the area. GCSE results sit at the England average, with stronger A-level performance indicating that the sixth form effectively supports more able students. The true strength lies not in exceptional headline results but in the school's creation of a community where students feel genuinely known, celebrated, and challenged to think creatively.

Best suited to families who value diversity, creativity, and a whole-child approach to development; students who thrive in culturally rich, purposeful environments; and those seeking a comprehensive that celebrates multiple forms of intelligence and achievement beyond narrow academic metrics. The main barrier to entry is securing a place amid strong competition; once enrolled, students benefit from an exceptionally rich school community.