Mossbourne Community Academy recognised in Sunday Times Best Secondary schools: 2023

Mossbourne Community Academy is today celebrating a national accolade as it is commended as the highest performing non-selective comprehensive in London.

The Sunday Times Best Secondary Schools guide is published on an annual basis and Mossbourne Community Academy is up in lights alongside some of the best fee-paying schools in the country.

Situated in the heart of Hackney, Mossbourne became one of the first state schools to send more than a dozen sixth formers to Oxford and Cambridge, setting out to “re-imagine what inner-city, non selective education could be.”

Last year, 99% of students secured a place at their first or second choice university which included 65% of students who went on to Russell Group universities, many of which had gone through the academy’s impressive “Medical Bursary” programme, which helps students secure a place on one of the most competitive degree courses in the country. 84 students have now secured their places and begun their careers in medicine.

Rebecca Warren, Principal of Mossbourne Community Academy said:

“Our very simple starting point is that we believe every child can succeed. Since 2004 Mossbourne Community Academy has stayed true to the simple belief that teaching and learning and the safety of pupils comes first. The pupils’ high outcomes, year on year, are due to an unwavering commitment to simple instruction, consistency, exceedingly high expectations and academic challenge.

“The challenge extends to staff who constantly welcome feedback and seek ways to improve practice. We do what we say we will do and will not allow our heads to be turned from academic achievement and care for the pupils. Our success is due to staff unity and a shared belief that our pupils have a right to follow (and be exposed to) aspirational pathways that are both appropriately matched to their skill set and are of their choosing.

Our pupils are stimulated, encouraged, and exposed to learning outside of the curriculum. We place an emphasis on the importance of kindness and respect and how crucial it is that they feel safe and are happy.

“I am particularly proud of our Medical Bursary Programme which has led to 84 medics embarking on a career in medicine and has been extended from a Sixth Form initiative to a Year 7 – 11 Programme called NHS Cadets.

“In a similar vein, our Architecture and the Built Environment Bursary Programme now starts in Year 8 and has seen 8 alumni enter a career pathway that they possibly would not have considered.

“I am most proud that our exceptional teaching and learning means that groups which underachieve nationally, for example disadvantaged pupils and Black Caribbean pupils, achieve significantly above the national average for all pupils, year on year.”

Peter Hughes, Chief Executive of Mossbourne Federation said:

“We are all incredibly proud of what has been achieved at Mossbourne Community Academy. Too many people think that children from this part of London cannot achieve. We are determined to prove them wrong, and the work that Rebecca and her team do, day in day out, is a fine example of that. It’s wonderful for the academy to be recognised in this way and is testament to the hard work and commitment of the whole Mossbourne team.”

From The Sunday Times: Best State Secondary Schools in the UK 2023

From The Sunday Times: Best Secondary Schools in London 2023

 

Mossbourne Community Academy recognised in Sunday Times Best Secondary schools: 2023