Hackney Free and Parochial Church of England Secondary School

Hackney Free and Parochial Church of England Secondary School is a voluntary aided, mixed 11-16, Church of England secondary school located in the London Borough of Hackney, England. There are around 750 pupils on roll.

Academic standards

This is a specialist Sports College.

In 1996 the Times Educational Supplement, reporting on the school's Social Personal And Career Education ("SPACE") counseling program, wrote that the school was "once dubbed "Britain's worst school" by the tabloids, but subsequently recognised as a school that has turned around." In 2004, a report on the school in The Independent on Sunday described the school "as arguably the best all-round sports school in the land while at the same time showing an impressive rise in academic standards, a success story which is all the more remarkable as more than two-thirds of the pupils are Afro-Caribbean and there isn't a playing field in sight." The Guardian, reporting on a 2004 National College for School Leadership summer leadership program at the school, commented that "Hackney Free and Parochial pupils, all of whom are given leadership options in years 10 and 11, pop up in national award-winning orienteering teams, as primary school sports helpers and mentors, and on Prince's Trust and Duke of Edinburgh courses."

In 2007 students at the school produced a film for BBC News School Report AbOUT life in Hackney, responding to a program that called the borough the UK's "worst place to live".

In the Ofsted report, following their September 2009 inspection, the school was rated Satisfactory, point three on a four point scale. However, 'The effectiveness of care, guidance and support' was rated Outstanding. GCSE results in 2009 increased by over 10% compared to the previous year.

Facilities

The school is undergoing a £17 million rebuilding programme, on the current site, which should be completed during 2011. The first phase of the new building, which includes dedicated suites of rooms for the teaching of English, Mathematics, Science and Technology, will be completed during 2010.

Partnership

Hackney Free and Parochial works in partnership with Hackney College. Together they have formed the 'South Hackney Sixth'. HFP teachers lead lessons in Science and Maths at local primary schools. The School Sports Partnership, hosted by Hackney Free, organises many primary school sports events.