Please note that if you wish to apply to Hackney New School during the academic year you should contact Colette Corbin in the school office on 0207 617 7181.

HNS is a state-funded, co-educational, mainstream school. The Published Admissions Number (“PAN”) for HNS in 2018/19 is 100 students.

Please note links to policy pages at end.

Applications can be made via the Pan London eAdmissions Process

As a specialist music school, we select up to 10% of our students based on their musical aptitude. Children will not need to have prior musical or instrumental experience. Parents who would like their children to be considered for a place based on musical aptitude should complete the Music Aptitude Form and we will then invite their children to take a musical aptitude test. This will be taken in parallel with the cognitive ability tests used for Hackney New School’s banded admissions arrangements which are designed to ensure a balanced representation of pupils of different abilities at Year 7 (taking 25% of students from each of 4 bands of results).

If you live outside Hackney but wish to apply for a place at Hackney New School please apply to your home local authority who will process the application.

Admission by band

Our aim is to ensure that HNS’s intake of pupils includes an appropriate spread of children of different abilities. HNS will apply the following banding policies:

1. Children will be allocated into one of four groups depending on their performance in the CAT test.
2. Children with SEN, looked-after children or those with outstanding musical aptitude will be selected first into each band
3. Any excess applications in each band will be dealt with in accordance with the oversubscription policies set out below.
4. In the event that there are fewer than 25% of applicants in any one band (i.e. 25 minus those places already allocated to SEN and music specialist students), applicants will be chosen from the bands above and below in equal measure where this is possible.

Oversubscription and Tie break Criteria

The following pupils will be admitted to the school:

1.  Pupils with a statement of special educational needs or Educational Health & Care Plan that names HNS;
2.  Pupils who have shown musical aptitude to the level required under the test (i.e. regardless of the band they are in based on their CAT test).

Any remaining pupils will be allocated within each band as follows:-

1. Looked after children and children who were previously looked after but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, a child arrangements order, or special guardianship order. 1
2. Children of the founding members of the HNS trust (which will not apply before 2018 and in total will not make up more than 1% of the full school cohort).
3. Children with a social or medical need. In order to be considered under this criterion applicants must produce a supporting report from either a Senior Social Worker or medical practitioner setting out why HNS is the only appropriate school for this student.
4. Siblings of children at Hackney New School.
5. Siblings of children at Hackney New Primary School.
6. Pupils living nearest to the gates of the school on Kingsland Road as measured in a straight line using a GIS computerised batch distance measuring system.

Download the Full Admissions Policy for 2018.

Music Aptitude Tests

Hackney New School have designed a process that offers the fairest assessment of all students, those who have not yet benefited from formal musical training and those who have. The process is structured in such a way as to enable the fairest possible evaluation of the musical potential of each student. The students are assessed by a team of 3 professional assessors.

Stage 1: Group Exercise

A 90 minute group activity during which each student is individually assessed on a series of graded tasks testing key rhythmic, lyrical, compositional and creative skills. Starting with a warm-up, students are taken through a series of activities which rigorously tests their musical skills, talents and abilities in both a group and individual context. These exercises enable talented individuals with no musical training to excel as well as those who have already begun learning instruments and music theory thus ensuring a fair and thorough approach for everyone. This approach breaks down barriers and tests the students’ ability to communicate, develop, learn and invest in their musical learning and performance skills as well as being enjoyable and stimulating, thus assisting each student to shine whilst revealing true talent. Assessors mark each activity to a standardized format.

Stage 2: Individual Performance

Each student performs a short piece (no more than 3 minutes) for individual assessment

• Students choose to perform on instrument or voice
• Those who have not prepared in advance will work with the activity leaders to prepare a piece so that they are not excluded from the individual audition process.