When pondering schools that raise A-List celebrities, one might conjure up thoughts of the Princess of Wales‘s alma mater, Marlborough College, the many politicians of Eton, or the tots in bonnets at Harrow School.
Not only are there expectations of Latin learning and lacrosse-playing pupils – but outrageous price tags to fund it.
So a school in London‘s Borough of Hackney might not fit the bill then. Well, think again.
A little-known school has challenged the stereotype that VIPs must come from one of Britain’s biggest-budget educational institutes – Stoke Newington School and Sixth Form.
Nestled among hippie stores, kebab houses, and a leafy Clissold Park, the co-educational school has raised stars for generations – and it’s cost-free.
East London’s Stoke Newington School (pictured) has educated numerous celebrities through the years
Can you tell who these stars are?
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Sex Education star Asa Butterfield, 26, who began his rise to stardom in the on-screen adaptation of Boy in the Striped Pyjamas in 2008, attended Stoke Newington School.
Another famous thespian to have attended the institution is 51-year-old Saffron Burrows who has starred in Westworld, Everything I Ever Wanted to Tell My Daughter About Men, and, more recently, Netflix series You, also went to the school.
The famous graduates from Stoke Newington School also include big figures in the world of food – as British baker and Junior Bake Off Judge Liam Charles also attended.
In the music world, famous former students include singer-songwriter Labrinth (real name Timothy Lee McKenzie), 34 and rapper Professor Green (real name Stephen Paul Manderson).
Similarly, actor Adam Deacon, boxer Lawrence Okolie, cyclist Tao Geoghegan Hart, and Arsenal women’s Lotte Wubben-Moy, also attended.
The school has a ‘Good’ Ofsted rating and therefore just misses the top score of ‘Outstanding’ – but given the number of high-achievers it has produced, the teachers are certainly doing something right.
Boasting a theatre, sound recording studio, photography darkroom, media suites, sound recording studio, television studio, and dance studio – the school is well-equipped to pique interest in life in the media.
The children can get real-life experience with the school’s partnerships, too.
Esteemed performing arts centre Sadler’s Wells Theatre has joined forces with the school to promote dance among its pupils.
Elsewhere, a ‘Headlines’ programme encourages children to speak out on matters that move them the most, and on national television at that, including SKY, BBC, and ITV.
Sports remains a priority, too. The school hones skills with Jus Ball, an athlete mentoring programme based on research by experts in motor skill acquisition.
The wealth of partnerships are a clear advantage, with their topics matching that of their stars, from award-winning actors to a Giro d’Italia-winning cyclist.
Creative thinking isn’t limited to the dance floor or photograph studio though, it extends to the classroom.
‘Here at Stoke Newington School, our curriculum supports a culture rooted in high expectations for all, which cultivates a love of learning and ambition for success,’ the website reads.
‘We have a culture rooted in high expectations for all, which cultivates a love of learning and ambition, together with a strong sense of belonging.’
GCSE results day saw 70 per cent of the cohort receiving 9-4 in English and Maths.
Meanwhile 21 per cent of A-level students at Stoke Newington School received either an A* or an A this year, 47 per cent received A*, A, or B grades and 66 per cent of students achieved top grades – A*, A, B or C – in their exams.
Headteacher Zehra Jaffer, who has helf the post since 2019, revealed in a statement that the school’s Sixth Form is ‘over-subscribed and successful’.
Headteacher Zehra Jaffer (pictured) prides Stoke Newington School for a ‘vibrant’, ‘diverse’, and ‘inclusive’ community
Jaffer defined the school as ‘vibrant, diverse, and inclusive’ while ‘delivering excellence for all’ on the school’s website.
Writing in her introductory letter for the role, she wrote: ‘We are at the heart of our local community in North Hackney and strive to provide an inspirational learning journey for every student.
‘We believe that all our young people have the potential to achieve in school and succeed in life.
‘We ensure that students flourish at our school regardless of their starting point or individual circumstance.’
The school’s location, Stoke Newington, naturally lends itself to creative types too.
Known as Stokey by locals, the residential area has a relaxed vibe with quirky features and woodland – plus it’s close to central London.
Perhaps adding to the flurry of A-List alumna at Stoke Newington school are their once very trendy parents who settled in the area and instilled star-like qualities in their children.
Either way, they’ve proven that celebrities need not have a forty-something thousand school a year on their CV to become the stars of our generation.
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