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City of London Academy Islington

City of London Academy Islington

Islington, N1 8PQSecondary School·Ages 11-18
Outstandingby Ofsted

111%

Capacity

896

Pupils

3.9x

Demand

About City of London Academy Islington

City of London Academy Islington is a state-funded Does not apply secondary school serving the Islington community, welcoming children from age 11 to 18. The school has 896 pupils on roll and is near full capacity (111% of 805 places).

the school is led by headteacher Laurence Glees, it falls under Islington local authority.

In terms of academic performance, its Progress 8 score of +0.13 is above the national average. Additionally, Attainment 8 is solid at 45.5. Additionally, sixth form students achieve an average A-Level grade of C+. Additionally, ranked 1250th out of 3,141 schools in England. Additionally, 7th out of 9 in Islington.

City of London Academy Islington is a popular choice with families — it received 500 applications for 130 places, making it 3.9x oversubscribed. Of these, 109 were first-preference applications.

City of London Academy Islington parent feedback on Ofsted Parent View is mixed, with 62% recommending the school (68 responses).

For children with special educational needs, the school offers support across 8 areas, including Specific Learning Difficulty (Dyslexia), Moderate Learning Difficulty, Social, Emotional & Mental Health and 5 more. Parents should contact the school's SENCO for specific details about provision.

On-site facilities at City of London Academy Islington include Swimming Pool, ICT Suite, Gymnasium, Sports Hall, Science Labs, Sixth Form Centre, Art Studios, Dining Hall, Theatre, Playing Fields, Chapel.

Beyond the classroom, pupils can take part in sports such as Football, Rowing, Cross Country, Dance and 2 more, as well as clubs including DofE, Drama, Gardening, Eco Club and 6 more.

The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals is 61.9%, which is well above the national average for secondary schools in England.

For families exploring secondary schools in Islington, City of London Academy Islington is one of the options available in the London region. Use Classpot to compare it side-by-side with nearby alternatives and find the best fit for your child.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressPrebend Street, London, Islington, N1 8PQ
HeadteacherLaurence Glees
Local AuthorityIslington
Number of Pupils896
Free School Meals (FSM)61.9%
School Capacity896 / 805 (111% full)
Sixth FormYes

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

2 Apr 2025
View Report

Overall Effectiveness

Outstanding

Latest inspection (2 Apr 2025): Standards maintained

Improved
Leadership & Management
Outstanding

Additional Provisions

Sixth Form Provision
Good

Source: Ofsted, 4 Apr 2019. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

League Table Position

Based on Progress 8 (+0.13)

1250th of 3,141

Nationally

Top 50%

318th of 487

In London

Top 65%

7th of 9

In Islington

Top 78%

Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data

GCSE Results

2023/24

Progress 8 Score

+0.13Average

Students make similar progress to students nationally with the same starting point

BelowAverageAbove

Attainment 8 (vs national avg)

+45.5Well Above Average

Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average

BelowAverageAbove
Grade 9-4 (Standard Pass)62%
Grade 9-5 (Strong Pass)37%

Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.

A-Level Results

2023/24
49 students

Average Points per Entry

33.0Grade C+

Value Added Score

+0.05Average
BelowAverageAbove

Best 3 A-Levels (Average)

32.8Grade C+
AAB or higher (inc. 2 facilitating)9%
Avg Points per Entry over timeDeclining -3.3

'21/22

38.1

'22/23

34.4

'23/24

33.0

Source: Department for Education 16-18 Performance Tables, 2023/24. Value Added measures progress compared to students with similar GCSE results.

Ofsted Parent View

68 responses

Would Recommend This School

62%Average
Needs Attentionbelow 70%
Bullying dealt with
10%
Concerns dealt with
42%
SEND support
46%

Source: Ofsted Parent View (GOV.UK statistical data), Sep – Sep 2025

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

Facilities

11
Swimming PoolICT SuiteGymnasiumSports HallScience LabsSixth Form CentreArt StudiosDining HallTheatrePlaying FieldsChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

16

Sports

FootballRowingCross CountryDanceRoundersRugby

Clubs & Activities

Duke of EdinburghDramaGardeningEco ClubChoirCodingArt ClubBook ClubYoung EnterpriseDebate

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

Admissions

2025/26Oversubscribed
Places

130

Applications

500

High Demand

Competitive - many more applications than places available

Applications to places ratio3.8x
0x1x2x3x5x+

109 families put this school as their 1st choice (22% of all applications)

Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.

Frequently Asked Questions About City of London Academy Islington

City of London Academy Islington has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.

Contact Information

02072268611www.colai.org.uk

Prebend Street, London

Islington, N1 8PQ

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Prebend Street, London

Islington, N1 8PQ

Journey to School

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Opening Hours

Monday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Tuesday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Wednesday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Thursday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Friday8:30 AM - 3:30 PM
SaturdayClosed
SundayClosed

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