City of London Primary Academy, Islington

About City of London Primary Academy, Islington

City of London Primary Academy, Islington sits within the Islington local authority, where it ranks 15th out of 39 primary schools on the key stage 2 expected standard measure. That places it comfortably in the top half of the borough, though it is outpaced by the three highest-scoring peers in the area: Drayton Park Primary School, Gillespie Primary School and Winton Primary School. The school is one of eight primary schools in Islington to hold an Outstanding rating from Ofsted, a status it earned in its most recent graded inspection in 2019 and maintained in an ungraded inspection in March 2025, where inspectors confirmed that standards were being upheld. The nearest Outstanding-rated alternative is Hugh Myddelton Primary School, about 0.9 kilometres away. With 317 pupils on roll against a capacity of 458, the school is not yet full, but it is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 137 applications for 58 places, with 40 of those coming as first preferences.

Academically, the school performs above the local authority average. In the 2023/24 key stage 2 assessments, 76% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Islington average of 68%. The school also saw strong results in individual subjects: 90% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, 88% in writing and 88% in maths. At the higher standard, 24% of pupils achieved in all three subjects, with 36% reaching that level in maths and writing, and 33% in reading. Average scaled scores were 108 in reading and 106 in maths. Nationally, the school ranks in the top 25% of all primary schools, sitting at the 17th percentile. Ofsted awarded top marks across all five categories in its 2019 graded inspection, including Outstanding for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision.

The school offers a range of facilities including a library, dining hall, playing fields and a forest school, with sports such as gymnastics, dance, swimming, rounders and cricket on the timetable. Clubs include drama, choir and science club. For families with children who have special educational needs, the school lists provisions for a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech, language and communication needs, specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, and social, emotional and mental health needs. In the most recent Parent View survey, 71% of respondents said they would recommend the school, though responses were mixed: while 75% of parents strongly agreed or agreed that their child is happy, 22% strongly disagreed. The school is oversubscribed at a ratio of 2.36 applicants per place, so families should be prepared for a competitive admissions process. It suits families who value strong academic outcomes within a well-regarded state primary in central London.

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