St Joan of Arc RC Primary School

About St Joan of Arc RC Primary School

St Joan of Arc RC Primary School is a popular choice among Islington families, with 160 applications chasing 59 places in the 2025/26 admissions round — an oversubscription ratio of 2.71. Of those applicants, 58 put the school as their first preference, and 52 received offers, suggesting strong local demand. The school does not publish a parent recommendation percentage, but the high application numbers relative to capacity (the school has 433 pupils against a capacity of 420) indicate a positive reputation. As a Roman Catholic state primary for ages 3 to 11, it serves a mixed cohort, with 29.2 per cent of pupils eligible for free school meals — slightly above the national average, reflecting the diverse intake of its Islington community.

Academically, St Joan of Arc performs solidly against local benchmarks. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 67 per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, just one point below the Islington local authority average of 68 per cent. However, the school outperforms the LA average in several individual subjects: 83 per cent reached the expected standard in reading (compared with 68 per cent LA average), 81 per cent in maths, and 79 per cent in writing. At the higher standard, 23 per cent achieved the higher benchmark across all three subjects, with reading particularly strong at 56 per cent. Average scaled scores were 109 in reading and 107 in maths. In the most recent Ofsted inspection in January 2024, the school retained its Good rating, with leadership and management also judged Good — consistent with its previous graded inspection in 2014.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a library, art studios, ICT suite, chapel, sensory room and playing fields. Sports provision covers gymnastics, dance, cricket and tennis, while extracurricular clubs include film, gardening, science, choir, chess and drama. SEND support is well-developed, with provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, dyslexia, hearing impairment, physical disability and social, emotional and mental health needs. Nursery provision is available for younger children. St Joan of Arc ranks 24th out of 39 primary schools in Islington on the KS2 expected standard metric, placing it in the top 50 per cent nationally. It suits families who value a faith-based education with strong reading outcomes and a supportive SEND framework, though the oversubscription means early application is essential.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About St Joan of Arc RC Primary School

Helpful Guides for Parents