St John Evangelist Catholic Primary School

About St John Evangelist Catholic Primary School

St John Evangelist Catholic Primary School in Islington is a state-funded Roman Catholic primary that currently educates 235 pupils against a capacity of 259, leaving a modest number of unfilled places. The school’s intake is notably diverse in terms of disadvantage: 71.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, a figure far above the national average and likely well above the Islington average for primary schools. Demand is strong — for the 2025/26 reception intake, the school received 65 applications for 29 places, an oversubscription ratio of 2.24. Of those, 25 were first-preference applications, and all 25 received offers, suggesting that while the school is popular, it is not yet as fiercely competitive as some of its local peers. The school has a nursery provision, so families can join from age three.

Academically, St John Evangelist performs around the middle of the pack in Islington. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 63% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, slightly below the local authority average of 68%. The school ranks 26th out of 39 primary schools in Islington on this metric, placing it in the 66th percentile locally and 49th percentile nationally. Reading is a relative strength: 81% met the expected standard and 38% achieved a higher standard, with an average score of 106. Maths was weaker, with 72% at expected and just 6% at the higher level, though the average maths score of 102 is still in line with national norms. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in April 2024, confirmed it remains Good, with leadership, early years provision and management all rated Good. Its previous graded inspection in 2014 also awarded Good overall, though the school was rated Outstanding in 2010.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including music rooms, art studios, a library, a sensory room, a gymnasium and a chapel. Sports provision covers rounders, netball, tennis, athletics, dance, swimming and cross country, while clubs include gardening, art, book club, drama, science club and choir. SEND support is broad, with provisions for specific learning difficulties, moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing impairment, autistic spectrum disorder and other difficulties. This makes it a practical choice for families seeking a faith-based primary with strong pastoral and SEND infrastructure, particularly those living within the Catholic catchment. The school is not a boarding school and has no sixth form. For families who prioritise higher academic rankings, the nearest Outstanding-rated school is Hugh Myddelton Primary School, 0.7 km away.

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