Schools in Islington
55 schools in 3 towns: how they were inspected, the best by phase, where places ran out, and the dates to apply.
Islington at a glance
- Schools
- 55 39 state primary, 10 state secondary, 1 sixth-form or college and 5 private. DfE Get Information about Schools, 17 October 2026.
- Good or Outstanding
- 98% 43 of the 44 state schools whose latest Ofsted inspection gave a grade. 1 more have the new report card, which gives no single grade. Ofsted, latest inspections.
- Oversubscribed in 2026
- 10 Of 49 state schools with DfE figures for 2026: more first preferences than places at entry (Reception or Year 7). DfE, school applications and offers, 2026.
- Offer distances held
- 45% How far the last place reached on offer day: held for 22 of 49 state schools that take an intake. Islington's published offer-day figures.
The best schools in Islington
Primary
| Place in Islington | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Winton Primary School | London | 1st (1/39) |
| 2 | St Joseph's Catholic Primary School | London | Top 6% (2/39) |
| 3 | Gillespie Primary School | London | Top 8% (3/39) |
| 4 | Hugh Myddelton Primary School | London | Top 11% (4/39) |
| 5 | Thornhill Primary School | London | Top 13% (5/39) |
| 6 | St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School | London | Top 16% (6/39) |
| 7 | Drayton Park Primary School | London | Top 18% (7/39) |
| 8 | Tufnell Park Primary School | London | Top 21% (8/39) |
| 9 | William Tyndale Primary School | London | Top 24% (9/39) |
| 10 | City of London Primary Academy, Islington | London | Top 26% (10/39) |
Ranked on 2025 KS2 results: the share reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. The same rank as the full Islington primary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 2 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Secondary (GCSE)
| Place in Islington | School | Town | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Mary Magdalene Academy | London | 1st (1/10) |
| 2 | Highbury Fields School | London | Top 20% (2/10) |
| 3 | Central Foundation Boys' School | London | Top 30% (3/10) |
| 4 | Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School | London | Top 40% (4/10) |
| 5 | St Aloysius' College | London | Top 50% (5/10) |
| 6 | City of London Academy Islington | London | (6/10) |
| 7 | City of London Academy, Highgate Hill | London | (7/10) |
| 8 | City of London Academy Highbury Grove | London | (8/10) |
| 9 | Arts and Media School Islington | London | (9/10) |
| 10 | Lift Beacon High | London | (10/10) |
Ranked on 2026 GCSE results: Attainment 8, the average grade across eight GCSEs. The same rank as the full Islington secondary table (method). Source: DfE, key stage 4 school performance tables; table built 16 October 2026.
Towns
- London 53 schools · best schools
- United Kingdom 1 school · best schools
Getting in
Starting Reception in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2026 | Reception applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | Islington council |
| 15 January 2027 | Primary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | Islington council |
| 16 April 2027 | Primary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | Islington council |
Starting secondary school (Year 7) in September 2027
| Date | What | What to do | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 September 2026 | Year 7 applications open | The council's application form opens. Look at your schools' admission rules and open days now. | Islington council |
| 31 October 2026 | Secondary applications close | Apply to your home council (where you live), listing your schools in order of preference. A late application is looked at after every on-time one. | Islington council |
| 1 March 2027 | Secondary offer day | Offers arrive by email from your home council. Check which school you were offered. | Islington council |
Every Islington admission date · After offer day in Islington: replies, waiting lists and appeals
We hold no catchment maps for Islington. Many schools here admit by distance; the catchment finder says which maps cover a postcode.
Offer-day distances (how far the last place reached) are held for 22 of 49 state schools (45%). Could we get in? sets your distance beside them.
Private schools, fees and childcare
Private school fees in Islington: we hold checked fees for 3 of 5 private schools.
Childcare costs, town by town: 79 nurseries and pre-schools in Islington, with fees held for 0. Nurseries in Islington by Ofsted rating.
Every school in Islington
Your children and your home, with the schools, the distances and the dates that are yours.Open your plan
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Sources are named beside each figure. How we know · All sources.