Best Primary & Secondary Schools in Islington 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 70 schools across Islington. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Islington has 70 open primary & secondary schools. Of the 65 with a published Ofsted inspection, 22 (34%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 97% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Gillespie Primary School currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Islington follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

70
Total schools
22
Outstanding (historic grade)
34%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
67.3%
Avg KS2 SATs
45.7
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score Profile
1. Gillespie Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 94 View school
2. Hugh Myddelton Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 92 View school
3. City of London Primary Academy, Islington
Primary
 Outstanding 89 View school
4. St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 86 View school
5. Winton Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 85 View school
6. Central Foundation Boys' School
Secondary
 Outstanding 85 View school
7. Highbury Fields School
Secondary
 Outstanding 85 View school
8. Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre
Primary
 Outstanding 83 View school
9. William Tyndale Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 83 View school
10. St Mary Magdalene Academy
All-through
 Outstanding 82 View school
11. Duncombe Primary School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
12. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School
Secondary
 Outstanding 79 View school
13. Yerbury Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 78 View school
14. Drayton Park Primary School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
15. St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School
Primary
 Good 76 View school
16. Newington Green Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 74 View school
17. Thornhill Primary School
Primary
 Good 74 View school
18. Canonbury Primary School
Primary
 Good 73 View school
19. Vittoria Primary School
Primary
 Good 73 View school
20. St Joan of Arc RC Primary School
Primary
 Good 71 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Islington

Best primary schools in IslingtonTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in IslingtonTop-ranked Year 7 onwards Primary schools in IslingtonReception–Year 6 only Secondary schools in IslingtonYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in HackneyCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in City of LondonCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in HaringeyCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in WestminsterCompare neighbouring authority

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Frequently asked questions

How many primary & secondary schools are there in Islington?
There are 70 open primary & secondary schools in Islington (closed schools are excluded). 22 of the 65 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary & secondary schools in Islington?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary & secondary school in Islington is Gillespie Primary School. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Islington?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Islington?
Primary and secondary applications in Islington are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Islington council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.