Schools by area › Islington › St Mary Magdalene Academy
St Mary Magdalene Academy
All-through · Mixed · Ages 4–19 · Sponsored academy
Liverpool Road, Islington, London N7 8PG · smmacademy.org · 020 7697 0123
Overview
- Ofsted
- Outstanding
- 2019 framework · inspected Jul 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 59.3
- average Attainment 8 score. Islington 47, England 46
- Last distance offered
- 0.18 mi
- 0.30 km · Reception, September 2026 entry · Islington Council
- Demand for places
- 2.5
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,561
- 201 over 1,360 places · 115%
- Local authority
- Islington
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Nursery class
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 38.1%
- First language not English
- 18.3%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Hive Education Trust
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, the last place offered on distance went to a home 0.18 mi (296 m) from the school; in September 2025 it was 0.32 mi (509 m). Source: Islington Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 434 families put the school first and 171 places were offered; 37% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 171 | 434 | 2.5▲ | 37% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 165 | 415 | 2.5▲ | 38% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 200 | 453 | 2.3▲ | 40% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 199 | 471 | 2.4▲ | 39% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 201 | 414 | 2.1▲ | 43% |
Last distance offered
| Reception | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 0.18 mi0.30 km | |
| September 2025 | 0.32 mi0.51 km | |
| September 2024 | 0.53 mi0.85 km | |
| Year 7 – Open places | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 0.31 mi0.50 km | |
| September 2025 | 0.31 mi0.50 km | |
| September 2024 | 0.38 mi0.61 km | |
| Year 7 – Foundation places | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 0.89 mi1.42 km | |
| September 2025 | 0.98 mi1.58 km | |
| September 2024 | 1.09 mi1.76 km | |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 59.3, and 70.7% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Islington it was 47, and across England 46.
In 2024/25, 77% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 30% the higher standard. Across Islington it was 67%, and across England 62%.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B (38.9 points per entry).
Key stage 2 results
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲77% | 62% | ||
| ▲30% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●108 | 106 | ||
| ●107 | 105 | ||
| ▲110 | 105 | ||
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲59.3 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲70.7% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲81.8% | 64.8% | ||
| ▲58.1% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲5.55 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 55.1 | −5 |
| Further education | 34.8 | +8.2 |
| Apprenticeship | 1.5 | −0.8 |
| Employment | 1 | −1.3 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4 | −0.6 |
| Activity not captured | 3.5 | +1.8 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 149 students | B (38.9) | Average -0.10 | |
| 149 students | B (38.8) | Below average -0.11 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 166 | B (40) | +0.06 |
| 2022/23 | 135 | B- (36.8) | — |
| 2021/22 | 109 | B (39.1) | — |
| 2018/19 | 102 | B- (36.2) | +0.10 |
| 2017/18 | 105 | C (30.1) | -0.28 |
| 2016/17 | 31 | B- (36.2) | +0.25 |
| 2015/16 | 30 | C+ (31.8) | +0.15 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 74.7 | +13.1 |
| Further and other education | 4.1 | +2.5 |
| Further education | 3.5 | — |
| Other education | 0.6 | — |
| Apprenticeship | 2.4 | −0.8 |
| Employment | 8.2 | −3.8 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.6 | −1.2 |
| Activity not captured | 2.9 | −9.9 |
Ofsted
St Mary Magdalene Academy was judged Outstanding at its last graded inspection, on 3 July 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Outstanding
- Inspected
- 3 Jul 2023
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Good |
| Sixth form | Outstanding |
Previously: Improving, ungraded inspection, Apr 2022
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Apr 2022Ungraded inspectionImproving
Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
May 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Jun 2010Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good 16 to 19 study programmes Outstanding
What parents said
91% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (222 replies, to 1 April 2024).
- Recommend
- 91%
- Replies
- 222
- 14% · 1 Apr 2024
based on the 76% who raised concerns
based on the 33% who had a child bullied
based on 40 parents (18%) with SEND