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City of London Academy Islington

Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Sponsored academy

Prebend Street, Islington, London N1 8PQ · colai.org.uk · 020 7226 8611

On the mapSearch near N1 8PQ

Overview

Ofsted
Standards maintained
Ungraded inspection · Apr 2025
GCSEs, 2024/25
40.8
average Attainment 8 score. Islington 47, England 46
Last distance offered
1.50 mi
2.41 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Band 4 · Islington Council
Demand for places
0.8
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
852
47 over 805 places · 106%
Local authority
Islington
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
65.5%
First language not English
46.7%
School census 2025/26
Trust
City of London Academies Trust

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “Band 4” went to a home 1.50 mi (2.41 km) from the school; in September 2025 it was 0.77 mi (1.24 km). Its other admission rules have their own figures. Source: Islington Council’s document.

For Year 7 in September 2026, 106 families put the school first and 136 places were offered; 81% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

Demand for places

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 188 (Places 159)188September 2023: 177 (Places 158)177September 2024: 136 (Places 162)136September 2025: 109 (Places 130)109September 2026: 106 (Places 136)106Places 136
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20261361060.881%
September 2025Sept 20251301090.881%
September 2024Sept 20241621360.888%
September 2023Sept 20231581771.1▲70%
September 2022Sept 20221591881.2▲65%

Last distance offered

Year 7 – Band 1Distance
September 2026No distance given
September 20252.02 mi3.24 km
September 20242.95 mi4.74 km
Year 7 – Band 2Distance
September 2026No distance given
September 20251.80 mi2.89 km
September 20241.11 mi1.79 km
Year 7 – Band 3Distance
September 2026No distance given
September 20253.29 mi5.29 km
September 20242.02 mi3.24 km
Year 7 – Band 4Distance
September 20261.50 mi2.41 km
September 20250.77 mi1.24 km
September 20241.54 mi2.48 km

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 40.8, and 37.6% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Islington it was 47, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C (30.2 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 47.2 (England 46.3)47.22017/18: 49.1 (England 46.5)49.12018/19: 41.1 (England 46.7)41.12021/22: 50.3 (England 48.8)50.32022/23: 47.6 (England 46.3)47.62023/24: 45.5 (England 45.9)45.52024/25: 40.8 (England 46.0)40.8England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▼40.846.0
▼37.6%45.4%
▼51.0%64.8%
▼21.7%40.5%
▼3.494.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form29.7−5.6
Sixth form college2.6+0.6
Further education51+3.3
Other education0.6−0.1
Apprenticeship1.3−0.7
Employment2.60
Not in a lasting destination6.5−1.3
Activity not captured5.8+3.8

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 24.7 (England 30.5)D+2016/17: 30.4 (England 31.1)C2017/18: 25.6 (England 32.1)C-2018/19: 32.8 (England 32.9)C+2021/22: 38.2 (England 37.9)B-2022/23: 34.4 (England 34.2)C+2023/24: 33.0 (England 34.4)C+2024/25: 30.2 (England 35.0)CEngland 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
31 studentsC (30.2)Average -0.12
31 studentsC (30.2)Average -0.12
14 studentsMerit (25.4)Well below average -0.88
0%AAB or better
75%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/2449C+ (33)+0.05
2022/2329C+ (34.4)—
2021/2237B- (38.2)—
2018/1951C+ (32.8)+0.08
2017/1842C- (25.6)-0.30
2016/1739C (30.4)+0.26
2015/1647D+ (24.7)-0.10

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
University69.8−5.2
Apprenticeship7.5—
Employment11.3−0.1
Not in a lasting destination11.3+2.2

Ofsted

At an ungraded inspection on 2 April 2025, Ofsted’s outcome for City of London Academy Islington was: Standards maintained.

Outcome
Standards maintained
Inspected
1 Apr 2025
Ungraded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Mar 2019

Earlier inspections

Before September 2019

  • Mar 2019Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentOutstanding
    Personal development, behaviour and welfareOutstanding
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
    16 to 19 study programmesGood
    SafeguardingEffective
  • May 2018Monitoring visit
    SafeguardingEffective
  • Mar 2014Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
  • Nov 2012Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood

What parents said

62% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (68 replies, to 1 September 2025).

Recommend
62%
Replies
68
8% · 1 Sept 2025
Child is happy at school▼63% agreeEngland 89%
Child feels safe▼69% agreeEngland 90%
Pupils are well behaved▼73% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations▼78% agreeEngland 84%
Child does well▼73% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn▼55% agreeEngland 84%
Told how child is doing▼68% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects▼72% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities▼80% agreeEngland 91%
Supports personal development▼55% agreeEngland 79%
Concerns are dealt with properly▼53% agreeEngland 77%

based on the 79% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▼23% agreeEngland 50%

based on the 43% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▼46% agreeEngland 67%

based on 15 parents (22%) with SEND

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