St Mary's CofE Primary School, London
St Mary's CofE Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 in London. It has a Church of England religious character. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in September 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in March 2023 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 830th-highest of the 959 schools in London with published results, and 9,801st of 14,452 across England. It was 81% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2012)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Below England average
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 80 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Islington (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 27 Oct 2026
St Mary's CofE Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 73% of Year 6 pupils at St Mary's CofE Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 70% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 80% and 78% in Islington and 77% and 75% across England.
Results fell from 76% in reading and 76% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at St Mary's CofE Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 21 families put St Mary's CofE Primary School as their first choice and 69 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at St Mary's CofE Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to St Mary's CofE Primary School are William Tyndale Primary School (0.2 miles, Outstanding, 97% reading, 92% maths); The New North Academy (0.2 miles, Good, 63% reading, 57% maths); Canonbury Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 93% reading, 93% maths); and Laycock Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 73% reading, 73% maths).
St Mary's CofE Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
William Tyndale Primary SchoolThe New North AcademyCanonbury Primary SchoolLaycock Primary School
Who goes there
59.1% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
Staffing
St Mary's CofE Primary School had 13 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical primary school, at about one for every 20.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Essex Road Rail Station, about 300 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).
18 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Cross Street / Dagmar Terrace (->e), 60 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Mary's CofE Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, St Mary's CofE Primary School issued 10 suspensions, 6.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to St Mary's CofE Primary School are City of London Academy Islington (0.3 miles), St Mary Magdalene Academy (0.7 miles), Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School (0.7 miles) and City of London Academy Highbury Grove (0.7 miles).
City of London Academy IslingtonSt Mary Magdalene AcademyElizabeth Garrett Anderson SchoolCity of London Academy Highbury Grove
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; DfE school workforce census; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from September 2012, 14 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Mary's is a warm, inclusive school where children thrive in a caring environment. The school excels at teaching reading and phonics, getting pupils off to a strong start, and ensuring all learners - including those with SEND - feel supported and can access enriching experiences. Staff and leaders genuinely value each child's wellbeing and encourage them to develop as confident, respectful citizens.
Key Strengths
- Strong phonics teaching and reading support, with pupils quickly progressing to complex texts
- Clear teacher explanations that help deepen pupils' knowledge, particularly in science
- Effective identification and support for pupils with SEND, ensuring they can access all opportunities
- Well-behaved, happy pupils who enjoy lessons and feel safe
- High-quality visits and enrichment activities that broaden pupils' understanding of the local community
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers do not consistently check pupils' understanding during lessons, meaning some misconceptions are not corrected promptly
- Some subject leaders are new to their roles and lack the training needed to effectively monitor and improve their curriculum areas
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff receiving regular training to spot pupils at risk and leaders responding promptly to concerns and working with external agencies to support vulnerable families.
Extracurricular Activities
Reading buddies, school councillors, poetry workshops, visits to local churches and theatres, War Memorial visits, puppet theatre trips, girls' football team (played at Emirates Stadium), music centre with dancing
St Mary's CofE Primary School continues to be a good school where pupils are happy, safe, and friendly. Leaders have recently revised the curriculum to be more ambitious, and staff prioritise reading and support for all learners.
At a Glance
59.1%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 73% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 76% to 70% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 77% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.4
Avg class size
21.7
Infant (KS1)
26.5
KS2
7
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with St Mary's CofE Primary School
Before and after school care
St Mary's CofE Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Islington
Clubs on Ofsted's childcare register at or near St Mary's CofE Primary School.
- Pro Touch William Tyndale330m away · Not yet graded
- Link Chinese Limited William Tyndale330m away · Not yet graded
- Sparks Islington660m away · Not yet graded
- North London Deaf Play Scheme660m away · Not yet graded
- art-K Angel960m away · Not yet graded
Term dates
St Mary's CofE Primary School is a voluntary aided school, so it sets its own term dates: check the school's website. As a guide, see Islington's term dates for its community schools.
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Mary's CofE Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Mary's CofE Primary School is in Islington; for families living there:
Apply to Islington for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 238
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 37
- Children hurt
- 10
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 238 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 37 serious and 201 slight.
10 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 6 in a vehicle or otherwise.
43 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Islington is 143 (the median across 70 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Your chances of a place at St Mary's CofE Primary School
Will you get a place at St Mary's CofE Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against St Mary's CofE Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for St Mary's CofE Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to St Mary's CofE Primary School.
- Islington publishes last distance offered figures, but none for St Mary's CofE Primary School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at St Mary's CofE Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Islington got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
81%
Available places
171 pupils
210 places
39 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Islington council
Places available
1,760
Applications
1,683
Got 1st preference
79.4%
Got preferred school
95.8%
All primary applications across Islington council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(7)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
35
SEN Support
8
EHC Plans
25.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
171
Total Pupils
79
Boys
92
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
13
Teachers
13.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£61,649
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,949
Per pupil
£1520k
Total funding
£158k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.1%
Overall absence
33.3%
Persistent absence
165
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Questions parents ask about St Mary's CofE Primary School
What are SATs results like at St Mary's CofE Primary School?
Of the pupils at St Mary's CofE Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 73% reached the expected standard in reading and 70% did so in maths.
What is St Mary's CofE Primary School's Ofsted rating?
St Mary's CofE Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in March 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in September 2012, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for St Mary's CofE Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When St Mary's CofE Primary School is oversubscribed, Islington allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at St Mary's CofE Primary School?
St Mary's CofE Primary School was not full in 2025: it ran at 81% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at St Mary's CofE Primary School?
Classes at St Mary's CofE Primary School average 24.4 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to St Mary's CofE Primary School?
St Mary's CofE Primary School has around 171 pupils on roll. 59% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at St Mary's CofE Primary School?
8.1% of sessions were missed at St Mary's CofE Primary School in 2024/25. 33.3% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to St Mary's CofE Primary School?
Apply through Islington's coordinated admissions process, naming St Mary's CofE Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
Does St Mary's CofE Primary School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
St Mary's CofE Primary School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Ofsted's childcare register lists 5 out-of-school clubs within a kilometre of St Mary's CofE Primary School: Pro Touch William Tyndale (330m away, registered, not yet graded), Link Chinese Limited William Tyndale (330m away, registered, not yet graded) and Sparks Islington (660m away, registered, not yet graded).
How many road collisions happen near St Mary's CofE Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 238 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 37 serious and 201 slight. 10 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot, 1 on a bicycle and 6 in a vehicle or otherwise. 43 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Islington is 143 (the median across 70 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Mary's CofE Primary School?
St Mary's CofE Primary School is at Fowler Road, Islington, London, N1 2EP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)