Apply for a primary school place
If your child is due to start primary school and lives in Islington, you must apply online.
Apply for primary school place
If your child is due to start primary school and lives in Islington, you must apply online.
About our primary schools
Islington’s primary schools have a lot to be proud of. Every local school is rated ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted in their latest graded inspection.
In 2024, our pupils outperformed national averages in every subject at Key Stage 2, with Islington schools performing in the upper quartile in each subject when compared with all schools nationally.
Independent inspectors noted in May this year that children with special educational needs and disabilities typically have “positive experiences” in Islington schools and are “at the centre” of the work to support them. They “typically achieve well and secure positive outcomes at Key Stage 2”. This is borne out in their performance outcomes, with significantly more Islington children reaching expected standards in reading, writing and maths than their peers elsewhere.
Apply for a primary school place
You can apply for up to six schools. We recommend you apply for six, if possible. Applying for only one or two schools might mean your child does not get a place at all.
Don’t include private schools in your application.
You'll find lots of useful information in our primary school admissions guide.
When your child should start school
We’ll offer your child a full-time school place for the start of the school year when they turn five. All children must start reception by the term following their fifth birthday. If you think your child won’t be ready for school in September, they can start one or two terms later, depending on their birthday.
If your child was born between 1 April and 31 August, you can ask to delay their start in reception class until the following year if you feel they are not ready to start school. To do so, please complete the Request to Delay Admission to Reception Class online form. If we agree to delay your child’s admission to reception class, you will need to apply again next year. At secondary transfer, all Islington secondary schools have agreed to admit delayed summer born children to Year 7 without the need to reapply for delayed admission.
For more information, contact the School Admissions team at admissions@islington.gov.uk as soon as possible.