St. Paul's With St. Michael's CofE Primary School Review 2026: Faith-Centred Excellence in Hackney Downs

St. Paul's With St. Michael's CofE Primary School stands out with its distinctive motto "Think • Share • Achieve" and six core Christian values—Peace, Endurance, Compassion, Thankfulness, Hope, and Forgiveness—that shape daily life for its 196 pupils in the heart of Hackney Downs. This voluntary aided Church of England primary, rated Outstanding by Ofsted in May 2023, serves children aged 3 to 11 at 57a Brougham Road, London E8 4PB. The school combines strong academic outcomes with a commitment to nurturing the whole child, achieving results that consistently exceed both local and national averages while maintaining a warm, inclusive environment. Under the leadership of Mrs Kiyeran Lot since September 2018, the school prepares its diverse intake for 21st-century challenges through a curriculum enriched by Christian values and community partnerships.

As a Church of England primary school within the Diocese of London, St. Paul's With St. Michael's places faith at the centre of its identity. The six core Christian values permeate the curriculum and pastoral care, creating a culture where pupils demonstrate kindness, respect, and exceptional behaviour. Ofsted inspectors noted that pupils behave exceptionally well and exhibit genuine pride in their school, with staff providing care that extends beyond academic achievement.

The school's commitment to rights-respecting education and eco-school initiatives reflects a broader vision of preparing students for citizenship in the modern world. With a student-teacher ratio of 15:1 and 11 teachers, the relatively small size of the school fosters close relationships between staff, pupils, and families. The diverse intake reflects the multicultural character of Hackney, and the school has worked with community partners such as SportInspired for over 15 years to broaden opportunities for children, many of whom qualify for Pupil Premium funding.

Accessibility features include an adapted toilet and the ability to provide one-to-one staff support for some disabled children based on individual needs. The school's emphasis on inclusivity is evident in its approach to special educational needs, with Ofsted praising the high-quality support provided to pupils with SEND.

St. Paul's With St. Michael's delivers academic performance that places it above the national average. In the most recent Key Stage 2 results, 77% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined, significantly outperforming the national average of 62%. For higher standards, 32% of pupils achieved the higher standard in reading, writing, and maths, well above the national figure of 8%.

Breaking down the results by subject, 80% of pupils met the expected standard in reading (with an average scaled score of 108), 80% in maths (average scaled score 106), and 75% in grammar, punctuation, and spelling (average scaled score 108). Notably, 38% of pupils achieved high scores across reading, maths, and GPS combined, demonstrating real depth of achievement. Writing at greater depth was attained by 35% of pupils.

Early years and Key Stage 1 outcomes are equally strong, with EYFS outcomes at 70%, Year 1 Phonics at 86%, and KS1 combined results at 70%—all above both Hackney and national averages. Year 6 Reading SATs reached 80%, confirming the school's consistent strength in literacy.

Nationally, St. Paul's With St. Michael's ranks in the top 20% of primary schools in England for overall attainment, sitting at 3,019th out of approximately 15,000 ranked primaries. Within Hackney, the school ranks 21st locally, a solid position in a competitive borough.

For disadvantaged pupils, the school's performance is particularly noteworthy, rated as excellent in both reading and writing progress, with maths progress also above average. This demonstrates the school's success in closing attainment gaps and ensuring all pupils benefit from high-quality teaching and targeted support.

Pupils at St. Paul's With St. Michael's benefit from a range of extracurricular activities chosen through pupil voice and class votes, reflecting the school's commitment to student agency. The after-school provision from 3:30pm to 5:45pm offers sports, board games, music, and arts and crafts for children aged 5-11 at a cost of £7 per session.

The school's longstanding partnership with SportInspired has introduced new sporting activities, including a school-run volleyball club and access to multi-sports festivals that expose children to activities beyond their usual experience. Teachers report that these partnerships have had a direct impact on the whole-school delivery and ethos around sports, with children demonstrating team spirit and mutual encouragement.

The school integrates technology into learning, with Google Classroom used to support remote learning and continuity of education. The relatively compact site at 57a Brougham Road means the school maximises its facilities to serve its 196 pupils within a capacity of 236.

St. Paul's With St. Michael's is significantly oversubscribed, with a subscription proportion of 2.43 for primary entry. In the most recent admissions round, the school received 34 applications for just 14 reception places, and all first-preference applicants who were offered places received them, indicating that the school prioritises families who express it as their top choice.

Admissions are managed through Hackney Education for reception to Year 6 places. As a Church of England voluntary aided school, the school uses supplementary information forms and requires confirmation of church affiliation, meaning faith practice may be a significant factor in oversubscription decisions. Parents should carefully review the admissions policy available on the school website to understand how criteria such as church attendance, sibling links, and proximity are weighted.

Nursery admissions operate separately. Children can apply once they turn two, with entry offered the term after their third birthday. Parents must submit an application form along with proof of address dated within three months and an official birth certificate. Nursery places are allocated toward the end of spring term for September entry, and the school accepts 30 children per academic year into reception.

Given the level of competition and the faith-based criteria, families interested in St. Paul's With St. Michael's should engage with the application process early and consider how they meet the published oversubscription criteria. The school operates an appeals process through an external system, with separate forms for different year groups.

St. Paul's With St. Michael's CofE Primary School offers a compelling combination of academic excellence, Christian values, and genuine inclusivity in the heart of Hackney. For families seeking a faith-based education with strong pastoral care and above-average results, this Outstanding-rated school delivers. The academic performance speaks for itself: 77% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, and outcomes that place the school in the top 20% nationally.

The school's small size and low student-teacher ratio create an environment where children are known and valued as individuals. The partnership with SportInspired and the pupil-led approach to extracurricular activities demonstrate a commitment to broadening horizons for children who may not otherwise access such opportunities. For disadvantaged pupils in particular, the school's track record is excellent.

However, prospective families should be realistic about competition. With admissions heavily oversubscribed and church affiliation playing a role in the process, securing a place is not guaranteed. Families should also note that while the school's academic and pastoral strengths are clear, the surrounding environment faces challenges, including higher-than-average air pollution and crime rates in the local area.

For families whose values align with the school's Christian ethos and who meet the admissions criteria, St. Paul's With St. Michael's represents an excellent choice. The school fulfils its mission to prepare children for 21st-century challenges while grounding them in the values of Peace, Endurance, Compassion, Thankfulness, Hope, and Forgiveness.

Is St. Paul's With St. Michael's CofE Primary School a good school?

Yes, St. Paul's With St. Michael's is rated Outstanding by Ofsted (inspected March 2023) and achieves academic results significantly above national averages. In Key Stage 2, 77% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths, compared to the national average of 62%, and 32% achieved the higher standard versus 8% nationally. The school ranks in the top 20% of primary schools in England and delivers excellent outcomes for disadvantaged pupils.

How do I apply to St. Paul's With St. Michael's CofE Primary School?

For reception to Year 6 places, all applications must be made through Hackney Education at education.hackney.gov.uk. The school requires a supplementary information form and confirmation of church affiliation. Nursery applications are made directly to the school once your child is two years old, with entry offered the term after their third birthday. The reception intake is 30 children per year, and the school is significantly oversubscribed (2.43 applications per place), so understanding the admissions criteria and submitting applications early is essential.

What are the school's Christian values?

St. Paul's With St. Michael's centres its ethos on six core Christian values: Peace, Endurance, Compassion, Thankfulness, Hope, and Forgiveness. These values are integrated throughout the curriculum and daily school life, shaping behaviour expectations, relationships, and the overall atmosphere. As a Church of England voluntary aided school within the Diocese of London, faith is central to the school's identity.

What extracurricular activities does the school offer?

The school offers a range of after-school clubs chosen through pupil voice and class votes, including sports, music, board games, and arts and crafts. A longstanding partnership with SportInspired has introduced activities such as volleyball and multi-sports festivals. After-school care is available from 3:30pm to 5:45pm for children aged 5-11 at £7 per session.

What support does the school provide for pupils with special educational needs?

Ofsted specifically praised the school for providing high-quality support to pupils with SEND. The school has accessible facilities including an adapted toilet and can offer one-to-one staff support to some disabled children based on their individual needs. The commitment to inclusive education is a recognised strength of the school.