St Andrew's (Barnsbury) Church of England Primary School Review 2026: Faith-Centred Education in the Heart of Islington

St Andrew's (Barnsbury) Church of England Primary School serves a diverse community in Islington's Barnsbury neighbourhood with a deeply rooted Christian ethos that shapes every aspect of school life. Rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent inspection in May 2025, this one-form-entry voluntary aided primary school for pupils aged 4 to 11 occupies a rare position among inner London schools: sizable, well-maintained grounds that provide space for outdoor learning and play uncommon for an urban setting. The school holds the highest accreditation for Church of England schools, reflecting its commitment to nurturing spiritual, moral, cultural, mental and physical development. Led by headteacher Mrs Felicity Djerehe, St Andrew's operates from Matilda Street in the N1 0LB postcode, educating 188 pupils within a capacity of 210. With strong ties to the Barnsbury Parish team and local churches including St Andrew's, All Saints and the Church on the Corner, the school balances faith-based values with inclusive, academically sound provision in a welcoming environment.

St Andrew's places Christian values at the core of its mission, creating what the school describes as a nurturing and inclusive environment where children learn to live well together, celebrate differences and love one another. The school's vision emphasises that every child, regardless of background, has the ability to succeed, and that a supportive, intellectually engaging atmosphere with praise and encouragement allows pupils to flourish. As a Church of England voluntary aided school, the institution maintains close links with its parish churches and serves the local community through faith-informed practice. The governing body plays an active role in challenging the school to reach its full potential and supporting the strategic vision through new initiatives.

Pupils experience a welcoming Christian environment designed to inspire responsible, fulfilling lives demonstrating love and respect for themselves and others. The school's values are visibly embedded throughout the building and evident in how staff and pupils treat one another as they grow together as a community. From Reception through to Year 6, St Andrew's aims to provide a safe, happy and purposeful setting that supports children's learning journey at every stage.

The atmosphere reflects the diversity of Barnsbury, with the school drawing families from a range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Extended provision runs from 7:45am to 6:00pm, including breakfast club from £1 per day and after-school club until 4:30pm, offering flexibility for working parents. The governing body's commitment and the leadership's focus on excellence create a culture of high expectation balanced with pastoral care rooted in Christian compassion.

St Andrew's delivers a curriculum informed by both national expectations and its Christian foundation. Most recent results show that 75% of Year 6 pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, outperforming the national average of 62%. In the higher standard category, 21% of pupils achieved greater depth in reading, writing and maths, well above the national average of 8%. Science attainment stands at an impressive 95% reaching expected standards, compared to 82% nationally.

Breaking down the core subjects, the school achieved average scaled scores of 103 in reading and grammar, punctuation and spelling, and 105 in maths. In reading, 68% of pupils met the expected standard and 21% achieved the higher score. Maths saw stronger performance, with 79% reaching expected standards and 26% attaining high scores. Writing showed 16% of pupils working at greater depth. These outcomes place the school ranked 9,848th in England and 31st within Islington. While the local rank positions St Andrew's in the lower half of the borough, the absolute attainment figures demonstrate that pupils leave primary school with solid foundations, particularly in maths and science.

The school's ranking reflects the competitive nature of Islington's primary landscape rather than underperformance against national benchmarks. St Andrew's serves a mixed intake without selection, and the results show effective teaching that brings the majority of pupils to or above age-related expectations.

Support structures include a dedicated SENCo, Richard Smith, and specialist staff trained to meet diverse learning needs. The small one-form-entry model creates an intimate environment where teachers can track individual progress closely. The pupil-to-teacher ratio of 18:1 allows for targeted intervention and differentiation within lessons. The school's Christian ethos extends into pastoral and academic support, with staff aiming to develop the whole child through spiritual and moral education alongside traditional subjects.

Ofsted's May 2025 inspection confirmed Good ratings across all categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. Inspectors found safeguarding to be effective, with pupils, staff and parents expressing confidence in the school's ability to provide a safe and inclusive environment. The report highlights that leadership and management maintain high standards and that the early years provision establishes strong foundations for learning.

St Andrew's benefits from the rare advantage of sizable, well-kept grounds in central London. The outdoor play area is engaging and stimulates children's learning, offering space for physical activity, imaginative play and outdoor lessons. These grounds distinguish the school from many inner-city primaries constrained by limited space.

Extracurricular provision includes sport, art, cooking and craftwork, alongside school visits that broaden pupils' experiences beyond the classroom. The extended day provision supports families with working parents: breakfast club offers healthy toast, cereals and a cooked option on Fridays, while after-school club features outdoor playtime or indoor games and art activities. The school offers weekly tours on Mondays at 11:15am for prospective families to view facilities and meet staff.

The Church of England character shapes the rhythm of school life. Collective worship, links with local churches and integration of Christian values into assemblies and lessons create a distinctive atmosphere. Pupils participate in church services and community events, developing an understanding of faith traditions and service to others.

The school office operates from 8:00am to 4:30pm, with the school day running from 8:55am to 3:30pm. Early drop-off is available from 7:25am for families needing to reach work early, with children waiting in the school office until breakfast club begins at 7:45am. These practical arrangements reflect the school's commitment to serving its community's needs.

St Andrew's is heavily oversubscribed. For Reception 2025 entry, the school received 48 applications for just 10 places, a subscription rate of 4.8 to 1. All 10 first-preference applicants received offers, indicating that places went exclusively to families who named St Andrew's as their top choice. Competition for admission is intense, and the small cohort size means each year group fills rapidly.

As a voluntary aided Church of England school, St Andrew's sets its own admissions policy, though Islington residents must complete the Islington Primary Common Admission Form. Places are allocated by straight-line distance from the home address to the main school entrance on Matilda Street. Priority is given to those living nearest, with a tiebreaker applied where children live equidistant from the school. Children of staff employed at the school for two or more years, or recruited to fill a vacant post, receive consideration within the criteria.

The admissions policy complies with the School Admissions Code 2021. Because admission is distance-based without faith-based prioritisation beyond the general Church of England character, families of all backgrounds may apply. However, the small Published Admission Number of 10 and the urban density of Islington mean that catchment distances are tight. Prospective parents should research recent admission patterns and distance criteria carefully, and consider St Andrew's realistically if living within close proximity to Matilda Street.

The school does not offer nursery provision, so families will need to arrange early years care elsewhere before Reception entry. The lack of a nursery means the school does not have an internal feeder route for younger siblings, though sibling priority may apply under the admissions criteria where stated.

Given the level of demand and the faith designation, families attracted by the Christian ethos and strong academic outcomes compete for places in one of Islington's most popular small primaries. The May 2025 Ofsted Good rating and the school's visible grounds and facilities continue to draw applications from across the borough.

St Andrew's (Barnsbury) Church of England Primary School offers a distinctive blend of faith-centred education, strong academic outcomes and rare physical space in central London. For families seeking a Christian environment rooted in inclusivity and community service, the school provides a well-led, pastorally rich setting where children are known individually and nurtured holistically. The most recent results demonstrate that the majority of pupils leave Year 6 meeting or exceeding national standards, with particularly strong performance in science and maths.

The school's ranking within Islington reflects the borough's competitive primary landscape rather than any shortfall in teaching quality or pupil progress. St Andrew's serves a comprehensive intake and achieves above-average outcomes, a testament to effective leadership under Mrs Felicity Djerehe and a committed staff team. The Ofsted Good rating across all categories, including a strong safeguarding culture, reassures parents that the school maintains high standards in both academic and pastoral domains.

The sizable grounds and extended-day provision add practical appeal for families balancing work and school commitments. Extracurricular opportunities in sport, art and cooking, combined with strong church links and community engagement, enrich the curriculum beyond core academics. The small one-form-entry structure creates an intimate, family-like atmosphere where every child is visible to staff and peers, fostering a close-knit community.

However, the intense admissions pressure and distance-based allocation mean that St Andrew's is accessible only to those living very near the school. Families further afield should approach applications with realistic expectations and alternative options in mind. The absence of nursery provision requires parents to arrange separate early years care.

For those within the catchment and aligned with the Christian ethos, St Andrew's delivers a nurturing, academically sound education in an environment that prioritises values, community and individual growth. It is a school where faith and learning walk hand-in-hand, and where the grounds, the teaching and the pastoral care combine to create a distinctive primary experience in the heart of Islington.

Is St Andrew's (Barnsbury) Church of England Primary School a good school?

Yes. St Andrew's is rated Good by Ofsted (May 2025) across all categories. The school achieves above-average results, with 75% of pupils reaching expected standards in reading, writing and maths, and 95% in science. The Christian ethos, experienced leadership and strong pastoral care create a supportive, academically effective environment.

How do I apply to St Andrew's (Barnsbury) Church of England Primary School?

Islington residents must complete the Islington Primary Common Admission Form, available through the local authority. As a voluntary aided school, St Andrew's sets its own admissions policy. Places are allocated by straight-line distance from the home address to the school entrance on Matilda Street, with priority to those living nearest. The school is heavily oversubscribed (48 applications for 10 places in 2025), so proximity is critical. Check the school website and Islington admissions guidance for deadlines and criteria.

What are the school hours at St Andrew's (Barnsbury)?

The school day runs from 8:55am to 3:30pm. Extended provision includes breakfast club from 7:45am (£1 per day) and after-school club until 4:30pm (£4 per day). Early drop-off is available from 7:25am for families needing to reach work early, with children waiting in the school office until breakfast club starts.

Does St Andrew's (Barnsbury) have a nursery?

No, the school does not offer nursery provision. Families will need to arrange early years care elsewhere before their child enters Reception at age 4.

What is the catchment area for St Andrew's (Barnsbury)?

Admission is by straight-line distance from home to the school entrance on Matilda Street. With 48 applications for 10 places in 2025, the catchment is very tight. The distance criterion varies year-on-year depending on application numbers. Prospective parents should contact Islington admissions or the school for recent distance data.

What extracurricular activities are offered?

The school offers sport, art, cooking, craftwork and educational visits. Extended provision includes breakfast club with healthy meals and after-school club with outdoor play and indoor games or art. Weekly school tours on Mondays at 11:15am allow prospective families to view facilities and meet staff.