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St Jude and St Paul's CofE Primary School served the Barnsbury community in Islington from its founding in 1857 until its closure on 31 August 2025. This small Church of England voluntary aided primary school occupied a site on Kingsbury Road, catering to pupils aged 3 to 11 with nursery provision. Rated Good by Ofsted in its final inspection of April 2024, the school achieved above-national-average results in reading, writing and mathematics, with 68% of pupils reaching expected standards compared to the national 62%. The school's closure resulted from falling pupil numbers; by October 2024, only 113 pupils were enrolled against a capacity of 210 places, creating a vacancy rate of 46%. Despite its academic performance ranking in the top quarter nationally, the school could not sustain viability in an area of declining primary demand, marking the end of nearly 17 decades of Church of England education in this part of Islington.
St Jude and St Paul's was established in 1857 as a Church of England school, embedding itself in the Barnsbury neighbourhood for over 160 years. The school's Christian ethos centred on four core values: shine, encourage, love and learn. These principles shaped a culture where leaders knew families personally and worked closely with the parish church and the Diocese of London to support both children and their wider communities.
The school welcomed children of all faiths and none, creating a diverse community that reflected Islington's multicultural character. Ofsted inspectors noted in April 2024 that the school environment was calm and purposeful, with pupils feeling safe and valued. Children behaved well in lessons, moved around the building calmly and played cooperatively in the playground. The school's new approach to behaviour management was popular among pupils, who felt their voices were heard.
Leaders and staff went beyond standard pastoral care to support families facing challenges. The school's small size—typically around 120–130 pupils in its final years—enabled strong relationships and personalised attention. Despite this supportive atmosphere and consistent Good ratings across multiple inspections, demographic shifts in Islington proved insurmountable. The decision to close, taken by Islington Council in February 2025, was met with community resistance, including a petition to save the school, but pupil numbers had fallen to levels that made the school financially unviable.
St Jude and St Paul's delivered strong academic outcomes in its final years. In the most recent results, 68% of Year 6 pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, well above the national average of 62%. The school ranked 3,571st in England out of approximately 15,000 primary schools, placing it in the top quarter nationally and 19th among Islington primaries.
In reading, the school excelled with an average scaled score of 109 and 71% of pupils reaching the expected standard. Half of all pupils achieved the higher standard in reading, significantly above the national figure. Grammar, punctuation and spelling performance was similarly strong, with an average scaled score of 107 and 42% achieving the higher standard. Mathematics results were solid, with 67% meeting expected standards and an average scaled score of 105. Writing showed greater variability, with 13% of pupils achieving greater depth.
Science attainment stood at 71% meeting expected standards, though this was below the national average. Ofsted noted that new leadership in science was expected to improve outcomes. The school implemented a new reading programme for Reception and Year 1 pupils to address progress concerns in early literacy, while writing had emerged as a particular strength.
The school served a diverse cohort, with children from various ethnic backgrounds and religions. Class sizes were small, with approximately 14 pupils per teacher in the school's final years. The school operated from 9:00am to 3:30pm, with a breakfast club available from 7:30am. Teaching staff numbered nine, supported by additional classroom assistants, enabling personalised attention for pupils who needed extra support.
England ranks and key metrics (where available)
Reading, Writing & Maths
68.33%
% of pupils achieving expected standard
St Jude and St Paul's allocated 30 Reception places annually through Islington's coordinated admissions process. In the most recent admissions round available, the school received 28 applications for 11 places, creating an oversubscription ratio of 2.55:1. Every first-preference applicant who received an offer had placed St Jude and St Paul's as their top choice, indicating that the school served families deeply committed to this particular community.
As a Church of England voluntary aided school, St Jude and St Paul's had the authority to set its own admissions criteria. Typically, Church of England schools prioritise children with a demonstrated connection to the parish or diocese, followed by proximity to the school. Specific criteria for St Jude and St Paul's would have been published in the school's determined admission arrangements, available through Islington Council.
Families applied online via the Islington admissions portal, following the standard London primary application timeline. Applications typically opened in the autumn of the year before entry, with the deadline in mid-January and National Offer Day in mid-April. Nursery admissions were handled separately by the school.
The school's location in Barnsbury, a residential area of Islington, placed it within reach of families living in parts of N1, though the specific catchment area varied year by year depending on demand. Islington's dense network of primary schools meant that families had numerous alternatives within walking distance.
Following the school's closure, displaced pupils were supported through Islington's in-year admissions process. Families affected by the closure had access to dedicated guidance and could apply for alternative schools through the council's standard procedures.
Applications
28
Total received
Places Offered
11
Subscription Rate
2.5x
Apps per place
St Jude and St Paul's CofE Primary School closes as a Good school with above-average academic results and a strong pastoral reputation, yet unable to overcome the demographic reality of falling birth rates in inner London. For 168 years, this Church of England institution served Barnsbury families with a faith-rooted education, achieving national rankings in the top quarter and maintaining high standards in reading and mathematics. The school's small size fostered close relationships between staff, pupils and families, creating an environment where children felt known and supported. Its closure illustrates a wider challenge facing London primary schools: excellent provision does not guarantee survival when the number of children in the local area declines. Families who valued the school's Christian ethos, diverse community and strong academic track record have been required to seek alternative placements. The end of St Jude and St Paul's removes a distinctive option from Islington's educational landscape, one that successfully combined faith values with inclusive, above-average academic provision in a nurturing small-school setting.
St Jude and St Paul's was rated Good by Ofsted in April 2024 and achieved above-national-average results, with 68% of pupils reaching expected standards in reading, writing and mathematics compared to 62% nationally. The school ranked in the top quarter of English primary schools. However, the school closed on 31 August 2025 due to falling pupil numbers.
St Jude and St Paul's CofE Primary School closed on 31 August 2025 and is no longer accepting applications. Families seeking a Church of England primary school in Islington should contact Islington Council's admissions team for information about alternative schools in the area. Applications for Islington primary schools are made through the council's online admissions portal.
Before its closure, St Jude and St Paul's used faith-based admissions criteria typical of Church of England voluntary aided schools, prioritising children with connections to the parish and diocese before considering proximity to the school. As the school closed in August 2025, these criteria are no longer operative.
In the most recent Key Stage 2 results, 68% of pupils reached expected standards in reading, writing and mathematics combined, above the national average of 62%. The school achieved particularly strong performance in reading, with half of pupils attaining the higher standard. The school ranked 3,571st out of approximately 15,000 primary schools in England.
Yes, St Jude and St Paul's was a Church of England voluntary aided school with a Christian ethos centred on the values of shine, encourage, love and learn. The school worked closely with the local parish church and the Diocese of London while welcoming children of all faiths and none.
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