St Luke's CofE Primary School, Radnor Street Review 2026: A Clerkenwell Primary with 327 Years of History

St Luke's CofE Primary School in Clerkenwell traces its roots to 1698, when it was founded as The Greycoat Charity School for boys on Golden Lane, making it one of London's oldest educational institutions. Today, this one-form-entry Church of England primary serves 241 pupils aged 3 to 11 from a modern site on Radnor Street, a short walk from the historic City of London. Under the leadership of headteacher Tom O'Donnell, who took up his post in September 2024, the school maintains its founding mission of combining academic rigour with Christian values, expressed in the motto "Love God. Love your neighbour as yourself: be the Good Samaritan." Ofsted rated the school Good in May 2023. St Luke's operates as part of a federation with Moreland Community Primary School and offers nursery provision alongside its main primary phase.

The school's latest performance data shows 75% of Year 6 pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, well above the national average of 62%. In mathematics, the school achieved particularly strong results, with 86% of pupils meeting expected standards and 34% achieving the higher score, both comfortably exceeding national benchmarks. St Luke's ranks in the middle band of primary schools nationally, placing 4,726th out of approximately 15,000 primaries, and 21st among Islington's primary schools.

Located in central London's EC1V postcode, St Luke's serves families from Clerkenwell and surrounding neighbourhoods in Islington. The school is oversubscribed, receiving 54 applications for just 21 Reception places. All first-preference applicants who met the admissions criteria received offers. As a Church of England voluntary aided school, religious affiliation plays a role in the admissions process, administered through Islington Council's coordinated scheme.

St Luke's rich heritage is woven into the fabric of daily school life. From its 17th-century beginnings as a charity school for boys in grey coats, the institution expanded to admit girls in 1761 and has occupied several sites across north and central London. The school survived a devastating fire in 1881 that destroyed much of its Old Street premises, relocating to temporary accommodation while rebuilding with modern improvements. The move to Radnor Street represented another chapter in this story of resilience and adaptation. One cherished tradition endures: the Fox's Crowns award, named after a church warden who left funds for pupils to purchase books, now given to children who demonstrate both academic and social growth during the year.

As a Church of England school, Christian values underpin St Luke's ethos. The school's four core values—love, include, flourish, empower—guide relationships and learning. Collective worship, religious education, and partnerships with St Luke's Church form part of the school's spiritual dimension. The school also emphasises British Values and Philosophy for Children (P4C), encouraging pupils to think critically and discuss ethical questions.

The school community reflects Clerkenwell's diverse population. As a federated school sharing governance with Moreland Community Primary, St Luke's benefits from collaborative leadership structures and pooled expertise. The current headteacher brings fresh energy after taking up his role in autumn 2024, building on the foundations laid by his predecessor Ann Dwulit. The school's relatively small size—one class per year group—enables staff to know each child well and fosters a close-knit atmosphere.

St Luke's delivers a broad curriculum spanning English, mathematics, science, computing, creative arts (art, design and technology, music), history, geography, Spanish, physical education, religious education, and Philosophy for Children. The school places strong emphasis on outdoor learning and enrichment beyond the classroom.

In the most recent Key Stage 2 assessments, St Luke's pupils achieved a combined total scaled score of 319 across reading, grammar and maths. Seventy-five per cent of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to the national average of 62%. A notable 26% attained the higher standard in all three subjects, significantly above the 8% national average. Mathematics emerged as a particular strength, with an average scaled score of 108 and 86% of pupils meeting the expected standard. In reading, 66% reached the expected level with an average scaled score of 105, while 28% achieved the high score. Grammar, punctuation and spelling saw 76% reach expected standards and 38% achieve high scores, with an average scaled score of 106. In science, 86% met the expected standard.

These results place St Luke's comfortably above national averages in most measures, particularly in mathematics and the proportion achieving higher standards. The school's national ranking in the middle band reflects solid, consistent performance that serves its community well without claiming elite academic status.

The school provides dedicated support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities through its SEND team. Mental health and well-being resources form part of the school's pastoral offer, and families can access parent support services. Extended day wraparound care helps working parents, with before- and after-school clubs available.

Class sizes align with the school's one-form-entry structure, allowing for personalised attention. The school's Philosophy for Children programme encourages critical thinking and respectful dialogue from an early age, complementing traditional academic subjects.

Beyond the formal curriculum, St Luke's offers a range of extracurricular activities and after-school clubs. The school's Learning Outside the Classroom initiative takes advantage of London's rich cultural and natural resources, while pupils benefit from Spanish language teaching and regular physical education sessions.

The school occupies a purpose-built site on Radnor Street in Clerkenwell, though details of specific facilities are not extensively documented in public sources. As a primary school serving 241 pupils, the site is compact but functional for a single-form-entry primary in a central London location. The school maintains a nursery provision for younger children, extending its reach to pupils from age 3.

St Luke's federated structure with Moreland Primary allows for shared resources and joint initiatives that might not be feasible for a small standalone school. The governing body oversees both schools, enabling strategic planning and financial efficiencies.

Awards and external recognitions were not prominently documented in available sources, suggesting the school focuses on core provision rather than external accreditation schemes. The school's longevity and survival through centuries of educational change might be considered recognition enough of its enduring value to the community.

St Luke's is a voluntary aided Church of England school, meaning the governing body manages admissions in coordination with Islington Council's scheme. Applications for Reception 2025 entry opened in autumn 2024, with a deadline of 15 January 2025 and offers made on 16 April 2025. The school offers weekly tours led by the headteacher every Wednesday at 9:15am; prospective families can arrange visits by contacting the admissions officer Angela Major at admin@st-lukes.islington.sch.uk or calling 020 7253 3880.

Competition for places is significant. For the most recent intake, the school received 54 applications for 21 Reception places, a subscription rate of 2.57, meaning the school was oversubscribed by more than two and a half times. All applicants who ranked St Luke's as their first preference and met the admissions criteria received offers, indicating that priority categories (likely including church attendance and proximity) determined allocations.

Islington operates a distance-based tiebreaker within admissions criteria, with straight-line measurements from home to school used when more applicants meet a particular criterion than places available. Specific cut-off distances vary each year and are published by Islington Council after allocations are finalised. Prospective parents should consult the Determined Admission Arrangements on the council website for the detailed oversubscription criteria, which typically prioritise children in care, those with exceptional medical or social need, siblings, children of staff, and church affiliation before applying distance measures.

As a Church of England school, religious practice may influence priority. Families considering St Luke's should review the admissions policy carefully to understand how church attendance or other faith criteria apply. The school's central Clerkenwell location and strong results make it attractive to families across Islington and beyond, intensifying competition.

Parents applying to St Luke's are advised to list multiple preferences on their Islington application. The oversubscription rate suggests that meeting only general residency criteria may not guarantee a place. Those with strong church connections or who live very close to the school have the best prospects. In-year admissions for other year groups are managed through the school office; availability depends on cohort size and mobility.

St Luke's CofE Primary School offers families in Clerkenwell and wider Islington a strong, historically rooted Church of England education in the heart of London. Its standout feature is perhaps its longevity: over three centuries of continuous service to local children speaks to resilience, adaptability, and community trust. The school's performance data confirms it delivers solid academic outcomes, particularly in mathematics, with results consistently above national averages and a notable proportion of pupils achieving higher standards.

The school suits families seeking a small, values-led primary with a Christian ethos and a close-knit community feel. The one-form-entry structure ensures children are known as individuals, and the federation with Moreland Primary provides additional stability and resources. St Luke's will appeal to parents who value tradition, faith-based education, and a school deeply embedded in its neighbourhood's history.

However, prospective families should be realistic about admissions. With more than two and a half times as many applicants as places, entry is competitive. Church affiliation and proximity to the school are likely to be decisive factors. The school's city-centre location offers cultural richness but may mean limited outdoor space compared to primaries in less dense areas.

The arrival of a new headteacher in September 2024 marks a moment of transition and potential evolution. Parents choosing St Luke's now are investing in a school with deep roots and a stable Good Ofsted rating, led by fresh leadership. For families who meet the admissions criteria and value a school where Christian values, academic achievement, and community heritage converge, St Luke's remains a compelling choice in Islington's competitive primary landscape.

Is St Luke's CofE Primary School, Radnor Street a good school?

Yes, St Luke's is rated Good by Ofsted as of May 2023 and delivers academic results well above national averages. In the most recent Key Stage 2 assessments, 75% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to 62% nationally, and 26% achieved the higher standard across all three subjects, well above the 8% national average. Mathematics is a particular strength, with 86% meeting expected standards. The school ranks in the middle band of primary schools nationally and 21st in Islington. Its small, one-form-entry structure and Church of England ethos provide a nurturing environment grounded in Christian values.

How do I apply to St Luke's CofE Primary School, Radnor Street?

Applications for Reception entry are made through Islington Council's coordinated admissions scheme. The deadline for September 2025 entry was 15 January 2025, with offers made on 16 April 2025. St Luke's is a voluntary aided school, so the governing body sets the admissions criteria, which typically include priority for children in care, those with exceptional needs, siblings, children of staff, and church affiliation, with distance used as a tiebreaker. Prospective families are encouraged to attend a school tour, held every Wednesday at 9:15am and led by the headteacher. Contact the admissions officer Angela Major at admin@st-lukes.islington.sch.uk or call 020 7253 3880 to book a visit. In-year applications for other year groups should be directed to the school office.

What is the catchment area for St Luke's CofE Primary School, Radnor Street?

St Luke's does not operate a defined catchment area. Instead, admissions are determined by the school's oversubscription criteria, administered by the governing body in coordination with Islington Council. Priority is typically given to children in care, those with exceptional medical or social needs, siblings of current pupils, children of staff, and applicants with a connection to the Church of England, with distance from home to school used as a tiebreaker. The school is oversubscribed, receiving 54 applications for 21 Reception places. Specific cut-off distances vary each year depending on demand and are published by Islington Council after allocations. Families should consult the Determined Admission Arrangements for the relevant year on Islington Council's website for precise criteria and recent distance data.

What are the school's strengths and weaknesses?

St Luke's strengths include strong mathematics results (86% reaching expected standards, well above the national average), a high proportion of pupils achieving the higher standard across reading, writing and maths (26% versus 8% nationally), and a values-driven Church of England ethos rooted in over 300 years of history. The school's small, one-form-entry size fosters a close community where children are known individually. Philosophy for Children and Learning Outside the Classroom enrich the curriculum. The federation with Moreland Primary provides shared governance and resources. Weaknesses are less pronounced but may include limited outdoor space typical of central London primaries and potential challenges during leadership transition, with a new headteacher appointed in September 2024. Reading scores, while above average, are slightly lower than maths and grammar results.

Does St Luke's CofE Primary School have a nursery?

Yes, St Luke's offers nursery provision for children from age 3. The school's age range extends from 3 to 11, covering both nursery and primary phases. Families interested in nursery places should contact the school directly at admin@st-lukes.islington.sch.uk or 020 7253 3880 for availability and application details.

What are the school's core values?

St Luke's core values are love, include, flourish, and empower, expressed through the motto "Love God. Love your neighbour as yourself: be the Good Samaritan." As a Church of England school, Christian principles underpin the ethos, with emphasis on spiritual development, collective worship, and partnerships with St Luke's Church. The school also promotes British Values and Philosophy for Children, encouraging critical thinking, respectful dialogue, and ethical awareness.