St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School, London Review 2026: Historic Clerkenwell Primary with Strong Catholic Ethos

Founded in 1847 and relocated to its purpose-built Victorian schoolhouse in 1880, St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School serves the diverse community of Clerkenwell in the heart of Islington. This one-form entry Catholic primary educates approximately 236 pupils aged 2 to 11, with nursery provision beginning at age two. Led by headteacher Miss T Peters, the school operates under the Diocese of Westminster and maintains a clear mission rooted in Gospel values: "Love one another as I have loved you." Rated Good across all categories in its June 2023 Ofsted inspection, the school combines traditional faith-based education with a modern, inclusive approach to serving central London families. Recent developments include the blessing of a new Two Year Old Provision in September 2025, expanding early years capacity. Admissions are highly competitive, with approximately 65 applications competing for 30 Reception places and a last distance offered of just 0.151 miles.

St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School's history is closely intertwined with its parish church, established in 1847. Originally housed on Amwell Street in a single long classroom, the school grew alongside the local Catholic community through successive expansions in 1877, 1908, and 1915. The current Compton Street site was originally constructed in 1880 as Compton Street School, designed to accommodate up to 1,400 pupils across two storeys. The school's decision to relocate from the cramped Amwell Street premises came in 1978, marking the beginning of the modern St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School.

The school's ethos centres on a holistic approach to Catholic education, placing Christ at the heart of all learning and development. The mission statement, "Love one another as I have loved you," underpins five core values: Love, Truth, Forgiveness, Giving, and Understanding. Parents and staff describe a nurturing environment where children are encouraged to develop their natural gifts and talents within a framework of mutual respect and Gospel teaching. The partnership between home, school, and parish forms a central pillar of the school's identity, with regular liturgical celebrations and strong connections to St Peter and St Paul Church.

In the June 2023 Ofsted inspection, inspectors noted Good standards across all areas including behaviour, attitudes, personal development, and leadership. The school serves a genuinely diverse cohort in multicultural Clerkenwell, and this diversity is embraced within the Catholic framework. The atmosphere is described as vibrant and friendly, with an emphasis on ensuring every child feels safe, secure, and valued. The school's commitment to spiritual, moral, and academic success is reflected in its broad curriculum and strong pastoral care structures.

St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School delivers above-average academic outcomes. In the most recent available data, the school achieved strong results at Key Stage 2, with 90.3% of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined—significantly above the national average of 62%. High attainment rates are particularly notable in reading, where 89% met the expected standard and 39% achieved the higher score, well above national benchmarks. In maths, 93% reached the expected standard, with average scaled scores of 106 in both maths and grammar, punctuation and spelling, and 108 in reading.

The school ranks 3,737th in England for primary performance and 20th in Islington, placing it well above the national average. Approximately 24% of pupils achieved the higher standard across reading, writing, and maths, three times the national average of 8%. These outcomes reflect consistent teaching quality and high expectations for all pupils, regardless of background.

The curriculum follows the National Curriculum across all subjects, with strong emphasis on core literacy and numeracy. Subjects including history, geography, music, art and design, physical education, computing, modern foreign languages, and PSHE are taught alongside a well-structured phonics programme for younger learners. The Early Years Foundation Stage provision, now extended down to age two, was rated Good by Ofsted and provides a solid foundation for later learning.

Headteacher Miss T Peters emphasises a holistic philosophy that extends beyond academic attainment. Pupils are encouraged and motivated to explore their talents, with the school offering enrichment opportunities including coding clubs, Bikeability cycle safety training, and creative arts activities. Recent events have showcased pupil talent through school performances and participation in community events such as the Country Dance Party at Coram's Fields. The school benefits from extended care options, with early morning drop-off from 8am and after-school clubs run by Highbury Roundhouse until 6pm, offering sports, arts and crafts, and free play.

Support structures for pupils with additional needs are embedded within the school's inclusive Catholic ethos, though specific SENCO details and types of provision supported were not publicly available at the time of research.

Entry to St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School is highly competitive. As a Catholic voluntary aided school within the Diocese of Westminster, the school sets its own admissions criteria, prioritising practising Catholic families and those with strong parish connections before considering distance from the school. In the most recent admissions cycle, 65 families applied for 30 Reception places, with the school oversubscribed at a ratio of 2.17:1. The furthest distance offered was just 0.151 miles—approximately 240 metres—reflecting intense local demand and the priority given to faith-based criteria over proximity.

Parents applying to St Peter and St Paul should be aware that demonstrating active participation in the parish life of St Peter and St Paul Church or another Catholic parish is likely to be essential for securing a place. The proportion of first preference applicants receiving offers was 1.11, indicating that some families who ranked the school first were unsuccessful, though many may not have met the faith criteria. Distance-based admissions data published by Islington Council applies only to applicants considered under home-to-school distance criteria after all higher-priority faith-based applicants have been placed.

The admissions process is managed directly by the school's governing body rather than Islington Council's coordinated scheme, though applications must still be submitted via the council's online portal by the mid-January deadline for September Reception entry. Parents are strongly advised to review the school's detailed admissions policy on its website and to obtain a Priest's Reference Form (often requiring evidence of regular Mass attendance over a sustained period) well in advance of the application deadline. Supplementary Information Forms are typically required in addition to the council's Common Application Form.

Given the exceptionally tight catchment and faith-based oversubscription criteria, families without a strong connection to the Catholic Church are unlikely to be offered a place. For Catholic families within the immediate Clerkenwell area who can demonstrate regular worship and parish involvement, prospects are considerably better, though competition remains intense.

St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School is a well-established, high-performing Catholic primary serving the Clerkenwell community with clear Gospel values and strong academic results. Its historic roots, dating back to 1847, combine with modern facilities and a recently expanded nursery to offer a nurturing, faith-centred education for families seeking an explicitly Catholic environment in central London.

Academic outcomes are impressive, with 90% of pupils reaching expected standards in reading, writing, and maths—well above national averages—and the school ranking in the top quartile nationally for primary performance. The June 2023 Ofsted Good rating across all areas confirms consistent quality in teaching, behaviour, leadership, and early years provision. Pupils benefit from a broad curriculum, enrichment activities including coding and cycling safety, and extended care options that support working families.

However, this school is emphatically not a viable option for families without a demonstrable Catholic faith commitment. With only 30 Reception places and 65 applicants annually, and a last distance offered of just 151 metres, the school's admissions are tightly controlled by Diocese of Westminster criteria prioritising active Catholic families. The catchment is among the smallest in Islington, and families outside this narrow radius or without regular Mass attendance and a supportive Priest's Reference are extremely unlikely to secure admission.

For practising Catholic families living in or very near Clerkenwell who value a faith-based education rooted in a strong parish partnership, St Peter and St Paul offers an excellent, nurturing environment with proven results. The school's ethos, historic legacy, and community atmosphere will appeal to those seeking a small, cohesive Catholic primary with high standards. Families should begin the admissions process early, ensuring parish involvement is well-documented, and be prepared for fierce competition for places.

Is St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School a good school?

Yes. St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School is rated Good by Ofsted (June 2023) and achieves academic results well above national averages, with 90.3% of pupils reaching expected standards in reading, writing, and maths at Key Stage 2 compared to the national average of 62%. The school ranks 3,737th in England for primary performance, placing it above the national average. All aspects of the school—quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision—were judged Good.

How do I apply to St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School?

Applications for Reception entry must be submitted via Islington Council's online admissions portal by the mid-January deadline (typically 15 January) for September entry. As a Catholic voluntary aided school, St Peter and St Paul sets its own admissions criteria and requires a Supplementary Information Form and Priest's Reference Form in addition to Islington's Common Application Form. These forms are available on the school's website and must be returned directly to the school. Admissions are prioritised by faith criteria (practising Catholic families with parish connections) before distance. Parents should contact the school office on 020 7253 0839 or visit the school website for full details of admissions criteria and deadlines.

What is the catchment area for St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School?

The school does not have a traditional geographic catchment area. As a Catholic school, admissions are primarily determined by faith-based criteria (baptised Catholic children, active parish involvement, etc.) rather than proximity to the school. In the most recent admissions cycle, the last distance offered was only 0.151 miles (approximately 240 metres), but this figure applies only to applicants considered under distance criteria after all faith-based priority applicants have been placed. Families without strong Catholic credentials are very unlikely to be offered a place regardless of proximity.

What are the school's results like?

St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School achieves strong academic results. At Key Stage 2, 90.3% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined, compared to the national average of 62%. In reading, 89% met the expected standard and 39% achieved the higher score. In maths, 93% reached the expected standard. Average scaled scores were 108 in reading, 106 in maths, and 106 in grammar, punctuation and spelling, all above national benchmarks. Approximately 24% of pupils achieved the higher standard across all three core subjects, three times the national average of 8%.

Does St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School have a nursery?

Yes. St Peter and St Paul Catholic Primary School offers nursery provision starting from age two. The school recently expanded its early years capacity with a new Two Year Old Provision, which was blessed by Bishop Nicholas in September 2025. The nursery and early years provision was rated Good by Ofsted in the June 2023 inspection.

What is the school's religious character?

St Peter and St Paul is a Catholic primary school within the Diocese of Westminster. It maintains a strong Catholic ethos with Christ at the centre of all learning, regular liturgical celebrations, and close links to St Peter and St Paul Church in Clerkenwell. The school's mission statement—"Love one another as I have loved you"—and five core values (Love, Truth, Forgiveness, Giving, and Understanding) are rooted in Gospel teaching. While the school serves a diverse, multicultural community in Clerkenwell, its Catholic identity and faith-based admissions criteria are central to its character.