Experience with Islington primary schools?

[CosmicJoke]

Hello fellow parents!

I’m in the Islington area and have stared exploring local primary schools. Our local is Thornhill, but its catchment is very small and shrinking so looking to cast our net wider…

I was really impressed by the enrichment and extra curricular offerings of Thornhill - seems so vibrant with so much to offer the children, and would love something similar!

Has anyone any experience of St John Evangelist school in Angel, or St Andrews Barnsbury? We are not church-going, so it might stand against us when applying, but both schools appear to be undersubscribed, so is there a precedent for non-churchy children to be offered places?

Any insights would be greatly received!

thanks all!

Further to my message above - St Mary Magdalene Academy is supposed to be great, but academies can be quite corporate and sterile and prefer the idea of somewhere more creative! Again, anyone able to offer their thoughts or experience or challenge my perception of the school very welcome!

If Thornhill is your closest you'll probably get in. Primary school rolls are declining across Islington. Even if you don't make it in the first round, it's two form entry, that's 60 kids, so you'll get in on the waiting list. Barnsbury is such an expensive area it has families that will definitely go private but still apply to their local school to get the place and kick the decision down the line. Over the summer places will open up and if it truly is your closest school you'll get a place probably.