Arts and Media School Islington
London, N4 3LS · Islington · secondary school
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9th of 9 secondary schools in Islington we can score, 10 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 5.9/10 against 174 of them, against 3.7/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 33.3 · 21 | 30% | 0.63 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.17 · 62 | 25% | 1.56 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 40.2 · 21 | 10% | 0.21 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Arts and Media School Islington overview
How it's doing
The school is rated Good by Ofsted following an inspection in 2023. In 2024/25, 27.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 38.3, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.17 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.8 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.2 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Jack Petchey Award, D of E Award, and various clubs and societies. Arts provision includes music and drama productions, Lit Fest, and lessons in piano, singing, drums, and guitar. The school also hosts a Cultural Activities Day, Sports Day, and a trip to ABBA Voyage. A breakfast club is available.
Getting in
The published school roll is 577 pupils against a stated capacity of 690. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current Attainment 8 and the national median? What specific support is offered to help students achieve the Grade 5 threshold in English and maths? How does the school integrate the
What Ofsted said about Arts and Media School Islington
Overview
The report describes a school where pupils are "looked after well by staff" within a "caring and welcoming environment." Leaders maintain "high aspirations for all pupils," resulting in an "ambitious curriculum" that supports strong achievement in most subjects. The school is characterised as inclusive, with positive relationships between pupils and teachers.
Strengths
- Pupils "enjoy coming to school" and "feel safe," appreciating the support provided by staff.
- The curriculum is "ambitious for all pupils," with content well-ordered in most subjects to help build knowledge over time.
- Leaders have created a "positive reading culture," quickly identifying and supporting pupils who struggle to become "confident and fluent readers."
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) "typically receive the right support to learn well" and are fully involved in school life.
- There is a "coherent and well-planned programme of careers education" enabling pupils to make informed choices for their next steps.
Areas to improve
- In a few subjects, leaders have not identified precisely what key concepts pupils need to know, particularly in key stage 3, hindering long-term knowledge retention.
- Teachers’ checking of learning is not always focused enough on pinpointing difficulties, allowing "misconceptions and gaps in pupils’ knowledge" to persist.
- Teachers’ expectations of behaviour are not always consistent with leaders’ standards, leading to occasional disruption when off-task behaviour is not challenged.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with a "strong safeguarding culture" where staff are vigilant and understand the risks pupils face.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 45.0 |
| 2024/25 | 38.3 |
| 2025/26 | 40.2 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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