City of London Academy Islington

Overview

The report confirms that City of London Academy Islington has “taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection.” It describes a “calm and focused school environment with high expectations” where pupils participate happily in learning. The school was previously judged Outstanding for overall effectiveness before September 2024, and this ungraded inspection found no significant decline in standards.

Strengths

• The curriculum is “ambitious and broad,” with teachers demonstrating “strong subject knowledge” and presenting information with clarity.
• Pupils exhibit “respectful behaviour” and move around the school “calmly and purposefully,” settling quickly into lessons.
• The school provides effective support for reading, helping pupils to “catch up and gain confidence” through matched books and adult reading sessions.
• Students benefit from extensive opportunities for leadership, including roles as ambassadors, prefects, and volunteers at local schools.
• Governance is effective, with leaders who “challenge leaders, provide support where necessary and gather the views of parents and staff.”

Areas to improve

• The school should reduce fixed-term suspensions, as pupils receiving repeat suspensions “miss valuable learning” and struggle to catch up.
• Teaching and resources must be consistently adapted for pupils with SEND, as work in some subjects is currently “too challenging” and hinders knowledge building.
• Processes to check pupils’ understanding need to be clearer across all subjects to ensure misconceptions are “identified and addressed routinely.”

Safeguarding

The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”