Community school · Islington

Duncombe Primary School

2–11Ages
378Pupils
PrimaryPhase
100403URN

Sussex Way, Islington, London, N19 4JA · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Feb 2023 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.4per place

1.4 below Islington median (2.8)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther primary schools in Islington

84 applications for 59 places · 35th of 37 in Islington

Every year since 2014

SATs · reading, writing and maths · 2024/25

79%met the expected standard

Islington 68% England 64%

Reading, writing and maths

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 2 February 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Outstanding	Good
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development	Outstanding
Leadership and management		Good
Early years provision		Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.4applications per place, Reception

1.4 below Islington median (2.8) 0.8 below England median (2.2)

84 applications · 59 places offered · 26 named it first

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

2026 1.4; Islington median median 2.8
2025 2.3; Islington median median 2.6
2024 2.3; Islington median median 2.9
2023 3.5; Islington median median 2.7
2022 2.2; Islington median median 2.9
2021 1.7; Islington median median 2.7
2020 2.0; Islington median median 3.0
2019 2.0; Islington median median 2.9
2018 2.8; Islington median median 3.4
2017 2.8; Islington median median 3.4
2016 2.5; Islington median median 3.3
2015 2.7; Islington median median 3.5
2014 3.3; Islington median median 3.4

More applications per place than the Islington median in 1 of 13 years.

This school
Islington median

Reception applications for September 2027 close 15 January 2027, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	59	84	1.4	26	0.44
Sep 2025	40	91	2.3	32	0.80
Sep 2024	35	79	2.3	30	0.86
Sep 2023	24	83	3.5	21	0.88
Sep 2022	51	111	2.2	44	0.86
Sep 2021	60	99	1.7	38	0.63
Sep 2020	60	121	2.0	45	0.75
Sep 2019	55	107	2.0	38	0.69
Sep 2018	42	118	2.8	34	0.81
Sep 2017	48	135	2.8	39	0.81
Sep 2016	60	151	2.5	53	0.88
Sep 2015	60	164	2.7	55	0.92
Sep 2014	60	196	3.3	63	1.05

How did pupils do in SATs?

DfE KS2 · 2024/25

Reading 88% · Writing 79% · Maths 87% → all three 79% met the expected standard, End of Year 6

Reading, writing and maths: expected standard79%11th of 38 in Islington

Islington 68% England 64%

Reading

Expected standard88%

Islington 81% England 78%

Higher standard44%

Islington 34% England 33%

Average scaled score 108 (100 = expected standard)

Writing

Expected standard79%

Islington 77% England 75%

Greater depth12%

Islington 18% England 12%

Maths

Expected standard87%

Islington 79% England 77%

Higher standard19%

Islington 29% England 24%

Average scaled score 106 (100 = expected standard)

This school
Islington median
England median

Every year as a table

Year	Expected standard	Higher standard	Reading score	Maths score
2024/25	79%	8%	108	106
2023/24	83%	9%	110	108
2022/23	52%	2%	103	102

Subject results are published for the latest year only. Scaled scores run from 80 to 120.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest primary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Duncombe Primary SchoolThis school
This school

Good2023

1.4applications per place 79%met the SATs standard
St Mark's CofE Primary School
0.3 km · Islington

Improved significantly2025

2.7applications per place 75%met the SATs standard
Christ The King Catholic Primary School
0.6 km · Islington

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.2applications per place 39%met the SATs standard
Ashmount Primary School
0.8 km · Islington

Good2023

3.1applications per place 61%met the SATs standard
Yerbury Primary School
0.8 km · Islington

Outstanding2023

4.0applications per place 74%met the SATs standard
St John's Upper Holloway CofE Primary School
0.8 km · Islington

2026

3.4applications per place 58%met the SATs standard
Pooles Park Primary School
0.8 km · Islington

Special measures Inadequate2022

2.0applications per place
Whitehall Park School
0.9 km · Islington

Remains Good2022

2.8applications per place 46%met the SATs standard
Grafton Primary School
0.9 km · Islington

Good2023

2.4applications per place 70%met the SATs standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Community school
Phase: Primary
URN · DfE number: 100403 · 206/2170
Capacity: 480 pupils · 378 on roll
Free school meals: 71.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
Nursery: Has nursery classes
Replaced: Montem Primary School (URN 131218)
Address: Sussex Way, Islington, London, N19 4JA
Local authority: Islington

Data last changed 3 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources