Ofsted: Outstanding trending_up Popular emoji_events #14 in Islington public Top 16% UK

Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMrs Sandeep McNicholl

location_onLondon, N4 2DR

language Visit Website phone 2072264708

verified

Ofsted

Outstanding

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

505

school

Expected Standard

78%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

1.3x

summarize

Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre is a Community school primary school in London, serving ages 0-11. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted — the highest possible grade. Demand is above capacity (1.3×) — apply through your local authority on time. Ranks in the top 16% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Ambler Primary School and Children's Centre is a community school in London, Islington, admitting pupils aged 0-11. The school has approximately 525 pupils on roll, of whom 34% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 78% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 13% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #14 of 39 primaries in Islington and #1,744 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Outstanding. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Outstanding, behaviour and attitudes Outstanding, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Outstanding.

The school is oversubscribed — in the most recent cycle, there were 1.3× as many applications as places, making a successful application competitive.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 23.7:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 1.2 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

78%

LA 64%

Reading93% LA 77%

Writing80% LA 72%

Maths87% LA 74%

Read SS

111

Maths SS

110

GPS SS

112

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

80%

LA 65%England 61%

Reading98% LA 76% · Eng 74%

Writing83% LA 73% · Eng 72%

Maths88% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Read SS

111

Maths SS

109

GPS SS

112

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

80%

LA 63%England 60%

Reading85% LA 74% · Eng 73%

Writing81% LA 74% · Eng 71%

Maths90% LA 75% · Eng 73%

Read SS

109

Maths SS

110

GPS SS

110

Progress (0 = national avg)

1.6

Read

LA -0.5

0.0 to 3.3

-1.8

Write

LA 0.3

-3.4 to -0.3

3.5

Maths

LA 0.1

2.0 to 5.0

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

80%

LA 66%England 65%

Reading90% LA 72% · Eng 73%

Writing87% LA 78% · Eng 78%

Maths93% LA 77% · Eng 79%

Read SS

110

Maths SS

109

GPS SS

110

Progress (0 = national avg)

5.8

Read

LA 1.3

3.5 to 8.0

2.3

Write

LA 1.5

0.2 to 4.3

4.4

Maths

LA 1.0

2.5 to 6.4

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

90%

LA 69%

Reading100% LA 78%

Writing93% LA 81%

Maths97% LA 77%

Read SS

110

Maths SS

107

GPS SS

112

Progress (0 = national avg)

3.9

Read

LA 1.5

1.7 to 6.1

1.8

Write

LA 1.5

-0.3 to 3.9

1.6

Maths

LA 1.4

-0.4 to 3.6

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

19 November 2024

Inspection Report

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08 March 2023

Inspection Report

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03 May 2017

Inspection Report

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28 February 2012

Inspection Report

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29 September 2010

Inspection Report

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11 June 2009

Inspection Report

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04 July 2006

Inspection Report

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14 February 2000

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2024-11-19

S5 Inspection EIF

Not Judged

info

Why no overall grade?

From autumn 2024, Ofsted stopped issuing a single headline grade (Outstanding / Good / RI / Inadequate). Instead, each inspection area is graded individually. This follows a major review after the death of headteacher Ruth Perry in 2023. The overall effectiveness field is left as "Not judged" in the published data.

Education

Outstanding

Behaviour

Outstanding

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Outstanding

2017-05-03

Maintained Academy and School Short inspection Legacy

Outstanding

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Outstanding

2012-02-28

None Legacy

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

1.7%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.8%(4 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 525 pupils. During this period, there were 9 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 1.7%, which is above the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	525	9	1.7%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	518	4	0.8%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	525	1	0.2%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	523	0	0.0%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	505	1	0.2%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	529	0	0.0%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	505	0	0.0%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	490	0	0.0%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	524	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	513	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	499	4	0.8%	0.5%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	533	6	1.1%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	511	2	0.4%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	489	2	0.4%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	522	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	522	5	1.0%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	492	1	0.2%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	506	0	0.0%	0.4%	0
2018/19 (Spring term)	500	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	488	3	0.6%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	465	0	0.0%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	447	2	0.4%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	429	9	2.1%	0.5%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	435	3	0.7%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	442	5	1.1%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	426	3	0.7%	0.5%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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psychology_alt

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 28 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 24 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 16 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 2 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

97.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

99.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

20.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree80%

agree18%

disagree1%

don't know1%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree80%

agree18%

disagree2%

don't know1%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree47%

agree14%

disagree5%

not applicable34%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes14%

no86%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree38%

agree54%

disagree4%

dont know4%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree69%

agree22%

disagree4%

strongly disagree1%

don't know5%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree75%

agree22%

disagree2%

don't know1%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree62%

agree33%

disagree3%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree67%

agree30%

disagree1%

don't know2%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree78%

agree19%

disagree1%

strongly disagree1%

don't know1%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree74%

agree22%

disagree2%

don't know2%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes98%

no2%

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

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Tufnell Park Primary School

William Tyndale Primary School

St Joseph's Catholic Primary School

Duncombe Primary School

Drayton Park Primary School

Winton Primary School