Duncombe Primary School
Sussex Way, Islington, London, N19 4JAOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Duncombe Primary School is a primary school in Islington for ages 2 to 11. It is one of the 69 schools in Islington. It ranks 18th of 39 primary schools in Islington. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in February 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 2 February 2023, report published 16 March 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Early years provision
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 2 February 2023
Pupils at Duncombe Primary School are polite, friendly and inquisitive. They respect each other and enjoy learning and playing together. This is a diverse and inclusive school. There is a true spirit of community here. Pupils are safe at school. They know staff care about them and their families. Leaders have high expectations of pupils. They want to give pupils the best start in life. Pupils respond well to these expectations. They grow in resilience and independence. They work hard in lessons and show an interest in their studies. They achieve well and move on to secondary school ready for the next stage of their education. Pupils behave very well. Leaders have established a clear set of routines that pupils follow. This is a calm and orderly school. Pupils learn to take responsibility for their own behaviour. Bullying is quite rare. When it does happen, leaders deal with it effectively. Pupils grow in confidence and aspiration here. They gain new experiences through trips and visits to places such as the Ecology Centre, the Barbican theatre and the Tower of London. Year 6 pupils visit Cambridge University. Pupils help with the school's foodbank and take on leadership roles in the school council.
What the school should improve
- Some adults do not consistently identify gaps in pupils' phonic knowledge and understanding accurately. This includes adults providing one-to-one tuition for pupils who need extra help with decoding words and reading fluency. This means that a few pupils in Reception and key stage 1 do not learn to read fluently as quickly as they should. Leaders should ensure that all phonics teachers become expert in the teaching of phonics so that pupils at an early stage of reading make swift progress in learning to read with fluency.
Exam results
SATs results (key stage 2), 2024/25
52 pupils took the tests
Pupil numbers and mix
378 pupils on roll, with places for 480
Schools near Duncombe Primary School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| St Mark's CofE Primary School | 0.2 miles | Ofsted: Good | 75% met the expected standard |
| Christ The King Catholic Primary School | 0.4 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | 39% met the expected standard |
| Ashmount Primary School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Good | 61% met the expected standard |
| Yerbury Primary School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | 74% met the expected standard |
| St John's Upper Holloway CofE Primary School | 0.5 miles | Ofsted: Good | 58% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Community school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 2 to 11
- Gender
- Mixed
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Ms Martha Braithwaite
- Phone
- 02072725620
- Address
- Sussex Way, Islington, London, N19 4JA
- Local authority
- Islington
- URN
- 100403
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.