City of London Primary Academy Islington (COLPAI) is a popular and vibrant school serving families in the City, Islington and surrounding area. Our brand new, state-of-the art building offers world-class facilities including an indoor sports and performance hall, dance studio, and landscaped play spaces.

The warm and nurturing approach of our dedicated team, and high expectations with the belief that every child can succeed, ensures COLPAI provides the perfect start for every child. Our Outstanding school is committed to excellence so that the achievement of every child compares favourably with the best in the country. Our provision is based upon the five values of Respect, Excellence, Aspiration, Teamwork and Creativity. Our curriculum offers a strong and structured core to ensure excellence in reading, writing and mathematics. It is set within a broad, balanced and creative curriculum which nurtures the whole child, excellent behaviours for learning and good personal skills. Located on the doorstep of the City of London, with an abundance of arts and cultural venues, COLPAI holds strong partnerships and fully utilises its rich resources to deliver a creative yet challenging curriculum that ignites curious minds.

In our academy, we expect children to work hard and to show dedication and commitment to their education. There are clear boundaries and rules which children must adhere to at all times. They must exhibit exemplary character and conduct and demonstrate respect, kindness and politeness towards each other and the adults. In return, we provide them with an excellent education both in terms of examination success and personal development helping them develop the skills and values they will need to be successful in later life.

We are part of the City of London Academies Trust, where we believe strongly in the transformational nature of education operating schools in areas of significant disadvantage. We understand that strong outcomes lead to improved life chances for our children, so we are unashamedly academic and unapologetically results driven. Each of our schools adopt a ‘warm/strict’ approach, combining high expectations with care and support. Our level of care means we never compromise on standards or expectations, ensuring that no child’s background becomes a reason for lowering the bar. Our schools maintain exemplary standards of behaviour, with systems, rituals and norms that instil strong habits. As a result, our schools provide an environment where our teachers can teach, and children can learn without disruption. We take great pride in fostering an exceptionally positive learning environment and we work meticulously to maintain our strong ethos and culture.

We combine the heritage and tradition of the Corporation of London with a genuinely innovative, enterprising, and entrepreneurial ethos. We look for ambitious and culturally aligned staff who are enthusiastic, hardworking, conscientious and energetic individuals. Our people want to work with children to ensure that, regardless of their background and circumstances, they will achieve to the best of their ability. In return, we offer a calm, orderly and respectful environment. We also offer a range of staff benefits and development opportunities which support your professional and career development. You will be able to learn from some of the best and most able practitioners in the country. There is a far-reaching commitment to ensuring that all our staff are given the access to excellent development and induction programmes.