New Islington primary academy to open in 2017

Joint statement from City of London Corporation and Islington Council

The City of London Academies Trust has announced that it will be opening a new primary school academy in Islington in September 2017.

City of London Primary Academy (COLPA) Islington will be temporarily located in a self-contained part of Moreland Primary School, Islington, until its permanent site at nearby Golden Lane is complete in September 2019.
This will allow students to begin high-quality education as soon as possible.

The brand new, purpose-built development will offer COLPA Islington pupils a stimulating learning environment within an exclusive designated area of the school. It will have its own governing body, teachers, vision, values and curriculum.

In preparation for the school opening, Kim Clapham, head teacher of COLPA Islington, is delivering a series of parent information events scheduled to take place across the autumn term.

Ms Clapham said: “We welcome Moreland as our home for the next two years. This site offers our pupils a great learning environment, with the exclusive use of our own zoned area of the building, complete with sky garden, outdoor terraces, dedicated classrooms and offices while our own state-of-the-art school is built.”

Catherine McGuinness, chair of the education board at the City of London Corporation, said: “The City of London Corporation is committed to providing access to excellent education and learning opportunities for children and young people. The opening of our new primary academy is an example of this commitment.

“We have worked closely with the governing body and executive head teacher of Moreland, senior staff and Islington Council to ensure we create a new academy school which meets the needs of the local area.”

Ann Dwulit, executive head teacher at Moreland Primary School and Children’s Centre, said: "We are pleased to be able to help COLPA Islington. Moreland Primary School and Children's Centre is rapidly growing and we are just about able to accommodate the academy.

“I am sure that the children in both schools will thrive. The governors and staff of the St Luke's and Moreland Federation are known within EC1 for supporting and working with other Islington schools and it will be a pleasure to support COLPA Islington for two years."

Cllr Joe Caluori, Islington Council’s executive member for children and young people, said: “Moreland primary school is on the cusp of getting its own brand-new building after many months of disruption, so letting the City of London’s new primary school set up home with them, to accept pupils from next September, is an extremely generous and welcoming gesture.

“I am sure Moreland and COLPA Islington will work closely together to ensure this goes as smoothly as possible, with eyes firmly fixed on a bright and successful future for both schools.”

The City of London Corporation is an experienced academies provider already sponsoring several academies across Hackney, Islington and Southwark.

They are all judged good or outstanding by OFSTED and the group is ranked as amongst the top three academy chains in the country for pupil progress.
It continues to deliver high-quality education to help enrich and inspire students to reach their full academic and personal potential.