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Elections on 2 May

Elections for the next Mayor of London and London Assembly members, as well as the by-election for Hillrise ward, will take place on Thursday 2 May. You must now show photo ID when you vote at polling stations. See a full list of accepted forms of ID.

Find your nearest polling station.

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Choose Islington schools

Did you know that 98% of schools and all special schools in Islington are rated good or outstanding by Ofsted? Watch our video with some of our students, teachers and partners talking about their experience with Islington education.

Video transcript

Audio Visual
I love going to school in Islington.

A smiling student talks directly to the camera.
[music plays] Examples of activities with school students playing rounders, dancing and playing classical musical instruments.
[music plays] More activities, including a student playing drums, a child scooting on a paved garden path, a moving robot in a classroom.
[music plays] A child puts on an red Arsenal jersey, a teacher picks a fruit from a tree to give to a child.
I feel like our teachers put us first. A student in a library talks to the camera.
Mr Streeter - Headteacher: The community that we serve in Islington are very much at the heart of education.

Mr Streeter talks to the camera.
I've been playing an instrument for about two years A student in a white shirt talks to camera, then two other students playing cellos in front of other students
The jazz band that I go to is by Music Education Islington and Guildhall School of Music

 

 Students playing cellos, the student talking to camera, and a student passing their violin to a teacher
Mr Alom - Assistant Headteacher: Education in Islington is inclusive and accessible for my students.

 

 Mr Alom talks to the camera from a teaching space.
David Mabbott - Artistic Executive Director, Angel Shed: I mean, the work we do at Angel Shed is inclusive work, reaching out to those young people who would find it hardest to access the performing arts.

 

 David Mabbott talks to camera from a stage with a set building in the background, students dressed like astronauts work with adults on choreography.
Olu Adesanu - Cultural Enrichment Officer, Islington Council: 11 by 11 is Islington Council's commitment to offer 11 outstanding cultural experiences to all young people in Islington schools by the time they reach year 11. Students walk past cellos, a student plays a classical guitar, students clap in time, Oly Adesanu speaks to camera.
You get to express what you want to be, but it's also a nice environment. A student speaks to camera on a stage.

Jack Dennis - Project Manager, World of Work Programme: Islington’s World of work program brokers relationships between schools and businesses so that young people across the borough can learn about the breadth of job opportunities available. And it also gives them the skills so that when they do reach the job market, they can really thrive.

 Students sitting down watch a teacher explaining something on two large screens showing the planet Earth, Jack Dennis speaks to camera, and more students watch and nod as a teacher leads a class.
I want to do a degree apprenticeship and I also want to work IBM in the future. Student talks to camera, and then talks with fellow students in a classroom.
Ms Beagle - Headteacher: We are here to ensure that every single child can explore their potential and live a happy, fulfilling life. Ms Beagle talks to camera, a student washes a toy dinosaur with a sponge in front of a sink of soapy water.
Ms Fernadez-Madden - Headteacher: Happy children makes happy learners. Ms Fernandez-Madden talks to camera with hand gestures.
Connor Seymour - Premier League Primary Stars (PLPS) School Coach, Arsenal in the Community: In schools, we don't just deliver curriculum PE, we deliver targeted interventions for children. So those who may need a bit of extra support with English, with Maths. We deliver mental health awareness, we do anti-racism, all funded by the Premier League. Connor Seymour, in an Arsenal shirt talks to camera, students play on a tarmac football pitch, a student feeds a gerbil, students playing football.
Arsenal in the Community come here to help people improve their reading skills. A student reads a book about footballer Marcus Rashford, then talks to camera.
Samual Ogundana - Programs Coach, London Youth Rowing: When I was in school, I did not have any opportunities like this. We tried to break the stereotype and actually bring it to kids that have never, ever thought about doing this. Samual Ogundana talks to camera by a riverside, students row on rowing machines.
Ms Fernadez-Madden: I think parents should send their children to school in Islington because of the fantastic offers that are available to our children. Ms Fernandez-Madden talks to camera with children playing in the background.
You have like this program called Sparks, you get, like weekly maths, they come after school to help you do it. Explain it, actually, because they're really passionate about making you that further. Student talks to camera, then we see students work at their desk, and use a ruler on graph paper.
Upward Bound is a program delivered by Islington to support young people with their educational needs as well as their non-educational needs, workshops and interventions that prepares them for employment and later life.

 

 A student wearing a white hoodie with 'Student Ambassador' on the back talks to camera, then a series of students with microphones speak to their peers.
I do A-level maths and I struggled with it at the beginning and I was at risk of not going to year 13. My teacher helped me with after school sessions and now I got a grade A in my paper. Student talks to camera with computer screens behind him, and talks with his peers.
Councillor (Cllr) Michelline Ngongo - Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families: Our mission is for us to help, to work alongside our schools, to give every single child, every single young person in the borough the equal support that they need.

 

 Students in astronaut costumes sit on the floor, a student in a canteen, a student mixes coloured liquids with a syringe in a science beaker, Cllr Michelline Ngongo speaks to camera in a committee room at Islington Town Hall.
Ms Handley - Early Years Teacher: The amazing thing that children get when they're growing up in Islington is such a connected, holistic approach to their childhood and the children's centres are an amazing hub for this because we have the childcare and education, but we also have the Bright Start, Stay and Play and family services as well.

 

 Ms Handley talks to camera with hand gestures in front of large windows, children sitting in a circle in a children's centre reading a book, more children outside with an adult, Ms Handley gives a thumbs up at a table of children drawing.
Ms Macdonald - Deputy Headteacher: When they leave and I’ve seen how much progress they’ve made, seeing that they're ready to move on, is probably my proudest moment. Ms Macdonald talks to camera in a library, students present to a class of peers.
My school helps me to learn coding. A student in uniform speaks to camera with mirrors behind him.
Everyone's got a Chromebook. [Chromebook is a type of laptop] A student speaks to camera in a teaching space.
They want us to excel in our learning. A student from earlier in the video speaks to camera in a library.
I think Islington is unique because it has a lot of support for students. A student speaks to camera in a room with computer monitors behind him.
My teachers are kind. A younger student speaks to camera in a room with a table with a tree in the centre of it.
The thing I love about my teachers is that, every time you're, like, you're feeling down, they always comfort you. A student in a Puma shirt speaks to camera with a sports space behind her.
Dr. Golzar - College Lecturer: Students come from different walks of life and you can support them to find their path. Students work on laptops, Dr Golzar speaks to camera with hand gestures.
The school supports me with my autism very well.

 

 A student in casual clothes speaks to camera in a library.
Ms Cook - Teacher: I've worked across different boroughs in London, and Islington offers a really high level of SEN [Special Educational Needs] engagement.

 

 Ms Cook speaks to camera in a classroom, students plays on a piano keyboard, a student dabs another peer's forehead, more students discuss something over a laptop.
Ms Maniak - College Lecturer: I love teaching in Islington, I get so many different students from so many different walks of life. Ms Maniak talks to camera.
Yesterday was Cultural Diversity Day and I dressed in my Eritrean clothes. A student talks to camera.
During one of our culture weeks they gave out Jollof rice and because I'm Ghanian, I think that was kind of special to me because it's nice to see your culture being recognized. A student from earlier in the video speaks to camera in a library.
With Islington everyone's more connected. A student wearing a suit and tie speaks to camera.
I feel like my image of Islington has always been like this green, vibrant space. It's very diverse and I feel like this is a really good environment for me to be in.

 

 A student speaks to camera, someone tends to some plants, a student jumps a skipping rope outside,
Ms Beagle: A range of opportunities that you just cannot replicate in other boroughs. Ms Beagle from earlier in the video speaks to camera.
The teachers do an amazing job at making me feel like I'm being put first. A student standing in a library speaks to camera.
I like living in Islington; I've been in Islington since I was four; I like going to school in Islington; I love going to school in Islington. Four different students speak to camera in quick succession.
Jack Dennis, Ms Macdonald, Ms Handley and Cllr Michelline Ngongo: Putting children first.

 

 Jack Dennis, Ms Macdonald, Ms Handley and Cllr Michelline Ngongo speak to camera in this order.
Putting. Us. First. Putting us first. Three different students speak to camera saying each word in the phrase before one last student says the full phrase "putting us first".
[Voice over] Apply by October 31st 2023 for a place in one of Islington Secondary schools. www.islington.gov.uk/LearnWithUs Text with a purple background.
[Voice over] This video was brought to you by Islington Council with special thanks to Arsenal in the Community, Angel Shed, London Metropolitan University, London Youth Growing, Lumen Technologies, the Willow Nursery School, Christ the King Primary School, Blessed Sacrament Primary School, Beacon High Secondary School, Samuel Road, Secondary School, Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Secondary School, St Aloysius College and City and Islington College. Islington Council logo with the slogan "for a more equal future", text with a purple background.

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