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Central Foundation Boys' School

Secondary · Boys · Ages 11–18 · Voluntary aided

Cowper Street, City Road, London EC2A 4SH · centralfoundationboys.co.uk · 020 7253 3741

On the mapSearch near EC2A 4SH

Overview

Ofsted
No overall grade
2019 framework · inspected Mar 2025
GCSEs, 2024/25
55.2
average Attainment 8 score. Islington 47, England 46
Last distance offered
1.34 mi
2.15 km · Year 7, September 2026 entry · Band 1 · Islington Council
Demand for places
1.4
first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
Pupils
1,152
102 over 1,050 places · 110%
Local authority
Islington
Sixth form
Yes
Admissions
Non-selective
Free school meals
44%
First language not English
27.8%
School census 2025/26

The official school record (Department for Education)

Admissions

For Year 7 in September 2026, the last place offered under “Band 1” went to a home 1.34 mi (2.15 km) from the school; in September 2025 it was 1.45 mi (2.33 km). Its other admission rules have their own figures. Source: Islington Council’s document.

For Year 7 in September 2026, 235 families put the school first and 173 places were offered; 61% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.

Demand for places

First choices against places

20222023202420252026September 2022: 199 (Places 171)199September 2023: 196 (Places 172)196September 2024: 191 (Places 176)191September 2025: 225 (Places 171)225September 2026: 235 (Places 173)235Places 173
Year 7PlacesFirst choicesPer place% offered
September 2026Sept 20261732351.4▲61%
September 2025Sept 20251712251.3▲63%
September 2024Sept 20241761911.1▲75%
September 2023Sept 20231721961.1▲71%
September 2022Sept 20221711991.2▲71%

Last distance offered

Year 7 – Band 1Distance
September 20261.34 mi2.15 km
September 20251.45 mi2.33 km
September 20241.43 mi2.30 km
Year 7 – Band 2Distance
September 20261.43 mi2.30 km
September 20251.34 mi2.16 km
September 20241.68 mi2.70 km
Year 7 – Band 3Distance
September 20261.50 mi2.41 km
September 20251.33 mi2.14 km
September 20241.66 mi2.67 km
Year 7 – Band 4Distance
September 20261.31 mi2.11 km
September 20252.19 mi3.52 km
September 20243.91 mi6.29 km

Results

In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 55.2, and 68.8% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Islington it was 47, and across England 46.

In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade B- (37.7 points per entry).

GCSE results

Attainment 8

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252016/17: 56.3 (England 46.3)56.32017/18: 56.2 (England 46.5)56.22018/19: 56.6 (England 46.7)56.62021/22: 61.7 (England 48.8)61.72022/23: 57.2 (England 46.3)57.22023/24: 55.3 (England 45.9)55.32024/25: 55.2 (England 46.0)55.2England 46.0
2024/25TrendSchoolEngland
▲55.246.0
▲68.8%45.4%
▲82.4%64.8%
▲59.4%40.5%
▲5.094.09

Where Year 11 leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202021/222022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2021/22
School sixth form52.1−13.4
Sixth form college1.2+0.5
Further education37.4+7.9
Apprenticeship1.8+0.4
Employment0.6−0.1
Not in a lasting destination3.1—
Activity not captured3.7+3

A levels and other 16 to 18 results

A level average grade

2019/20 to 2020/21: no school results published15/1616/1717/1818/1921/2222/2323/2424/252015/16: 29.2 (England 30.5)C2016/17: 31.9 (England 31.1)C+2017/18: 32.0 (England 32.1)C+2018/19: 32.1 (England 32.9)C+2021/22: 39.3 (England 37.9)B2022/23: 35.5 (England 34.2)B-2023/24: 38.5 (England 34.4)B2024/25: 37.7 (England 35.0)B-England 35.0
2024/25TrendAverage gradeProgress
111 studentsB- (37.7)Above average +0.20
111 studentsB- (37.7)Above average +0.20
18 studentsDist (34.2)Average +0.41
18 studentsDist+ (39.4)Average +0.25
13.6%AAB or better
97.4%finished their course
Earlier years: A levelStudentsAverage gradeProgress
2023/24113B (38.5)+0.15
2022/2365B- (35.5)—
2021/2256B (39.3)—
2018/1975C+ (32.1)+0.05
2017/1870C+ (32)0.00
2016/1758C+ (31.9)+0.02
2015/1659C (29.2)+0.06

Where sixth-form leavers went

2015/162016/172017/182018/192019/202022/232023/24
Left in 2023/24Since 2022/23
University65.6+2.2
Apprenticeship1.6−1.4
Employment10.2−4.7
Not in a lasting destination10.2−2.7
Activity not captured12.5+8.5

Ofsted

Ofsted inspected Central Foundation Boys' School on 11 March 2025 under its 2019 framework. Inspections from September 2024 give no overall grade.

Overall
No overall grade
Inspected
11 Mar 2025
Graded inspection

Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports

Graded areas

Quality of educationOutstanding
Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementOutstanding
Sixth formOutstanding

Previously: Outstanding, graded inspection, Feb 2015

Earlier inspections

Before September 2019

  • Feb 2015Outstanding
    Outcomes for pupilsOutstanding
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentOutstanding
    Leadership and managementOutstanding
    16 to 19 study programmesOutstanding
  • Nov 2010Good
    Outcomes for pupilsGood
    Quality of teaching, learning and assessmentGood
    Leadership and managementGood
    16 to 19 study programmesOutstanding

What parents said

93% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (105 replies, to 1 September 2025).

Recommend
93%
Replies
105
9% · 1 Sept 2025
Child is happy at school▲92% agreeEngland 89%
Child feels safe▲93% agreeEngland 90%
Pupils are well behaved▲97% agreeEngland 84%
School has high expectations▲97% agreeEngland 84%
Child does well▲96% agreeEngland 87%
Told what child will learn▲92% agreeEngland 84%
Told how child is doing▲95% agreeEngland 85%
Good range of subjects▲97% agreeEngland 91%
Can join clubs and activities▲96% agreeEngland 91%
Supports personal development▲85% agreeEngland 79%
Concerns are dealt with properly▲85% agreeEngland 77%

based on the 84% who raised concerns

Bullying dealt with quickly▲70% agreeEngland 50%

based on the 30% who had a child bullied

Gets the SEND support they need▲77% agreeEngland 67%

based on 38 parents (36%) with SEND

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