Central Foundation Boys' School, based in London, provides secondary education, serving pupils aged 11 to 18. The school is a voluntary aided school and operates as a boys school. It follows a non-selective admissions policy. It has a none religious character. The school also offers a sixth form, allowing students to continue into post-16 education on site.
Central Foundation Boys' School currently has around 1133 pupils on roll, which is about 108% of its capacity. The gender split is relatively balanced, with approximately 92.9% boys and 7.1% girls. Around 41.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which gives an indication of the socio-economic mix. The school has a diverse intake across different backgrounds and needs.
Overall absence at the school is 6.6%. Persistent absence is recorded at 17.6%.
The school has a diverse intake, with white british pupils forming the largest group at around 20.7%. african pupils make up about 17.6% , followed by bangladeshi at 12.6%
Safeguarding was judged to be effective, which is a key consideration for many parents.
Around 97% of pupils move on to sustained destinations after Year 11. Most continue into education (96%) , including 70% who stay in school sixth forms and 19% progressing to further education , while 1% enter apprenticeships .
| Address: | Cowper Street, London, EC2A 4SH |
| Website: | http://www.centralfoundationboys.co.uk |
| Telephone: | 02072533741 |
| School Type: | Voluntary aided school |
| Education phase: | Secondary |
| Local authority: | Islington |
| Headteacher / Principal: | Mr Jamie Brownhill |
| Religious character: | None |
| Admissions policy: | Non-selective |
| Unique reference: | 100458 |
Ofsted inspection date: 11/03/2025
Safeguarding is effective
| Age Range: | 11 - 18 |
| Gender: | Boys |
| School Capacity: | 1050 |
| Number of Pupils: | 1133 |
| Number of Boys: | 1052 |
| Number of Girls: | 81 |
| School | England state-funded schools: | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall absence: | 6.6% | 4% |
| Persistent absence: | 17.6% | 8.2% |
| White British | 20.70% | 235 |
| African | 17.60% | 199 |
| Bangladeshi | 12.60% | 143 |
| Other Mixed | 12.50% | 142 |
| Other White | 11.20% | 127 |
| Other (any other ethnic group) | 9.70% | 110 |
| White and Black Caribbean | 2.60% | 29 |
| Caribbean | 2.40% | 27 |
| White and Asian | 2.40% | 27 |
| Unclassified | 1.90% | 22 |
| Other Black | 1.70% | 19 |
| White and Black African | 1.70% | 19 |
| Other Asian | 1.10% | 12 |
| Pakistani | 1.00% | 11 |
| Chinese | 0.50% | 6 |
| Irish | 0.30% | 3 |
| Indian | 0.20% | 2 |
| Gypsy/Roma | 0.00% | 0 |
| Irish Traveller (Traveller of Irish heritage) | 0.00% | 0 |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Market Nursery School Columbia Road , Bethnal Green E2 7PG | 4out of 4 | 956 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Comet Nursery School and Children's Centre 20 Halcomb Street , Hoxton N1 5RF | 4out of 4 | 1,382 yd | Local authority nursery school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Thomas Coram Centre 49 Mecklenburgh Square , WC1N 2NY | 4out of 4 | 2,640 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Rachel Keeling Nursery School Bullards Place , Morpeth Street E2 0PS | - not rated | 2,941 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Kate Greenaway Nursery School and Children's Centre Yorkway Court , Copenhagen Street N1 0UH | 4out of 4 | 2,953 yd | Local authority nursery school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moorfields Primary School 40 Bunhill Row , EC1Y 8RX | - not rated | 314 yd | Community school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Luke's CofE Primary School Radnor Street , EC1V 3SJ | 3out of 4 | 486 yd | Voluntary aided school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Monica's Roman Catholic Primary School 43 Hoxton Street , N1 6QN | - not rated | 551 yd | Voluntary aided school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St Monica's Catholic Primary School 43 Hoxton Street , N1 6QN | 3out of 4 | 551 yd | Academy converter | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| St John the Baptist Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School Crondall Street , N1 6JG | 4out of 4 | 700 yd | Voluntary aided school | Yes | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Foundation Boys' School Cowper Street , City Road EC2A 4SH | - not rated | 0 yd | Voluntary aided school | No | Boys | More About School |
| Hackney University Technical College Falkirk Street , N1 6HQ | - not rated | 829 yd | University technical college | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Mulberry Academy Shoreditch Gosset Street , Bethnal Green E2 6NW | 3out of 4 | 1,254 yd | Academy converter | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Bethnal Green Technology College Gosset Street , Bethnal Green E2 6NW | - not rated | 1,254 yd | Community school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Haggerston School Weymouth Terrace , Hackney E2 8LS | - not rated | 1,364 yd | Community school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Workers' Educational Association 4 Luke Street , EC2A 4XW | - not rated | 390 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Hackney Community College Shoreditch Campus , Falkirk Street N1 6HQ | - not rated | 829 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Tech City College 263-269 City Road , Islington EC1V 1JX | - not rated | 1,079 yd | Free schools 16 to 19 | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Kingsway College Gray's Inn Centre , WC1H 8JB | - not rated | 2,492 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Capital City College 211 Gray's Inn Road , WC1X 8RA | - not rated | 2,497 yd | Further education | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Mary Magdalene Academy Liverpool Road , Islington N7 8PG | 4out of 4 | 3,237 yd | Academy sponsor led | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Ofsted Overall Effectiveness | Distance | Establishment Type | Has Nursery Classes | Gender | More Info | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Lyceum 59-65 Worship Street , Shoreditch EC2A 2DU | - not rated | 390 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| Crusoe House School Nile Street , N1 7RD | - not rated | 547 yd | Community special school | Not Applicable | Boys | More About School |
| New Regent's College Nile Street , N1 7RD | 3out of 4 | 609 yd | Pupil referral unit | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
| Sol Ecole Toffee Park Youth Centre , Ironmonger Row EC1V 3QS | - not rated | 616 yd | Other independent school | No | Mixed | More About School |
| The Metropolitan Theatre School Trinity Centre , Bletchley Street N1 7QG | - not rated | 812 yd | Other independent school | Not Applicable | Mixed | More About School |
School statistics for this postcode are based on Ofsted rankings.