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Central Foundation Boys' School

Islington, EC2A 4SHSecondaryAges 11–18BoysState
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted inspected
5 Good
Mar 2025
Progress 8
+0.56
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
1.3×
Oversubscribed
225 1st-choice / 171 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#427 of 3,141 nationally

About Central Foundation Boys' School

Central Foundation Boys' School is a state secondary in Islington that is significantly oversubscribed, and the numbers explain why. With 1,133 pupils against a capacity of 1,050, the school is already running above its official limit. For entry in 2025/26, there were 544 applications for 171 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 3.18 to one. Of those, 225 families put it as their first preference, and 142 of those received offers. The school serves a diverse intake: 41.8% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is well above the national average and reflects the local community it draws from. The school is non-denominational and has no religious character, and it operates a mixed sixth form for boys aged 16 to 18. Headteacher Jamie Brownhill leads a school that has held an Outstanding Ofsted rating since at least 2015, and its most recent inspection in March 2025 confirmed that every single category — quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and sixth form provision — remains Outstanding.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 18 years
GenderBoys
Religious CharacterNone
AddressCowper Street, London, Islington, EC2A 4SH
HeadteacherJamie Brownhill
Local AuthorityIslington
Number of Pupils1,133
Free School Meals (FSM)41.8%
School Capacity1,133 / 1,050 (108% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

What 105 parents told Ofsted, the inspection in plain English, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.

  • Ofsted inspection in plain English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

11 Mar 2025
View Report
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Outstanding

From September 2024, Ofsted no longer assigns a single overall grade in inspections of state-funded schools.

Source: Ofsted, 28 Apr 2025. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

12
Sixth Form CentreMusic RoomsGymnasiumSwimming PoolAstro TurfTennis CourtsSports HallDining HallLibraryTheatreScience LabsICT Suite

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

RugbySwimmingFootballHockeyAthleticsBasketballGymnasticsCricketMartial Arts

Clubs & Activities

ChessDebateOrchestraArt ClubScience ClubYoung Enterprise

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere LearningMulti-SensoryOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Central Foundation Boys' School

Central Foundation Boys' School has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.