Classpot

Central Foundation Girls' School

Tower Hamlets, E3 2AESecondaryAges 11–19GirlsState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Feb 2026
Progress 8
+0.50
Well above average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
209 1st-choice / 232 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#502 of 3,141 nationally

About Central Foundation Girls' School

Central Foundation Girls' School sits within Tower Hamlets, a borough with four outstanding-rated secondary schools among its 21 same-type institutions. The school ranks 6th in the local authority on Progress 8, placing it in the top quarter of schools nationally. Its closest outstanding neighbour is Stepney All Saints Church of England Secondary School, 1.6 kilometres away, while the top three peers in the borough by ranking score are Swanlea School, Bishop Challoner Catholic School, and Stepney All Saints itself. As a girls' state secondary with a sixth form, the school serves 1,541 pupils against a capacity of 1,550, and 46.8 per cent of students are eligible for free school meals. Headteacher Carla Prince leads a school that has held a Good Ofsted rating across both its 2016 graded inspection and its 2021 ungraded inspection, with leadership and management judged Outstanding in the most recent report.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 19 years
GenderGirls
Religious CharacterNone
AddressBow Road, London, Tower Hamlets, E3 2AE
HeadteacherCarla Prince
Local AuthorityTower Hamlets
Number of Pupils1,541
Free School Meals (FSM)46.8%
School Capacity1,541 / 1,550 (99% full)
Sixth FormYes

The full report on this school

The inspection in plain English, admissions context, 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

4 Nov 2021
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Sixth Form Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (4 Nov 2021): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 1 Dec 2016. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

11
TheatreSwimming PoolGymnasiumScience LabsICT SuiteArt StudiosTennis CourtsAstro TurfPlaying FieldsDining HallSixth Form Centre

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

15

Sports

FootballSwimmingCross CountryRowingTennisBasketballCricketAthleticsGymnastics

Clubs & Activities

Science ClubDramaEco ClubBook ClubChoirArt Club

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultyOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Central Foundation Girls' School

Central Foundation Girls' School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.