Bow School
London, E3 3QW · Tower Hamlets · secondary school
Check the area around this school
15th of 17 secondary schools in Tower Hamlets we can score, 18 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 5.5/10 against 392 of them, against 3.1/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 39.7 · 36 | 30% | 1.10 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.39 · 21 | 25% | 0.53 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 43.8 · 38 | 10% | 0.38 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Bow School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 33.2% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 43.2, against a national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.39 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in October 2023. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (4.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the KS3 Choir, KS4 Band, Wyatt Sinfonia, or NYJO, alongside instrumental tuition and jazz workshops. The school offers work experience, concert trips, and an after-school club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,126 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,350. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their Progress 8 score and the national benchmark? What specific support is available for students aiming to join the NYJO or Wyatt Sinfonia?
What Ofsted said about Bow School
Overview
Bow School continues to be a good school, described as an "ambitious, forward-looking" institution where pupils become "world-ready" and "career-ready". Leaders maintain high aspirations, ensuring all pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), achieve very well and are well prepared for future life stages.
Strengths
- The curriculum is "broad and ambitious", reflecting community diversity and expanding pupils’ "cultural capital" through real-world contexts.
- Teachers possess "strong" subject knowledge, using effective assessment to address gaps and helping pupils "know and remember more in the long term".
- Behaviour is "calm and considerate" with rare low-level disruption, while attendance and punctuality rates are high.
- A "wealth of enrichment activities" and a comprehensive personal development programme support pupils’ citizenship, mental health, and career aspirations.
- Staff are "enthusiastic" and feel supported by leaders who are "sensitive to their colleagues’ workload and well-being".
Areas to improve
- In some lessons, staff do not provide sufficient opportunity for pupils to "practise and extend their spoken language", causing some to struggle to articulate their understanding.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 43.4 |
| 2024/25 | 43.2 |
| 2025/26 | 43.8 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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