Central Foundation Boys' School
London, EC2A 4SH · Islington · secondary school
Check the area around this school
2nd of 9 secondary schools in Islington we can score, 10 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 — 9.6/10 against 458 of them, against 8.7/10 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 65.3 · 87 | 46% | 4.01 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.56 · 86 | 38% | 3.32 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 55.5 · 86 | 15% | 1.32 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Central Foundation Boys' School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 68.8% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 55.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.56 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did better than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (9.7 out of 10 against similar schools, 8.8 out of 10 against all schools).
Beyond the classroom
Pupils can join the Cooking Club, Drama Club, Chess Club, 50 Things to do before you are 15 Club, Coding Club, Debate Mate Club, Axiom Maths Club, and KS3 Art club.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,152 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,050. 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
What support is available for pupils aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores? How are the various clubs scheduled to ensure broad participation?
What Ofsted said about Central Foundation Boys' School
Overview
The report describes a school that "nurtures and cares for pupils," helping them become "mature young adults" within a culture of "very high expectations." Pupils achieve highly in examinations and are well-supported in their personal and social development, with sixth-form students acting as significant role models.
Strengths
- Teachers are "subject experts" who effectively break down complex material, ensuring pupils, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), "fully understand what is taught."
- The curriculum is "highly ambitious" and tailored to pupils’ needs, with key knowledge revisited regularly to ensure mastery and steady progress.
- Pupils’ personal development is "exceptionally well supported," with strong participation in clubs, sports, music, and educational outings such as visits to Tate Modern and CERN.
- Sixth-form provision is praised, with students contributing significantly to school life through mentoring, volunteering, and running activities for younger pupils.
- Governance works closely with leaders to ensure high achievement, while staff feel their "workload and well-being are taken into account."
Areas to improve
- The report identifies no significant areas for improvement.
Safeguarding
The report states that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective."
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 55.3 |
| 2024/25 | 55.2 |
| 2025/26 | 55.5 |
| 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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