Central Foundation Boys' School, London

In its own words: "Central Foundation aims to be one of the top schools for the education of boys in the country. In pursuing this aim, we care about exam results, but our fundamental purpose is the growth of our students to enable every single one of them to live joyful, purposeful and socially responsible lives."

From the headteacher's welcome: "Central Foundation is a popular and over-subscribed comprehensive school for boys aged 11 to 16, with a successful co-educational Sixth Form. A Central Foundation education involves providing our students with a wide range of educational experiences, including the academic, sporting, musical, dramatic, debating and public speaking."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include football, basketball, drama and debating.

Coming up: an open evening on Thursday 26 November 2026. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.

In 2026, pupils at Central Foundation Boys' School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 55.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 50.3 in Islington and 47 across England.

65% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 52% in Islington and 47% in England.

That is in line with 2025, when the score was 55.2.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.56: pupils made well above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 47.1, against 61.1 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 14 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and Business Studies.

For September 2026 entry, 235 families put Central Foundation Boys' School as their first choice and 559 named it as one of their preferences, for 173 places offered. That is 1.4 first choices for every place. 91 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Central Foundation Boys' School are Mulberry Academy Shoreditch (0.7 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.5); Haggerston School (0.8 miles, Attainment 8 53.4); The Bridge Academy (0.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 51.6); and City of London Academy Islington (0.9 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 46.1).

Central Foundation Boys' School's 2026 results were higher than all 4 of them.

105 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Central Foundation Boys' School (as of September 2025): 93% would recommend the school, 92% say their child is happy there and 85% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (97%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (85%).

Of the 163 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 91% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 37% to a further education college, 2% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 128 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 66% went on to university or other higher education, 2% to apprenticeships and 10% into work. 24% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

42% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 27.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are Black (22%), White British (22%) and Mixed (21%).

In 2026, 264 pupils (22.9%) received SEN support and 39 (3.4%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is social, emotional and mental health needs.

Central Foundation Boys' School had 85 teachers in 2026, one for every 13 pupils: more teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest railway station is Old Street Station, about 80 metres away (roughly a 1-minute walk).

20 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Shoreditch Fire Station, 90 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 2670 crimes within a mile of the school, most often shoplifting, violence and sexual offences and anti-social behaviour. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Islington (1744), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Central Foundation Boys' School issued 143 suspensions, 12.6 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 1 permanent exclusion.

The primary schools closest to Central Foundation Boys' School are St Luke's CofE Primary School (0.3 miles), St Monica's Catholic Primary School (0.3 miles), St John the Baptist Voluntary Aided Church of England Primary School (0.4 miles) and Prior Weston Primary School and Children's Centre (0.4 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.