Central Foundation Boys' School
Cowper Street, City Road, London, EC2A 4SHOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Central Foundation Boys' School is a secondary school in Islington for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 69 schools in Islington. It ranks 2nd of 8 secondary schools in Islington. Its latest Ofsted inspection, in March 2025, graded each key judgement and gave no overall Ofsted rating.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 11 March 2025, report published 28 April 2025
This inspection graded each key judgement and gave no overall effectiveness grade.
- Quality of education
- Outstanding
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Outstanding
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Outstanding
- Sixth form provision
- Outstanding
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 11 March 2025
The school nurtures and cares for pupils, who are taught successfully to become mature young adults. Pupils are happy, free to express themselves and guided to explore their education passions. They are respectful of others, sensible and hard-working. Girls who join the school in the sixth form also feel at ease, cared for and safe here. There is a culture of very high expectations across all aspects of the school. Pupils achieve highly in their GCSE and sixth-form examinations. Pupils' personal and social development is exceptionally well supported in breadth and quality. Pupils are encouraged strongly to pursue their talent or academic interest within and beyond the curriculum. Popular clubs include cooking, fencing, boxing and advanced coding. Many pupils participate in sports and compete locally and nationally. Pupils also take part in swimming galas, and football and cricket matches. All pupils play music to a high standard, and many join the school's orchestra. Students in the sixth form contribute significantly to the life of the school. They act as role models for others. They run house competitions and activities such as culture week for young pupils. Students in the sixth form mentor and read with younger boys and volunteer at the local eye hospital.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
170 pupils in the year group
A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25
111 students
Average A level grade B-, England average B-
Pupil numbers and mix
1,152 pupils on roll, with places for 1,050
Schools near Central Foundation Boys' School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of London School for Girls | 0.6 miles | No Ofsted inspection | Attainment 8: 49.7 |
| OMG Education | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Mulberry Academy Shoreditch | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 45.0 |
| Haggerston School | 0.8 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 52.7 |
| The Complete Works | 0.9 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 4.9 |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary aided school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 11 to 18
- Gender
- Boys
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Mr Jamie Brownhill
- Phone
- 02072533741
- Address
- Cowper Street, City Road, London, EC2A 4SH
- Local authority
- Islington
- URN
- 100458
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.