Bow School is a mainstream secondary school in Tower Hamlets, London, for children and young people aged 11 to 18. In January 2026, 218 of its 1,126 pupils (19.4%) were getting SEN support and 44 (3.9%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–18
- 1,126 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Tower Hamlets.
19.4% get SEN support
218 of 1,126 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
3.9% have an EHC plan
44 of 1,126 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
About the same as the England average.
Most common needs
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia104
- Social, emotional and mental health42
- Speech, language and communication23
- Autism21
- Visual impairment5
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Council-run school
- Ages
- 11 to 18
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,126 (places for 1,350)
- Headteacher
- Mr Danny Lye (Executive Headteacher)
- Free school meals
- 47.7% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Tower Hamlets
- School reference (URN)
- 100965
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Tower Hamlets council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, March 2018; school remains Good (September 2023)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in March 2018. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- Sixth formGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, September 2023).
Contact and getting there
44 Twelvetrees Crescent, Bow, London, E3 3QW
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Ian Mikardo High School Special school · Ages 11–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.2 miles
- Childrens House Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–5 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.4 miles
- Onelab College Independent · Ages 16–25 0.4 miles
- Gainsborough Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 0.7 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Marner Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 17%, EHC plans 9.7% 0.1 miles
- Old Palace Primary School Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 8.8%, EHC plans 6% 0.2 miles
- Harris Science Academy East London Secondary · Ages 11–18 · SEN support 6%, EHC plans 1.2% 0.3 miles
All mainstream schools in Tower Hamlets SEND schools in Tower Hamlets
Questions about Bow School
How many pupils at Bow School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 218 of the 1,126 pupils (19.4%) were getting SEN support and 44 (3.9%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Bow School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (104 pupils), social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (42 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (23 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Bow School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Bow School?
Through Tower Hamlets council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Bow School?
You can ask for Bow School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Bow School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Childrens House Nursery School, about 0.4 miles away.
Where is Bow School?
44 Twelvetrees Crescent, Bow, London, E3 3QW, in Tower Hamlets.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.