Central Foundation Girls' School is a mainstream secondary school in Tower Hamlets, London, for girls aged 11 to 19. In January 2026, 115 of its 1,526 pupils (7.5%) were getting SEN support and 35 (2.3%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–19
- 1,526 pupils
- Girls only
- Ofsted report card (2026)
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Tower Hamlets.
7.5% get SEN support
115 of 1,526 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
2.3% have an EHC plan
35 of 1,526 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Lower than the England average.
Most common needs
- Speech, language and communication56
- Moderate learning difficulty24
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia20
- Social, emotional and mental health16
- Autism10
- Hearing impairment8
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
- Voluntary aided school
- Ages
- 11 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Girls only
- Pupils
- 1,526 (places for 1,550)
- Headteacher
- Ms Carla Prince
- Free school meals
- 45.6% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Tower Hamlets
- School reference (URN)
- 100975
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
Report card, January 2026: Strong standard in 5 of 7 areas
Inspected in January 2026 under Ofsted’s new report cards, which grade each area separately, from Exceptional to Urgent improvement, instead of one overall grade.
- InclusionStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingExpected standard
- AchievementStrong standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
- Post-16Expected standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- SafeguardingMet
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, November 2021).
Contact and getting there
Bow Road, London, E3 2AE
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
- Phoenix School Special school · Ages 3–19 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.1 miles
- Beatrice Tate School Special school · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted report card (2025) 0.2 miles
- Childrens House Nursery School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–5 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.5 miles
- St Paul's Way Trust School Mainstream + base · Ages 4–18 · Ofsted: Good 0.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Malmesbury Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 19%, EHC plans 9.1% 0.1 miles
- Wellington Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 8.3%, EHC plans 5.6% 0.2 miles
- St Agnes RC Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 23.8%, EHC plans 5.1% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Tower Hamlets SEND schools in Tower Hamlets
Questions about Central Foundation Girls' School
How many pupils at Central Foundation Girls' School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 115 of the 1,526 pupils (7.5%) were getting SEN support and 35 (2.3%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Central Foundation Girls' School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are speech, language and communication needs (56 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (24 pupils) and dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (20 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Central Foundation Girls' 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 Central Foundation Girls' 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 Central Foundation Girls' School?
You can ask for Central Foundation Girls' 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 Central Foundation Girls' 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 0.5 miles away.
Where is Central Foundation Girls' School?
Bow Road, London, E3 2AE, 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.