Canary Wharf Secondary is a mainstream secondary school in Tower Hamlets, London, for children and young people aged 11 to 19. In January 2026, 84 of its 417 pupils (20.1%) were getting SEN support and 35 (8.4%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–19
- 417 pupils
- Ofsted: Requires improvement
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Tower Hamlets.
20.1% get SEN support
84 of 417 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Higher than the England average.
8.4% have an EHC plan
35 of 417 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health43
- Autism19
- Speech, language and communication17
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia16
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
- Free school
- Ages
- 11 to 19
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 417 (places for 462)
- Headteacher
- Mr Geoff Roberts
- Part of
- University Schools Trust, East London
- Faith
- Christian
- Free school meals
- 28.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Tower Hamlets
- School reference (URN)
- 142879
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 Requires improvement, May 2024
Rated Requires improvement at its last graded inspection, in May 2024.
- Quality of educationRequires improvement
- Behaviour and attitudesRequires improvement
- Personal developmentRequires improvement
- Leadership and managementRequires improvement
- SafeguardingEffective
Contact and getting there
7 Selsdon Way, London, E14 9GL
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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
- George Green's School Mainstream + base · Ages 11–19 · Ofsted: Good 0.5 miles
- Meridian Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.9 miles
- Cavendish School Independent · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 1.6 miles
- Stephen Hawking School Special school · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 1.6 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Cubitt Town Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 9%, EHC plans 11.9% 0.1 miles
- Canary Wharf Primary, East Ferry Primary · Ages 4–11 · SEN support 12.4%, EHC plans 4.4% 0.4 miles
- Harbinger Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 12%, EHC plans 11.7% 0.4 miles
All mainstream schools in Tower Hamlets SEND schools in Tower Hamlets
Questions about Canary Wharf Secondary
How many pupils at Canary Wharf Secondary have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 84 of the 417 pupils (20.1%) were getting SEN support and 35 (8.4%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Canary Wharf Secondary?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (43 pupils), autism (19 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (17 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Canary Wharf Secondary?
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 Canary Wharf Secondary?
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 Canary Wharf Secondary?
You can ask for Canary Wharf Secondary 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 Canary Wharf Secondary 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 George Green's School, about 0.5 miles away.
Where is Canary Wharf Secondary?
7 Selsdon Way, London, E14 9GL, 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.