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Central Foundation Girls' School Catchment Area

Reviewed by the catchment.school editorial team · Last updated 15 March 2026

Central Foundation Girls' School is a voluntary aided secondary school in London, Tower Hamlets , serving pupils aged 11-19, with 1541 pupils, and a capacity of 1550 places. The school is operating close to capacity, and catchment area boundaries apply when the school is oversubscribed.

11-19

Age range

1,541

Pupils

1,550

Capacity

99%

Fill rate

Good

Ofsted 2016

Central Foundation Girls' School Catchment Area Information

What is the catchment area for Central Foundation Girls' School?

The catchment area for Central Foundation Girls' School is the geographic zone Tower Hamlets uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Tower Hamlets publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Secondary school places at Central Foundation Girls' School are allocated by Tower Hamlets using ranked oversubscription criteria. Catchment area residence is typically among the highest priorities after looked-after children and siblings, and the boundary is reviewed each year.

Operating near capacity: 99% of places are currently filled. Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

Get an alert if Central Foundation Girls' School goes oversubscribed for 2027 →

The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Tower Hamlets before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.

Find Tower Hamlets catchment area documents →

Central Foundation Girls' School: 1550 places, 99% filled: nearing capacity

Central Foundation Girls' School has a published admission number of 1550 places. 1541 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 99%. The school is operating close to its limit. In years where applications exceed 1550, Tower Hamlets's admissions team applies distance-based tiebreakers. Families within the school's historical catchment boundary are well placed, but a boundary check with the council is recommended before applying.

The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 46.8% of pupils at Central Foundation Girls' School are eligible for free school meals, above the national average of around 24%. This reflects the school's role in a higher-deprivation area of London.

To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.

Tower Hamlets publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Tower Hamlets school admissions →

Central Foundation Girls' School: School Information

Full address
Bow Road, London, E3 2AE
Local authority
Tower Hamlets
School type
Voluntary aided school
Phase of education
Secondary
Age range
11-19 years
Gender
Girls
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Free school meals
46.8% of pupils
DfE URN
100975

Other Secondary Schools in London

If Central Foundation Girls' School is oversubscribed, these secondary schools in London are the next closest alternatives.

Nearest secondary schools by distance

These are the secondary schools closest to Central Foundation Girls' School by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.

Frequently Asked Questions: Central Foundation Girls' School

What is the catchment area for Central Foundation Girls' School?

The catchment area for Central Foundation Girls' School is the geographic zone Tower Hamlets uses to prioritise admissions when this secondary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Tower Hamlets publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.

Is Central Foundation Girls' School oversubscribed?

Central Foundation Girls' School is operating close to its capacity of 1550 places (99% full). Catchment boundaries are likely to apply when the school is oversubscribed at the next intake.

What is the admissions policy for Central Foundation Girls' School?

Admission to Central Foundation Girls' School is managed by Tower Hamlets. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.

What age range does Central Foundation Girls' School cover?

Central Foundation Girls' School is a secondary school in London, Tower Hamlets, serving pupils aged 11-19. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.

What is the Ofsted rating for Central Foundation Girls' School?

Central Foundation Girls' School was rated Good by Ofsted in 2016. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.

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