Central Foundation Boys’ School

Highlights from Latest Inspection

Summary of key findings for parents and pupils

This is an outstanding school. The headteacher, together with governors, and leaders at all levels, has brought about rapid improvements in the school's performance since the last inspection.

The headteacher's inspired leadership has been vital in raising the expectations of both staff and students. Students reach well-above-average standards and achieve outstandingly well overall. The students' achievement in English, mathematics and science is particularly strong.

Teaching is outstanding. Teachers have high expectations and excellent subject knowledge. They enable all students to do as well as they can, and to make excellent progress.

There is a wid...e range of courses, both academic and work-related. These meet the needs of students exceptionally well. The many activities outside the classroom are much appreciated by students.

Music and sport are particularly strong. The large majority of students, including those who are disadvantaged, make rapid progress by comparison with the national picture. The behaviour of students is outstanding.

They are polite and respectful and wear their smart uniform with pride. Students feel extremely safe. They are confident that the adults in the school will support them very well.

Middle leaders make a strong contribution to ensuring students make rapid progress. The school promotes students' spiritual, moral, social and cultural development exceptionally well. Leaders are very diligent in ensuring that extremism has no place within the school.

Students are very well prepared for life in modern Britain. The sixth form is outstanding, largely because of the excellent leadership. As a result, students achieve highly and are very well prepared for the next stage of their education, training and employment.

Governance is excellent. Members use their professional skills to the best advantage of the school. All statutory duties, including those for safeguarding, are met.

Information about this school

This school is an average-sized secondary school. Girls are admitted to the sixth form and account for just under one in five of its population. The sixth form is part of the Islington Sixth Form Consortium which comprises this school and three other secondary schools.

Eighty per cent of students are from minority ethnic groups, which is well above the national average, with the largest groups being of Bangladeshi and Black African heritages. One in seven students are of White British heritage. Just under two thirds of students speak English as an additional language and this proportion is also well above the national average.

Almost three quarters of students are eligible for additional government funding, known as the pupil premium, which is well above average. In this school, the funding is used to support students who are eligible for free school meals and those who are looked after. One in five students are disabled or have special educational needs, which is above average.

The school does not use alternative training providers. The school was founded in 1866 and is currently located in a Grade 2 listed building, which presents a number of challenges in terms of maintenance and repair. In 2014 the school met the current government floor standards, which set the minimum expectations for students' attainment and progress.