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Community school · Tower Hamlets

Bow School

  • 11–18Ages
  • 1,126Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • Sixth formAges 16–18
  • 100965URN

44 Twelvetrees Crescent, Bow, London, E3 3QW · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted
Graded GoodMar 2018
School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Sep 2023
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
2.2per place
close to Tower Hamlets median (2.3)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Tower Hamlets

265 applications for 122 places · 10th of 15 in Tower Hamlets
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
43.8of 90
15th of 17 in Tower Hamlets
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Graded GoodMar 2018
School remains GoodUngraded inspection · Sep 2023

Inspection history

  1. 13 September 2023
    Ungraded inspection: School remains Good
  2. 14 March 2018
    Graded inspection: Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry
2.2applications per place, Year 7
close to Tower Hamlets median (2.3) close to England median (2.2)

265 applications · 122 places offered · 72 named it first

  1. 2026 2.2; Tower Hamlets median median 2.3
  2. 2025 1.3; Tower Hamlets median median 2.7
  3. 2024 1.8; Tower Hamlets median median 2.7
  4. 2023 1.3; Tower Hamlets median median 2.6
  5. 2022 1.6; Tower Hamlets median median 2.4
  6. 2021 1.5; Tower Hamlets median median 2.6
  7. 2020 1.7; Tower Hamlets median median 2.8
  8. 2019 1.5; Tower Hamlets median median 2.8
  9. 2018 1.7; Tower Hamlets median median 3.0
  10. 2017 1.9; Tower Hamlets median median 3.2
  11. 2016 2.7; Tower Hamlets median median 3.3
  12. 2015 2.7; Tower Hamlets median median 3.6
  13. 2014 2.6; Tower Hamlets median median 3.3
More applications per place than the Tower Hamlets median in 0 of 13 years.
  • This school
  • Tower Hamlets median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20261222652.2720.59
Sep 20252312991.3830.36
Sep 20242033571.8970.48
Sep 20232843661.3940.33
Sep 20222363831.6810.34
Sep 20212383661.5830.35
Sep 20202303951.7910.40
Sep 20192944311.51120.38
Sep 20182714461.7930.34
Sep 20172855291.91230.43
Sep 20162025432.71270.63
Sep 20151834972.71120.61
Sep 20141554092.61020.66

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

204 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)43.815th of 17 in Tower Hamlets
Grade 5 or above in English and maths40%16th of 17 in Tower Hamlets
Grade 4 or above in English and maths59%
  • This school
  • Tower Hamlets median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.39
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)20443.840%59%–
2024/2522043.233%61%–
2023/2423343.437%52%−0.39
2022/2322347.750%68%−0.12

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type
Community school
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
100965 · 211/4024
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,350 pupils · 1,126 on roll
Free school meals
47.7% of pupils (England median 23%)
Address
44 Twelvetrees Crescent, Bow, London, E3 3QW
Local authority
Tower Hamlets

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources