What did Ofsted judge Bow School's overall effectiveness to be?

Ofsted judged Bow School's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in March 2018 (last graded inspection), and an ungraded inspection in September 2023 confirmed it, on Ofsted's own scale.

How many pupils attend Bow School?

Bow School has 1,126 pupils on roll.

What ages does Bow School take?

Bow School admits pupils aged 11 to 18.

Where is Bow School located?

Bow School is located in London, E3 3QW, Tower Hamlets.

How do I apply to Bow School?

Bow School is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.

How are Year 7 places decided at Bow School?

When Bow School has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after / previously looked after children — Children looked after by the local authority including adopted children who were previously looked after, children who leave care under a special guardianship or residence order and adopted children who were previously in state care outside of England; 2. Medical or social reasons — Children who have a strong medical or social reason to attend the school applied to. This can include the parents', carers' or other family members' medical conditions and the family's social needs. Parents must complete the relevant section on the application form and attach medical and/or social reports from a suitable professional (e.g. a doctor or social worker) to support the application; 3. Siblings — Children who have a brother or sister at the school at the time of admission, and 2 further criteria. The school offers 180 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Should two or more children live an equal distance from the school, including instances where more than one child lives in a multi-occupancy building, the offer of a place will be decided by random allocation.

What is the largest ethnic background at Bow School?

According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 62.3% of pupils at Bow School are recorded as Bangladeshi. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

Bow School: Ofsted, Results & Catchment 2026

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How places were offered at Bow School, year by year →

How places are decided at Bow School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after / previously looked after children — Children looked after by the local authority including adopted children who were previously looked after, children who leave care under a special guardianship or residence order and adopted children who were previously in state care outside of England
2Medical or social reasons — Children who have a strong medical or social reason to attend the school applied to. This can include the parents', carers' or other family members' medical conditions and the family's social needs. Parents must complete the relevant section on the application form and attach medical and/or social reports from a suitable professional (e.g. a doctor or social worker) to support the application.
3Siblings — Children who have a brother or sister at the school at the time of admission.
4Children of staff — Children whose parent is a member of staff who has been employed at the school concerned for two or more years at the time of application and/or children of a member of staff who has been recruited to fill a vacancy for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
5Nearest by shortest walking distance — Children who live nearest to the school by the shortest walking route.

If two applications tie: Should two or more children live an equal distance from the school, including instances where more than one child lives in a multi-occupancy building, the offer of a place will be decided by random allocation.

Local-authority coordinated default oversubscription criteria for Tower Hamlets's community and voluntary-controlled schools (the council is the admission authority). Places are first divided into four equal ability bands based on a banding test (CATS4C), and the oversubscription criteria above are applied within each band. EHCP children are placed before standard admission arrangements. Document is a determined admission policy for community secondary schools and named academies/foundation schools using the council's admission policy.

Published by the admission authority. Meeting a criterion never guarantees a place — it sets the order places are offered in. Full detail, other entry points and previous years are on the Admissions tab.

Bow School: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Bow School's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged Bow School's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in March 2018 (last graded inspection), and an ungraded inspection in September 2023 confirmed it, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Bow School?: Bow School has 1,126 pupils on roll.
What ages does Bow School take?: Bow School admits pupils aged 11 to 18.
Where is Bow School located?: Bow School is located in London, E3 3QW, Tower Hamlets.
How do I apply to Bow School?: Bow School is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How are Year 7 places decided at Bow School?: When Bow School has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after / previously looked after children — Children looked after by the local authority including adopted children who were previously looked after, children who leave care under a special guardianship or residence order and adopted children who were previously in state care outside of England; 2. Medical or social reasons — Children who have a strong medical or social reason to attend the school applied to. This can include the parents', carers' or other family members' medical conditions and the family's social needs. Parents must complete the relevant section on the application form and attach medical and/or social reports from a suitable professional (e.g. a doctor or social worker) to support the application; 3. Siblings — Children who have a brother or sister at the school at the time of admission, and 2 further criteria. The school offers 180 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Should two or more children live an equal distance from the school, including instances where more than one child lives in a multi-occupancy building, the offer of a place will be decided by random allocation.
What is the largest ethnic background at Bow School?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 62.3% of pupils at Bow School are recorded as Bangladeshi. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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How places were offered at Bow School, year by year →

How places are decided at Bow School

When there are more applications than places for 2027-28 (Year 7), places are offered in this order of priority. Meeting a higher criterion beats meeting a lower one.

1Looked after / previously looked after children — Children looked after by the local authority including adopted children who were previously looked after, children who leave care under a special guardianship or residence order and adopted children who were previously in state care outside of England
2Medical or social reasons — Children who have a strong medical or social reason to attend the school applied to. This can include the parents', carers' or other family members' medical conditions and the family's social needs. Parents must complete the relevant section on the application form and attach medical and/or social reports from a suitable professional (e.g. a doctor or social worker) to support the application.
3Siblings — Children who have a brother or sister at the school at the time of admission.
4Children of staff — Children whose parent is a member of staff who has been employed at the school concerned for two or more years at the time of application and/or children of a member of staff who has been recruited to fill a vacancy for which there is a demonstrable skill shortage.
5Nearest by shortest walking distance — Children who live nearest to the school by the shortest walking route.

Bow School: key facts

What did Ofsted judge Bow School's overall effectiveness to be?: Ofsted judged Bow School's overall effectiveness as Good at its inspection in March 2018 (last graded inspection), and an ungraded inspection in September 2023 confirmed it, on Ofsted's own scale.
How many pupils attend Bow School?: Bow School has 1,126 pupils on roll.
What ages does Bow School take?: Bow School admits pupils aged 11 to 18.
Where is Bow School located?: Bow School is located in London, E3 3QW, Tower Hamlets.
How do I apply to Bow School?: Bow School is a state school. In England you apply through the council where you live, using its common application form, even if the school is in another council area. The national closing date for secondary places is 31 October.
How are Year 7 places decided at Bow School?: When Bow School has more applications than places for 2027-28, they are offered in a published order of priority: 1. Looked after / previously looked after children — Children looked after by the local authority including adopted children who were previously looked after, children who leave care under a special guardianship or residence order and adopted children who were previously in state care outside of England; 2. Medical or social reasons — Children who have a strong medical or social reason to attend the school applied to. This can include the parents', carers' or other family members' medical conditions and the family's social needs. Parents must complete the relevant section on the application form and attach medical and/or social reports from a suitable professional (e.g. a doctor or social worker) to support the application; 3. Siblings — Children who have a brother or sister at the school at the time of admission, and 2 further criteria. The school offers 180 places at this entry point. Tie-break: Should two or more children live an equal distance from the school, including instances where more than one child lives in a multi-occupancy building, the offer of a place will be decided by random allocation.
What is the largest ethnic background at Bow School?: According to the DfE School Census 2025-26, 62.3% of pupils at Bow School are recorded as Bangladeshi. The full ethnic breakdown across all groups is available on the Pupils tab.

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Bow School

How places are decided at Bow School

Bow School: key facts

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Bow School: key facts

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