SchoolScoresCanary Wharf Secondary
Free school · Secondary, ages 11 to 19 · Mixed · Christian
Part of UNIVERSITY SCHOOLS TRUST, EAST LONDON
7 Selsdon Way, London, E14 9GL
020 3383 6100 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Requires improvement at the inspection that started on 9 May 2024.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Requires improvement |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement |
| Personal development | Requires improvement |
| Leadership and management | Requires improvement |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
129 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025.
Tower Hamlets comparisons use the 6 of its 19 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other 13 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Tower Hamlets | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 38% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 79% | 82% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 36% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 81% | 84% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 38% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 73% | 77% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 45 parents whose child had been bullied 2nd highest of 4 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 42% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 47% | 41% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 98 parents who had raised a concern 4th highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 54% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 72% | 72% | 76% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 3rd highest of 6 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 38% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 74%said yes | 79% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Tower Hamlets figures pool parents at the Tower Hamlets schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
105 pupils in this year group.
57% — 10 points above the Tower Hamlets average, and 12 points above the England average.
| Measure | This school | Tower Hamlets | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 57% | 48% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 52.9 | 47.4 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
79 pupils in this year group.
90% — 4 points below the Tower Hamlets average, and 2 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Tower Hamlets | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 90% | 94% | 92% |
| School sixth form | 44% | 64% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 8% | 3% | 13% |
| Further education college | 35% | 23% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 0% | 1% | 3% |
| Work | 3% | 1% | 3% |
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 85% | 90% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Tower Hamlets. The national closing date for secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 74 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 59 |
| Of those, offered a place | 59 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 197 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 2.0 · 2025: 1.1 · 2026: 0.8
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
This is a Christian school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Tower Hamlets | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 18th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 75% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 39.4% | 55.4%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 2nd highest of 19 state secondary schools in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 98% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 8.0% | 5.1%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 2nd highest of 19 state secondary schools in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 90% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 21.0% | 10.9%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 16th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 77% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 27.7% | 49.6%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 11th lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Tower Hamlets. Lower than 72% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 7.1% | 6.7%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 8th lowest of 18 state secondary schools in Tower Hamlets. Lower than 79% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 17.0% | 18.5%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 19th lowest of 19 state secondary schools in Tower Hamlets. Lower than 24% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 29.9 | 6.1 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 17th lowest of 19 state secondary schools in Tower Hamlets. Lower than 34% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 8.9% | 3.8% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.04% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 18th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 1% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 11.7 | 14.5 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 6th highest of 19 state secondary schools in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 42% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.5 | 10.5 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 19 state secondary schools in Tower Hamlets. Higher than 96% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 31.2% | 16.6%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby secondary schools
- George Green's School 0.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2013), confirmed 2022 · 52% grade 5+ English and maths
- Marathon Science School 1.2 miles · Independent · Ofsted: Requires improvement (2025) · 0% A*/A at A level
- Bacon's College 1.3 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 51% grade 5+ English and maths
- St Ursula's Convent School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2025: 1 strong, 5 expected · 62% grade 5+ English and maths
- Langdon Park Community School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 7 expected · 46% grade 5+ English and maths
- Deptford Green School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 42% grade 5+ English and maths
- Addey and Stanhope School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018), confirmed 2023 · 34% grade 5+ English and maths
- The John Roan School 1.5 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023) · 38% grade 5+ English and maths
- Greenwich Waldorf School 1.7 miles · Independent, inspected by ISI
- St Paul's Way Trust School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022) · 56% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Canary Wharf Secondary's Ofsted rating?
Canary Wharf Secondary was rated Requires improvement by Ofsted at its inspection in 9 May 2024.
How did Canary Wharf Secondary do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 57% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 12 points above the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Canary Wharf Secondary?
74% of the 129 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 2 April 2024 and 7 April 2025 said they would recommend Canary Wharf Secondary to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Canary Wharf Secondary oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 59 families put Canary Wharf Secondary as their first choice for 74 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 59 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 142879.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 2 April 2024 to 7 April 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.