Central Foundation Schools of London (CFSL) is an Educational Charity established by Rev. William Rogers, who became Rector of St. Botolph’s, Bishopsgate, in the City of London in 1863.

CFSL supports two voluntary aided Schools, a Boys’ School in Cowper Street, Islington and a Girls’ School in Harley Grove, Tower Hamlets. Both Schools were former grammar schools but now take a fully comprehensive intake through the respective local education authorities.

The Foundation came into being in 1866 and is administered by a Board of Trustees. The Foundation’s “Scheme” requires nominees to be appointed by various nominating bodies including the University of London, the Parochial Church Council of the parish of St Botolph without Bishopsgate, the Bank of England, the City Corporation, the London Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Dulwich Estate, the Wardmote of the Ward of Bishopsgate. The Lord Mayor of London is an ex officio Trustee. The Foundation also appoints co-optative Trustees with skills and experience to enable it to further its work; these are often former pupils of the Schools who have achieved eminence in business or the professions.

The Foundation owns both School sites. It also derives an income as a beneficiary of the Dulwich Estate.

The CFSL Trustees appoint Foundation Governors to each of the two Schools’ Governing Bodies. As both Schools are voluntary aided, the Foundation Governors form a majority of each Governing Body.

Edward Alleyn was born in 1566 and became a celebrated actor and actor-manager. He must have known William Shakespeare well and acted in and produced his plays. He managed the Rose and the Fortune Theatres in London and became Master of the Royal Bear Gardens in 1604. He purchased a large estate to the South of London and when he died in 1619 he endowed a College for 12 poor scholars together with an Alms-house for aged parishioners and a Chapel where he is buried. Land development round London made this a wealthy Charity and it was reconstituted by Act of parliament in 1854 with the Duke of Wellington as Chairman. William Rogers was appointed Chairman in 1862. The Charity now supports Dulwich College and a number of other prestigious private schools in Dulwich.

The Central Foundation Girls’ School is one of the oldest schools in London and has its roots in the City of London. The original Bishopsgate Ward School in St. Botolph’s Without Bishopsgate was founded in 1726 to provide education for the children of Huguenot refugees from the religious persecutions in France who had settled in the East End of London. From the mid-1700s to 1772 the school was based in various locations, including the Fanmakers’ Hall, St. Botolph’s Churchyard and buildings around what is now Liverpool Street Station

In 1891 the Middle Class School took over the Bishopsgate Ward School in the City of London. A separate Girls’ School was set up in Spital Square and the boys incorporated in the existing Boys’ School with a new Charter being granted and the schools being renamed the Central Foundation Schools of London.

 Both Boys’ and Girls’ Schools remained academically selective and fee paying until the 1945 Education Act compelled all schools to become primarily state funded or to become entirely financially independent. Central Foundation lacked sufficient financial endowment to become fully independent and in 1945 abolished fees and became state funded. In 1975 the Girls’ School was moved from their very overcrowded school site in Spital Square to refurbished buildings in Bow, further east of London, and the Trustees, under funding pressure from the Inner London Education Authority, agreed to accept a comprehensive all-ability intake for both schools and the Girls’ School became voluntary controlled. 

Prior to 1975, both Schools were governed by a combined Trustee and Governing Body. Trustees are appointed by various nominating bodies such as the University of London, the London Chamber of Commerce, the Wardmote of the Ward of Bishopsgate, the Bank of England, the Corporation of the City of London, The Dulwich Estate and the Vestry of St. Botolph’s Church without Bishopsgate.  Additional Trustees, selected for their expertise and notability, are co-opted as required. The Lord Mayor of London is a patron.

In 1975, under increasing pressure from the Inner London Education Authority and state legislation relating to Schools Governance, it was decided to divide the responsibilities of the Trustees and Governors and separate Governing Bodies were set up for the Boys' and Girls’ Schools with the Trustees nominating representatives to each Board and remaining owners and administrators of Foundation properties. The remaining Governors are appointed by the Local Education Authority, the parents and staff of the schools.  The Trustee Body manages the finances of the Foundation.

Traditionally both schools have provided education for the children of immigrants who have tended to migrate and settle in the East End of London. The record of achievement of pupils from both schools is impressive and very many famous names in law, medicine and science were former pupils.

In the late 1800s many of the pupils came from Russia and East European families fleeing the pogroms and religious persecution and in the 1920s and 1930s many of the pupils were children of German and Jewish refugees. This tradition of educating and integrating first generation immigrant children continues with many of our pupils coming from a wide range of ethnic backgrounds.

Both schools are very popular with parents and despite several enlargements, are consistently oversubscribed. The Boys’ School provides places for over 900 boys and the Girls’ School has over 1500 pupils. Since 2005, the Boys’ School has accepted girls into its Sixth Form.