Barnwell School, Stevenage
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data. Admissions policy: Non-selective
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 8 months agoReport card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Barnwell School excels at creating an inclusive, supportive environment where every pupil feels valued and safe. Staff go above and beyond to identify individual needs and provide tailored support, using external professionals and specialist resources like the therapy dog 'Tilly' to help pupils thrive. For pupils who attend regularly, the school delivers effective teaching and ambitious curriculum that prepares them well for their next steps.
Key Strengths
- Strong inclusive culture with effective support for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities
- Comprehensive careers education and guidance that raises pupils' aspirations
- Effective safeguarding with an open culture where concerns are actively managed
- Well-trained staff who are committed to pupil wellbeing and go the extra mile
- Calm, focused classrooms where teaching is typically effective
Areas for Improvement
- Attendance is a significant concern - some groups of pupils do not attend regularly enough, causing them to miss essential learning and fall behind
- Some inconsistency in how well the curriculum is taught across the school
- Full impact of new attendance support systems not yet clearly evident
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has an open and positive culture of safeguarding where all legal requirements are met and pupils feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Creative arts clubs, sports and games clubs, educational trips and visits, rewards trips, work experience opportunities, university visits, student leadership groups
Barnwell School is an inclusive school with a strong commitment to supporting all pupils' welfare and learning needs. The school has established a broad curriculum and creates a safe, positive community where most pupils who attend regularly learn and achieve well.
At a Glance
31.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
20.2
Avg class size
56
Total classes
6 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
80%
Available places
1,270 pupils
1,590 capacity
320 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - Stevenage
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Stevenage
Admissions Demand - Hertfordshire
Places available
15,354
Applications
13,699
Got 1st preference
75.8%
Got preferred school
94.7%
Secondary admissions across Hertfordshire (2025/26)
Inspection History(16)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
10.93153%
Overall absence
28.22706%
Persistent absence
1,286
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Barnwell School
Peartree Spring Primary School
Featherstone Wood Primary School
Longmeadow Primary School
Shephalbury Park Primary School
Ashtree Primary Academy
Roebuck Academy
St Nicholas CofE (VA) Primary School and Nursery
St Margaret Clitherow Roman Catholic Primary School
Aston St Mary's Church of England Aided Primary School
Bedwell Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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