Friern Barnet School, London
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 · 3 years agoOverall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Friern Barnet School excels at supporting every child to succeed, regardless of their starting point. The school's performing arts programme is exceptional and inspires both pupils and staff. Teachers work closely with individual pupils to ensure they progress well, with particularly strong support for those with special educational needs, English language learners, and disadvantaged pupils.
Key Strengths
- Exceptionally strong performing arts programme that inspires imaginative teaching and learning
- Very high quality individual care and support for pupils with special educational needs
- Sustained improvement in GCSE results at grades A* to C over the last six years
- Good progress for all groups including pupils eligible for pupil premium and those learning English as an additional language
- Effective behaviour management systems that involve pupils in their own accountability
Areas for Improvement
- Not enough teaching is outstanding - some lessons lack appropriately challenging work for different ability levels
- Book marking is inconsistent and not always done regularly enough
- Subject leaders need to develop a common approach to checking teaching quality across subject areas
Safeguarding
Pupils are safe and secure with effective systems in place, and the school provides a safe learning environment for all pupils including those needing extra help.
Extracurricular Activities
Performing arts
Friern Barnet School is a good secondary school that has sustained year-on-year increases in GCSE results over six years. The school provides exceptional support for pupils with diverse needs, including those with special educational needs and English language learners.
At a Glance
38.5%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Class Sizes
18.6
Avg class size
34
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
73%
Available places
591 pupils
810 capacity
219 spare places available
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for London
Admissions Demand - Barnet
Places available
4,877
Applications
4,221
Got 1st preference
72.4%
Got preferred school
92.6%
Secondary admissions across Barnet (2025/26)
Inspection History(10)
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
8.82935%
Overall absence
25.53802%
Persistent absence
697
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
Friern Barnet School
St John's CofE Junior Mixed and Infant School
Holly Park Primary School
St Paul's CofE Primary School N11
Oakleigh School & Acorn Assessment Centre
Summerside Primary Academy
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School
Garfield Primary School
Sacks Morasha Jewish Primary School
Hollickwood Primary School
Coppetts Wood Primary School
Showing 10 of 15 linked schools
Nearby Schools
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