St Margaret's Nursery School, Barnet
St Margaret's Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 2 to 5 in Barnet. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in May 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2013)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
St Margaret's Nursery School in detail
Who goes there
0% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 11.5% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (49%), Mixed (10%) and Black (8%).
In 2026, 14 pupils (14.6%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is New Barnet Station, about 290 metres away (roughly a 4-minute walk).
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Victoria Road (EN4), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood St Margaret's Nursery School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 222 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Barnet (370).
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 3 years agoThis judgement is from October 2013, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Outstanding.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's May 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
St Margaret's creates a delightful, nurturing space where children flourish and develop confidence to explore and take risks. Staff know each child well and carefully support their learning through a thoughtfully organised curriculum focused on children's development. The school works closely with families and external services to ensure every child, including those with additional needs, receives the support they need to thrive.
Key Strengths
- Highly ambitious and engaging curriculum that maximises children's learning both indoors and outdoors - children swing on monkey bars, go on bear hunts, practise numerals, and create with natural materials
- Strong focus on developing children's vocabulary and communication skills through language-rich environment, stories, rhymes and poems
- Truly inclusive school that swiftly identifies and supports children who need extra help, enabling them to access the same learning opportunities as their peers
- Excellent behaviour and strong relationships - children learn to share, take turns and make friends in a caring, nurturing environment
- Well-prepared transitions - children move smoothly from the two-year provision to three-year-olds and then to Reception classes
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with well-trained staff and governors who understand their responsibilities, proactively identify concerns, and work with external agencies to support families quickly.
Extracurricular Activities
Visits to local shops
St Margaret's Nursery School continues to be an outstanding school where children are happy, safe and settled. Staff are caring and highly responsive to individual needs, providing an exceptional and ambitious curriculum.
At a Glance
0.0%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby nursery schools
Social & online
Keep up with St Margaret's Nursery School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to St Margaret's Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. St Margaret's Nursery School is in Barnet; for families living there:
Apply to Barnet for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 41
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 5
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 41 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 36 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
8 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Barnet is 53 (the median across 175 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Barnet
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Barnet
Across Barnet council
Places available
4,618
Applications
3,998
Got 1st preference
72.7%
Got preferred school
93.2%
All secondary applications across Barnet council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
14
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
14.6%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
96
Total Pupils
56
Boys
40
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
3
Teachers
32.0:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£62,266
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about St Margaret's Nursery School
What is St Margaret's Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
St Margaret's Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in May 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2013, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for St Margaret's Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When St Margaret's Nursery School is oversubscribed, Barnet allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to St Margaret's Nursery School?
St Margaret's Nursery School has around 96 pupils on roll.
How do I apply to St Margaret's Nursery School?
Apply through Barnet's coordinated admissions process, naming St Margaret's Nursery School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near St Margaret's Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 41 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 5 serious and 36 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 8 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Barnet is 53 (the median across 175 schools, same distance and years).
Where is St Margaret's Nursery School?
St Margaret's Nursery School is at Margaret Road, New Barnet, Barnet, Hertfordshire, EN4 9NT.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)