The Windmill School, Barnet
The Windmill School is a special school for pupils aged 5 to 19 in Barnet, part of Barnet Special Education Trust. Its most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2026, ended in a report card: 6 strong standard.
- Ofsted report card
- 6 of 6 areas strong or better
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
The Windmill School in detail
What Ofsted's report card says
Ofsted's report card from its 9 June 2026 inspection grades The Windmill School on 6 areas: 6 strong standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.
Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils make notable and often rapid progress from their different starting points."
Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Many pupils join the school with a history of anxiety that has sometimes resulted in a disrupted education with very low attendance or non-attendance."
Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have carefully designed the curriculum to meet pupils' individual needs and starting points."
Inclusion - Strong standard. "Inclusion is at the heart of the school."
Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leadership is clear, purposeful and focused on meeting the needs of pupils."
Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Pupils' personal development and wellbeing are at the heart of the school's work."
Safeguarding standards were met.
Ofsted's next steps for the school: "Leaders and those responsible for governance should implement their plans to ensure families are fully informed about their children's achievements and that they are well supported to understand the different routes into education, employment or training that are available".
Read the full report card on Ofsted's site (school website)
Source: Ofsted report card (Open Government Licence), quoted
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other special schools to The Windmill School are Orange Tree School (2 miles); Oak Hill School (2.3 miles, Good); Oaktree School (2.4 miles, Good); and Elysium Healthcare Potters Bar Clinic School (2.4 miles, Good).
Orange Tree SchoolOak Hill SchoolOaktree SchoolElysium Healthcare Potters Bar Clinic School
The trust
The Windmill School is one of 2 schools run by Barnet Special Education Trust, an academy trust.
Who goes there
39.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 6.3% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
The largest ethnic groups are White British (41%), Mixed (19%) and Black (11%).
Almost every pupil at The Windmill School has an education, health and care plan (63 of 63 in 2026). The most common need among them is autism.
Getting there
The nearest Underground station is High Barnet Underground Station, about 500 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).
15 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Barnet High St / Barnet Church, 160 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 179 crimes within a mile of the school, most often anti-social behaviour, violence and sexual offences and shoplifting. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Barnet (370).
Suspensions and exclusions
The Windmill School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
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; DfE exclusions statistics
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 months agoReport card - no single overall grade (Ofsted's framework since November 2025)
Safeguarding standards met
- AchievementStrong standard
- Attendance and behaviourStrong standard
- Curriculum and teachingStrong standard
- InclusionStrong standard
- Leadership and governanceStrong standard
- Personal development and wellbeingStrong standard
Safeguarding standards: met
Ofsted's report card, in its own words
What it's like to be a pupil at The Windmill School
Pupils experience a calm, welcoming and respectful environment where they are understood and valued as individuals. Many arrive having found previous school placements difficult, including experiencing anxiety or exclusion. Here, routines are carefully designed to help pupils feel safe and ready to learn. Each morning, pupils are warmly welcomed. This eases them into a calm start to the school day. Pupils have time to settle through sensory activities, conversations with trusted adults or focusing on personal interests. This approach helps to reduce anxiety, even when they arrive later than planned. Pupils develop a deep sense of belonging over time. This is because they benefit from highly positive relationships with staff, who demonstrate a great deal of care for them. Staff know pupils very well and use this to respond sensitively to their needs. As a result, pupils feel listened to, and develop trusting relationships. They are given meaningful choices in how they learn and how they organise their day. This supports their independence and confidence. Pupils readily engage in learning in ways that work for them. Classrooms are adapted thoughtfully so pupils can remain included while managing their individual needs. Pupils access a range of tailored strategies to help them focus. This is dependent on what they need and choose and includes sensory tools, different types of seating, quieter spaces or visual support. These adaptations help pupils to take part in shared learning, contribute to discussions and show pride in their achievements. Pupils benefit from a wide range of personalised opportunities beyond the classroom, including community visits and enrichment activities. Many develop friendships for the first time and become more positive about school. Pupils behave well. They are calm and respectful. Staff seek to understand why pupils may become distressed and support them to identify and manage their emotions. Bullying is rare. Pupils say they feel safe and accept differences in each other. As pupils learn to trust the adults and school, they become more confident. This in turn improves their attendance and engagement as well as their optimism and ambition for their futures.
What Ofsted says the school should do next
- Leaders and those responsible for governance should implement their plans to ensure families are fully informed about their children's achievements and that they are well supported to understand the different routes into education, employment or training that are available.
From Ofsted's report card (inspection 9 June 2026). Read the full report Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2026 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
The Windmill School transforms the lives of pupils with complex needs and challenging histories. Staff demonstrate exceptional care and expertise, creating a calm environment where pupils thrive through personalised support tailored to their individual needs. The school successfully helps pupils develop confidence, independence and important life skills while preparing them for adult life.
Key Strengths
- Highly effective approach to improving attendance through flexible timetables, calm starts and close family support - many pupils who previously did not attend now come regularly
- Pupils make notable progress in confidence, communication, behaviour management and independence despite starting from very low points
- Carefully designed curriculum combining academic learning with therapy and life skills, with teaching that is responsive and tailored to individual needs
- Calm, inclusive environment where pupils feel safe and valued with rare bullying and strong emotional support
- Leadership is clear and purposeful with staff well-trained in autism, trauma and communication approaches
Areas for Improvement
- Leaders considering how assessment information about pupils' progress is shared more fully with parents
- Leaders prioritising how different routes into education, employment or training are identified and shared more fully with families
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - the school has created an open and positive culture of safeguarding where leaders fulfil their responsibilities, all legal requirements are met, and pupils are made safer and feel safe.
Extracurricular Activities
Music, arts, special interest clubs, community visits, work experience, travel training, cooking
The Windmill School is a special school that achieves a Strong standard across all areas of inspection. The school excels at supporting pupils with significant SEND and complex needs, helping them overcome barriers to learning and build confidence through personalised, flexible provision.
At a Glance
39.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
Yes
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby schools
Keep up with The Windmill School
Before and after school care
The Windmill School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school. Source: Free breakfast clubs: schools on the programme, Department for Education Free breakfast clubs in Barnet
Getting There
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Windmill School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Windmill 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
- 67
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 10
- Children hurt
- 4
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 67 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 10 serious and 57 slight.
4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
5 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
School Occupancy
70%
Available places
63 pupils
90 places
27 spare places
as recorded on GIAS
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
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
63
EHC Plans
100.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
63
Total Pupils
39
Boys
24
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
14
Teachers
4.5:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£56,792
Mean salary
2026 data
Pupil Absence2024/25
13.7%
Overall absence
51.1%
Persistent absence
47
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
The Windmill School
Showing 10 of 12 linked schools
Questions parents ask about The Windmill School
What are SATs results like at The Windmill School?
Of the pupils at The Windmill School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 17% reached the expected standard in reading and 50% did so in maths.
What is the catchment area for The Windmill School?
No fixed boundary. When The Windmill School is oversubscribed, Barnet allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to The Windmill School?
The Windmill School has around 63 pupils on roll. 40% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at The Windmill School?
13.7% of sessions were missed at The Windmill School in 2024/25. 51.1% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Windmill School?
Apply through Barnet's coordinated admissions process, naming The Windmill 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.
Does The Windmill School have a breakfast club or after-school club?
The Windmill School is on the Department for Education's free breakfast clubs programme (list updated July 2026), which pays for a free breakfast club for pupils before school.
How many road collisions happen near The Windmill School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 67 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 10 serious and 57 slight. 4 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 5 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 The Windmill School?
The Windmill School is at Moxon Street, Barnet, EN5 5TS.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)