Friern Barnet School
London, N11 3LS · Barnet · secondary school
Check the area around this school
28th of 28 secondary schools in Barnet we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 4.7/10 against 566 of them, against 3.1/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 30.1 · 16 | 30% | 0.47 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.0 · 50 | 25% | 1.26 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 41.5 · 26 | 10% | 0.26 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Friern Barnet School overview
How it's doing
Ofsted rated the school Good in April 2024. In 2024/25, 29.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 44.8, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.0 in 2023/24, meaning pupils performed as well as those nationally starting from the same point. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (5.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.4 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 591 pupils against a stated capacity of 810. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to reach the national median in Attainment 8? What specific support is available for students aiming to improve their Progress 8 scores?
What Ofsted said about Friern Barnet School
Overview
Friern Barnet School continues to be a good school, described as a “welcoming, inclusive” environment where pupils from diverse backgrounds learn together successfully. The institution provides a broad curriculum and a comprehensive personal development programme, ensuring that pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities are fully included and well supported.
Strengths
- The curriculum is “ambitious,” “logically and coherently planned,” and builds pupils’ knowledge effectively over time.
- Teachers explain new knowledge clearly and devise useful activities to help pupils remember key information securely.
- The school’s specially resourced provision for pupils with SEND supports their development well, with staff adapting learning effectively.
- A reading programme is implemented effectively to ensure pupils at early stages of reading learn to read fluently.
- Parents and carers are positive about the school, appreciating its “caring and supportive ethos.”
Areas to improve
- Teachers should check pupils’ prior understanding more carefully, as opportunities to address misconceptions or gaps in knowledge are sometimes missed, limiting deeper understanding.
- The school should ensure high expectations of behaviour are met beyond the classroom, as behaviour in corridors and playgrounds can occasionally be “boisterous” and unsettling for some pupils.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 44.6 |
| 2024/25 | 44.8 |
| 2025/26 | 41.5 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
Saved schools live on this device only — no account, no tracking. Visit the school's website
Loading full school details…
Similar schools nearby
Same area, prioritising the same phase — useful for shortlisting alternatives.
Every school within 2.5 miles of N11 3LS, with results, demand and deadlines — area report →
Have a specific question about admissions, scores or dates?
Ask SchoolsGPT