Schools by area › Hertfordshire › Barnwell School
Barnwell School
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–18 · Foundation school
Barnwell, Stevenage SG2 9SW · barnwellschool.co.uk · 01438 222500
Overview
- Ofsted
- Report card
- Jan 2026 · graded by area, with no overall grade
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 41.5
- average Attainment 8 score. Hertfordshire 50.6, England 46
- Last distance offered
- No limit
- Year 7, September 2026 entry · Hertfordshire Council
- Demand for places
- 0.5
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,270
- 80% of 1,590 places
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- Sixth form
- Yes
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 31.3%
- First language not English
- 15.8%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, everyone who applied was offered a place. Source: Hertfordshire Council’s document.
For Year 7 in September 2026, 94 families put the school first and 195 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
Demand for places
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 195 | 94 | 0.5 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 226 | 125 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 250 | 176 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 287 | 152 | 0.5 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 247 | 150 | 0.6 | 100% |
Last distance offered
| Year 7 | Distance | |
|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | All | |
| September 2023 | All | |
| September 2022 | All | |
| September 2024 | 11.53 mi18.56 km | |
Every applicant was offered a place (217 allocations for 240 places).
Every applicant was offered a place (81 children with no preference met were placed there).
Every applicant was offered a place (263 allocations for 270 places).
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 41.5, and 37.4% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Hertfordshire it was 50.6, and across England 46.
In 2024/25 the average A level result was grade C (30.5 points per entry).
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼41.5 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼37.4% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼58.7% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼13.6% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.42 | 4.09 |
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 29.5 | −6 |
| Further education | 56.2 | +7.1 |
| Other education | 0.5 | −0.1 |
| Apprenticeship | 0.5 | −2.5 |
| Employment | 2.3 | −1.8 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 6.5 | +0.6 |
| Activity not captured | 4.6 | +3.4 |
A levels and other 16 to 18 results
A level average grade
| 2024/25 | Trend | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 29 students | C (30.5) | Below average -0.46 | |
| 29 students | C (30.7) | Below average -0.47 | |
| 35 students | Dist (35.1) | Above average +0.52 | |
| 10 students | Dist- (32.6) | Average -0.18 |
| Earlier years: A level | Students | Average grade | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 30 | C (31.1) | -0.45 |
| 2022/23 | 27 | C (29.5) | — |
| 2021/22 | 40 | B- (36.3) | — |
| 2018/19 | 57 | C- (26.5) | -0.37 |
| 2017/18 | 68 | D+ (24.7) | -0.45 |
| 2016/17 | 85 | C- (26.2) | -0.44 |
| 2015/16 | 73 | C- (26.8) | -0.04 |
Where sixth-form leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| University | 31.4 | −14.5 |
| Further education | 1.9 | −4.7 |
| Apprenticeship | 13.7 | +5.5 |
| Employment | 39.2 | +9.7 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 7.8 | +1.2 |
| Activity not captured | 5.9 | +2.6 |
Ofsted
Ofsted inspected Barnwell School on 6 January 2026 and published a report card: each area has its own grade, and there is no overall grade.
- Inclusion: Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
- Achievement: Needs attention
- Attendance and behaviour: Needs attention
- Personal development and well-being: Expected standard
- Post-16 provision: Expected standard
- Leadership and governance: Expected standard
- Inspected
- 6 Jan 2026
- Report card
- Safeguarding
- Met
Graded areas
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
| Achievement | Needs attention |
| Attendance and behaviour | Needs attention |
| Personal development and well-being | Expected standard |
| Post-16 provision | Expected standard |
| Leadership and governance | Expected standard |
Previously: Good, graded inspection, Nov 2021
Earlier inspections
September 2019 to November 2025
Nov 2021Good
Quality of education Good Behaviour and attitudes Good Personal development Good Leadership and management Good Sixth form Good Safeguarding Effective - Feb 2021Monitoring visitEffective action
Before September 2019
- May 2019Monitoring visitEffective action
Jan 2018Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Requires improvement 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective Jan 2016Requires improvement
Outcomes for pupils Requires improvement Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Requires improvement Personal development, behaviour and welfare Good Leadership and management Good 16 to 19 study programmes Good Safeguarding Effective
What parents said
70% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (117 replies, to 6 April 2026).
- Recommend
- 70%
- Positive
- 61%
- Replies
- 117
- 9% · 6 Apr 2026
based on the 96% who raised concerns
based on 49 parents (42%) whose child was bullied
based on 49 parents (42%) with SEND