Ashmole Academy

About Ashmole Academy

Ashmole Academy is a large, mixed secondary school in the London borough of Barnet that is significantly oversubscribed, a clear signal of its popularity among local families. With 1,823 pupils on roll against a capacity of 1,551, the school is operating well above its official limit, and for the 2025/26 admissions round it received 1,165 applications for just 256 places — an oversubscription ratio of 4.55 to one. Of those applicants, 336 put the school as their first preference, and 229 first-preference offers were made. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 11.4%, which is slightly below the national average for secondary schools and suggests a relatively advantaged intake compared with many state schools. The school has no religious character and is led by headteacher Balbinder Dhinsa, who has been in post since at least the most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021.

Academically, Ashmole Academy performs well above the local and national averages. Its Progress 8 score of 0.85 is rated 'well above average' and places it eighth out of 28 schools in Barnet, and 160th out of 3,141 schools nationally — putting it in the top 5% of all schools in England. This is significantly higher than the Barnet local authority average Progress 8 score of 0.6. The school's Attainment 8 score is 62.2, and 88.7% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, with 78.6% achieving a grade 5 or above. The EBacc entry rate is high at 84%, and 72.4% of pupils entered for the EBacc achieved a grade 4 or above. At sixth form, the school's value-added score is 0.15, rated 'above average', and students achieved an average of 38.25 points per entry, equivalent to a B- grade. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2021, the school was rated Good overall, with Outstanding judgements for sixth form provision, personal development, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including a gymnasium, library, art studios, tennis courts, science labs, astro turf, a sixth form centre, and music rooms. Sports on offer include athletics, hockey, rugby, rowing, dance, cross country, and football, while extracurricular clubs cover debate, art, coding, orchestra, book club, drama, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, and film club. The school has a well-developed SEND provision, supporting pupils with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, speech, language and communication needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, autistic spectrum disorder, and social, emotional and mental health needs. For families considering this school, the data paints a picture of a high-performing, heavily oversubscribed state secondary that delivers strong academic outcomes across both key stages, with a particularly impressive sixth form. It is a good fit for families who value academic rigour and want a school that consistently outperforms its local authority peers, but the high demand means securing a place is competitive.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Ashmole Academy

Helpful Guides for Parents