Classpot

Barley (VA) Church of England First School

North Hertfordshire, SG8 8JWPrimaryAges 3–9MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jan 2023
KS2 Results
No data
Competition
N/A
No data
Ranking
Not ranked

About Barley (VA) Church of England First School

Barley (VA) Church of England First School is a tiny primary in North Hertfordshire, with just 29 pupils on roll against a capacity of 90, and its headline metrics tell a mixed story compared with the Hertfordshire local authority average. The LA average for Key Stage 2 attainment sits at 64, but Barley’s own KS2 results are not provided in the data, so a direct comparison on that front isn’t possible. What we do know is that the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good overall, with Good marks for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, and leadership and management. However, personal development was judged Requires improvement, which is a notable weak spot relative to the LA’s broader picture — Hertfordshire has 45 outstanding primary schools out of 401 total, suggesting a competitive landscape where Barley’s mixed inspection grades place it below the top tier. The school’s small size means it operates on an intimate scale, which can be a double-edged sword: close relationships are easier, but specialist resources may be thinner.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 9 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterChurch of England
AddressChurch End, Royston, North Hertfordshire, SG8 8JW
HeadteacherLara Miere
Local AuthorityHertfordshire
Number of Pupils29
Free School Meals (FSM)27.6%
School Capacity29 / 90 (32% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

17 Jan 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Requires improvement
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 14 Mar 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

SEND Support

Mental HealthSpeech & Language

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

School day

Verified

Teaching hours

08:50 – 15:15

Breakfast club

08:00-08:40

After-school care

15:15-17:15

Source: barleybarkway.herts.sch.uk. Extracted automatically — confirm with the school before relying on these times.

Was this page helpful?

Frequently Asked Questions About Barley (VA) Church of England First School

Barley (VA) Church of England First School has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.