Clarion

About Clarion

Clarion’s headline Progress 8 score of 0.44 is notably above the national average of zero, but it sits below the Barnet local authority average of 0.6 for secondary schools. That gap of 0.16 is meaningful in a borough where six out of 32 secondaries are rated Outstanding and the top three peers — Menorah High School for Girls, The Totteridge Academy, and Queen Elizabeth's School, Barnet — all post scores above 1.2. Clarion ranks 19th out of 28 state secondaries in Barnet on this measure, placing it in the bottom third of the LA. However, the school’s ranking improves significantly at a national level: it sits in the top 19% of all schools in England, and in the top 39% of London secondaries. This suggests that while Clarion is not a standout within its own high-performing borough, it is delivering well above the typical school nationally.

Academically, Clarion’s results tell a story of solid progress with some unevenness. In English, the Progress 8 component is a strong 0.61, while maths lags at 0.14 — a gap that explains much of the overall score. The EBacc entry rate is 50.9%, and 30.9% of pupils achieved the EBacc at grade 4 or above. Attainment 8 sits at 45.9, and 64.5% of pupils secured a grade 4 or above in both English and maths. In the sixth form, the value-added score is 0.12, with a banding of ‘Average’, and the average A-level grade per entry is a C, with 16.2% of entries achieving AAB or higher. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 confirmed it remains Good, with leadership and management, sixth-form provision, and behaviour all rated Good. The previous graded inspection in 2017 also awarded Good overall, with leadership rated Outstanding at that time.

Clarion is a mixed, non-faith secondary with 688 pupils against a capacity of 1,052, so there is room to grow. It is oversubscribed: for 2025/26, 193 families applied for 120 places, with 59 first-preference offers made. The school serves a relatively disadvantaged intake, with 50.8% of pupils eligible for free school meals — well above the national average. Facilities are strong for a state school, including an Astro Turf, swimming pool, sports hall, tennis courts, and a dedicated sixth-form centre. The SEND provision is comprehensive, covering dyslexia, moderate to severe learning difficulties, SEMH, speech and language needs, hearing impairment, physical disability, and autistic spectrum disorder. With a wide range of clubs including DofE, coding, and eco club, Clarion suits families looking for a genuinely inclusive comprehensive with decent academic progress and strong facilities, particularly for pupils who may need additional support.

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