Fairway Primary School and Children's Centre

About Fairway Primary School and Children's Centre

Fairway Primary School and Children's Centre in Barnet is a state-funded, mixed primary for ages 2 to 11, currently home to 270 pupils against a capacity of 277 — so it is running very close to full. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 31%, which is notably higher than the national average for primary schools, suggesting the school serves a community with above-average levels of economic disadvantage. Demand is strong: for the 2025/26 reception intake, the school offered 30 first-preference places but received 78 total applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.69. Of those 78 applicants, only 26 received first-preference offers, meaning a significant number of families who wanted a place here were turned away. The school does not have a religious character, so its appeal is purely local and secular. It also offers nursery provision, which may help families settle into the school community early.

Academically, Fairway’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022 confirmed it remains Good, a rating it has held consistently since at least 2012. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 assessments, 70% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined — slightly below the Barnet local authority average of 73%. However, individual subject scores were stronger: 93% met the expected standard in maths, with an average scaled score of 109, and 85% did so in reading, with an average score of 108. Writing was the weakest area, with 74% at expected and only 7% working at a higher standard. The school ranks 51st out of 80 primary schools in Barnet on the KS2 combined measure, placing it in the bottom half of the borough. Nationally, it sits in the 30th percentile, meaning about 70% of primaries outperform it on this metric.

The school’s facilities include a library, sensory room, outdoor playground, playing fields and a chapel, and it offers a broad range of sports from netball and football to gymnastics and swimming. Clubs cover coding, science, gardening, book club, art and chess. Fairway has a strong SEND offer, with provisions for autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, dyslexia, physical disability, hearing impairment and social, emotional and mental health difficulties. This makes it a realistic option for families whose children need additional support. The nearest Outstanding-rated primary is Courtland School, just 0.3 km away, which may draw some families away, but Fairway’s oversubscription figures show it remains a popular choice in its own right. It suits families who value a well-supported, inclusive environment with solid core results, especially in maths, and who are comfortable with a school that reflects a diverse socioeconomic intake.

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