Fawbert and Barnard Infants' School

About Fawbert and Barnard Infants' School

If you're a parent in Hertfordshire looking for an infant school, the experience of other families can be a powerful signal, and the numbers here are striking. Fawbert and Barnard Infants' School is heavily oversubscribed: for its 58 places in the 2025/26 admissions round, it received 152 applications, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.62. Of those, 83 families put it as their first preference, and all 58 first-preference offers were taken up. That level of demand suggests a school that local parents are actively choosing. The school is rated Outstanding by Ofsted following its March 2024 inspection, a grade it has held consistently across its two most recent inspections. With 212 pupils on roll against a capacity of 180, the school is clearly popular and running above its official number, which often points to a school that has built a strong reputation in the community.

Academically, the school's Ofsted report gives a clean sweep of Outstanding grades across all five categories: quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, and early years provision. While the school does not publish Key Stage 2 SATs results because it only caters for children up to age 7, the early years provision was also rated Outstanding, which is a strong indicator of how well children get started. For context, the local authority average for Key Stage 2 attainment is 64, but that figure applies to the full primary phase. Fawbert and Barnard's focus on the early years means its success is measured differently, but the Ofsted judgement is unequivocal. The school's previous inspection in 2009 also rated it Outstanding, so this is a long-standing pattern of high-quality provision rather than a one-off result.

The school offers a range of facilities including a library, playing fields, a gymnasium, a sports hall, and even a chapel, alongside a sensory room. Sports on offer include tennis, dance, football, netball, cross country and cricket, and clubs extend to book club, coding, chess, choir and science club. For families with children who need extra support, the school lists SEND provisions for specific learning difficulties, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. With nursery provision on site, it can take children from age 3, making it a natural choice for families wanting continuity through to Year 2. Given the high oversubscription, applying as a first preference is essential. This school suits families who value a strong early-years foundation, a broad range of activities, and a setting where demand from local parents speaks for itself.

Key Details

Frequently Asked Questions About Fawbert and Barnard Infants' School

Helpful Guides for Parents