Garden Suburb Junior School

About Garden Suburb Junior School

Garden Suburb Junior School sits in a competitive London borough where the average proportion of pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 2 is 73%. The school’s own figure of 66% falls below that LA average, which places it 59th out of 80 primary schools in Barnet, in the bottom quarter of the local league table. That said, the picture is more nuanced when you look at individual subjects. In maths, 88% of pupils met the expected standard and the average scaled score was 110, which is comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. Reading also performed reasonably well, with 73% at the expected level and an average score of 107. Where the school really struggles is in the higher standard: only 8% of pupils achieved the top grade across all three subjects, compared with 55% who hit the higher standard in maths alone. So while the school is not among Barnet’s strongest performers overall, its maths results are a clear bright spot.

The school’s most recent graded Ofsted inspection, in 2017, rated it Good overall, with leadership and management also judged Good. An ungraded inspection in 2022 confirmed that it remains Good. The previous inspection in 2012 also gave a Good rating, so the school has held that grade consistently. Parent feedback from the most recent Parent View survey, covering September 2024 to September 2025, is largely positive: 80% of the 80 respondents would recommend the school. Strong majorities agreed that their child is happy (93% combined strongly agree/agree) and feels safe (98%). Behaviour is seen as well-managed by 87% of parents, and 99% of those with SEND children felt the school gives them the support they need. However, there are some areas of concern: only 73% agreed that concerns are dealt with properly, and 62% felt the school supports wider personal development, with 22% disagreeing on that point.

The school serves 346 pupils aged 7 to 11, with a capacity of 360, so it is nearly full. Just over 31% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, which is above the national average and suggests a relatively diverse intake. Facilities include a library, music rooms, a sensory room, a gymnasium, playing fields and a forest school area, plus a chapel. Clubs on offer range from drama and choir to science, book, gardening and eco clubs, and sports include rounders, cricket, tennis and athletics. The school’s SEND provision covers six areas, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language needs, and physical disability. For families considering this school, the key takeaway is that it is a solidly Good, well-regarded local option with strong maths outcomes and a supportive SEND reputation, but its overall academic ranking is modest compared with Barnet’s top performers, such as Courtland School or Ashmole Primary School.

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