Mathilda Marks-Kennedy Jewish Primary School

About Mathilda Marks-Kennedy Jewish Primary School

Mathilda Marks-Kennedy Jewish Primary School is a state primary in Barnet that punches well above the local average on headline academic metrics. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 82% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Barnet local authority average of 73%. That nine-point gap puts the school comfortably ahead of the typical primary in the borough. The school also ranks 19th out of 80 primary schools in Barnet on the same measure, placing it in the top quarter locally and in the top 10% nationally. With a school capacity of 230 and just 218 pupils on roll, classes are relatively small, and the school is oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 intake, 86 families applied for 29 places, and 28 of those offers went to first-preference applicants. That level of demand suggests local parents see the school as a strong option.

Academically, the school’s performance is strongest in maths and reading. At Key Stage 2, 95% of pupils met the expected standard in maths and 91% in reading, while 45% achieved the higher standard in maths and 50% in reading. The average scaled scores were 108 for maths and 109 for reading, both above the national benchmark of 100. Writing is a relative weaker spot: 82% reached the expected standard and only 14% hit the higher standard, matching the combined figure for reading, writing and maths at the higher level. The school’s most recent Ofsted inspection, in November 2021, rated it Good across all categories, including quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. Its previous inspection in 2007 had awarded Outstanding overall, so the current rating represents a step down, but the school has held a Good rating consistently since then.

The school serves a Jewish community and includes a nursery provision for children from age three. Facilities include music rooms, an ICT suite, a sensory room and a chapel, and pupils can take part in sports such as dance, gymnastics, football and rounders. Clubs range from gardening and coding to film and eco club. The school’s SEND provision covers a wide range of needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and hearing or visual impairments. With an oversubscription ratio of nearly 3:1, families applying will need to be aware of the admission criteria, which prioritise Jewish faith applicants. This is a school that suits families who value strong academic outcomes within a faith-based setting and who are comfortable with a competitive admissions process.

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