Queenswell Junior School

About Queenswell Junior School

Queenswell Junior School is a state primary in Barnet for children aged 7 to 11, and it is currently oversubscribed: the school has 265 pupils against a capacity of 240. That extra demand is notable given the local context — Barnet has 91 primary schools, 14 of which are rated Outstanding, so competition for places is real. The school’s intake is significantly more disadvantaged than the national average, with 35.1% of pupils eligible for free school meals, a figure that stands out even for a London borough. The headteacher is Elizabeth Longworth, and the school has no religious character. With a mixed gender intake and no nursery or sixth form provision, Queenswell is a straightforward junior school serving a specific local community, and the oversubscription suggests it is a popular choice among families in the area despite not being among the highest-ranked schools locally.

Academically, Queenswell’s most recent Key Stage 2 results from the 2023/24 academic year show that 62% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined. That is below the Barnet local authority average of 73%, and it places the school 69th out of 80 primaries in the borough — in the bottom 50% nationally. However, individual subject scores tell a more nuanced story: maths is a relative strength, with an average scaled score of 105 and 79% of pupils reaching the expected standard, while reading averaged 104 and writing 72% at expected. Higher standard attainment is low across the board — just 2% achieved the higher standard in all three subjects — but the school’s progress scores are not available in the data, so it is hard to say how much value the school adds. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023, the school was judged to remain Good, having improved from a Requires Improvement rating in its previous graded inspection in 2014.

The school offers a solid range of facilities including an ICT suite, music rooms, art studios, a sensory room, a library, a gymnasium and a chapel. Sports provision covers swimming, rounders, football, gymnastics and athletics, and there are clubs such as coding, gardening, chess, film club and choir. For families with children who have special educational needs, Queenswell lists provisions for moderate learning difficulty, social, emotional and mental health needs, speech, language and communication needs, physical disability and autistic spectrum disorder. The school is non-selective and non-religious, and its oversubscribed status means parents should be prepared for a competitive admissions process. This is a school that suits families who value a broad curriculum and strong SEND support over headline exam results, and who are comfortable with a diverse, high-FSM intake in a busy London borough.

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