The Henrietta Barnett School

About The Henrietta Barnett School

The Henrietta Barnett School’s headline Progress 8 score of 1.09 is nearly double the Barnet local authority average of 0.6, placing it firmly among the highest-achieving state secondaries in the country. Nationally, it sits in the top 1.5% of all schools for this measure, and within London it ranks 24th out of 487. That said, it is not the very top performer in Barnet itself — three schools in the borough post higher Progress 8 scores, including Menorah High School for Girls at 1.58 and Queen Elizabeth’s School at 1.22. Still, Henrietta Barnett’s score represents well over a grade of additional progress per pupil compared with the national average, and its Attainment 8 score of 86.4 is exceptionally high. The school is heavily oversubscribed: for 100 places in 2025/26 it received 410 total applications, with 238 first-preference requests, giving an oversubscription ratio of 4.1 to one.

Academically, the school’s results are striking across the board. At GCSE, 99% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths, and 97.1% entered and passed the English Baccalaureate. The EBacc average point score of 8.57 is extremely high, reflecting a curriculum that prioritises breadth and rigour. At A-level, the average points per entry was 51.67, equivalent to an A+ grade, and 88.5% of entries were graded AAB or higher. The best three A-levels averaged A+ with 53.46 points. The school’s value-added score at sixth form is -0.05, which is classed as average — meaning that while outcomes are very strong, pupils do not make quite the same exceptional progress post-16 as they do at GCSE. In its most recent Ofsted inspection in 2022, the school was rated Good overall, with Outstanding for behaviour and attitudes. This was a downgrade from its previous Outstanding rating in 2007, but inspectors noted that leadership and management, quality of education, personal development, and sixth-form provision were all Good.

The school is a girls’ state secondary in Barnet, London, with 807 pupils on roll — slightly above its official capacity of 779. It has a very low proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals at 4.8%, well below the national average. Facilities include a sports hall, swimming pool, tennis courts, theatre, playing fields, gymnasium, astro turf, and a sixth form centre. Sports offered include tennis, athletics, gymnastics, netball, cross country, rounders, and hockey. There is a wide range of clubs, from art and coding to Model UN and Young Enterprise. The school has a dedicated sixth form and provides support for a number of special educational needs, including dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and hearing impairment. Given its high academic selectivity and intense competition for places, this school is best suited to highly able girls who thrive in a demanding, high-achieving environment and are prepared for a rigorous entrance process.

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