Foundation school · Hertfordshire

Barnwell School

11–18Ages
1,270Pupils
SecondaryPhase
Sixth formAges 16–18
117518URN

Barnwell, Stevenage, SG2 9SW · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Report card · inspected Jan 2026

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement

Safeguarding standards met

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.3per place

1.7 below Hertfordshire median (3.0)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Hertfordshire

246 applications for 195 places · 73rd of 77 in Hertfordshire

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

38.7of 90

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

70th of 78 in Hertfordshire

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Report card · inspected 6 January 2026Published 28 May 2026 · safeguarding standards met · no overall grade
Area	Exceptional	Strong standard	Expected standard	Needs attention
Inclusion		Strong standard
Curriculum and teaching			Expected standard
Achievement				Needs attention
Attendance and behaviour				Needs attention
Personal development and wellbeing			Expected standard
Early years	Does not apply to this school
Post-16 provision			Expected standard
Leadership and governance			Expected standard

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

Inspection history

6 January 2026
Report card · 1 Strong standard, 4 Expected standard, 2 Needs attention
24 November 2021
Graded inspection: Good

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.3applications per place, Year 7

1.7 below Hertfordshire median (3.0) 1.0 below England median (2.2)

246 applications · 195 places offered · 94 named it first

2026 1.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2025 1.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2024 1.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2023 1.3; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2022 1.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2021 1.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.0
2020 1.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.1
2019 1.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.2
2018 1.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2017 1.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2016 2.6; Hertfordshire median median 3.4
2015 2.4; Hertfordshire median median 3.3
2014 2.5; Hertfordshire median median 3.4

More applications per place than the Hertfordshire median in 0 of 13 years.

This school
Hertfordshire median

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	195	246	1.3	94	0.48
Sep 2025	226	297	1.3	125	0.55
Sep 2024	250	370	1.5	176	0.70
Sep 2023	287	366	1.3	152	0.53
Sep 2022	247	381	1.5	150	0.61
Sep 2021	258	381	1.5	162	0.63
Sep 2020	231	357	1.6	132	0.57
Sep 2019	262	397	1.5	148	0.56
Sep 2018	249	390	1.6	133	0.53
Sep 2017	197	324	1.6	98	0.50
Sep 2016	132	340	2.6	119	0.90
Sep 2015	160	384	2.4	146	0.91
Sep 2014	165	406	2.5	147	0.89

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

248 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)38.770th of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 49.4 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths33%67th of 78 in Hertfordshire

Hertfordshire 51% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths52%

Hertfordshire 72% England 66%

This school
Hertfordshire median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.32

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	248	38.7	33%	52%	–
2024/25	206	41.5	37%	59%	–
2023/24	217	39.6	33%	58%	−0.32
2022/23	192	43.1	37%	58%	−0.31

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Barnwell SchoolThis school
This school

2026

1.3applications per place 38.7Attainment 8
Marriotts School
1.5 km · Hertfordshire

2026

3.0applications per place 41.8Attainment 8
The Nobel School
2.4 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2023

2.9applications per place 49.0Attainment 8
Barclay Academy
3.5 km · Hertfordshire

Good2023

2.7applications per place 48.0Attainment 8
The Thomas Alleyne Academy
3.7 km · Hertfordshire

Standards maintained2024

3.0applications per place 44.9Attainment 8
The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School
4.3 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good · improving2024

2.6applications per place 55.7Attainment 8
Monk's Walk School
8.2 km · Hertfordshire

Remains Good2023

2.7applications per place 47.9Attainment 8
Hitchin Girls' School
9.3 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2024

2.1applications per place 61.8Attainment 8
Ridgeway Academy
9.8 km · Hertfordshire

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.7applications per place 37.4Attainment 8

Exceptional
Strong standard
Expected standard
Needs attention
Urgent improvement
Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type: Foundation school
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 117518 · 919/4066
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,590 pupils · 1,270 on roll
Free school meals: 31.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
Replaced: Collenswood School (URN 117533)
Address: Barnwell, Stevenage, SG2 9SW
Local authority: Hertfordshire · Stevenage

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources