Seven schools in Barnet might soon no longer have their ‘outstanding’ status after the education watchdog decided to scrap single-word ratings.
Ofsted’s four headline ratings - outstanding, good, requires improvement and inadequate – will no longer be used, the Government announced earlier this week.
It comes after the suicide of primary school headteacher Ruth Perry last year, which took place after a critical inspection by the education watchdog.
Ofsted will continue to inspect schools against the same standards, but will now only issue gradings related to individual aspects of a school's performance.
Around 500 schools in England achieved the top rating of ‘outstanding’ at their last inspection.
With applications to Barnet secondary schools for the next academic year now open, here are some of the borough's top secondary schools rated by pupil progress.
The application window closes on October 31, with offers being made nationally on March 1 2025.
In light of the rating change, we have put together a list of the seven secondary schools in Barnet that still have the highest rating according to Ofsted.
Ark Pioneer Academy, Westcombe Drive, Barnet
This secondary school was rated outstanding following an inspection in 2023
Oak Lodge School, Heath View, East Finchley
This special school for pupils up to 18 converted to an academy in January 2017 and has kept the 'outstanding' status given to it as a maintained school in December 2013.
Queen Elizabeth's School, Queen's Road, High Barnet
Queen Elizabeth School received the highest rating in May 2022, ten years after converting from a boys' grammar school for 11 to 18-year-olds into an academy.
St Michael's Catholic Grammar School, Nether Street, North Finchley
This mixed secondary school received an outstanding status following a full inspection in February 2008, then again following an inspection in November 2022.
The Archer Academy, in Eagans Close, East Finchley
This mixed academy was rated outstanding in May 2019.
The Compton School, Summers Lane, North Finchley
The mixed secondary school, which is now part of academy chain the Middlesex Learning Trust, has been rated outstanding since 1992.
It was rated outstanding after the conversion in 2012 and held on to the ranking following an inspection in March.
Wren Academy, Hilton Avenue, North Finchley
The co-educational school was first rated outstanding in February 2011 and kept the status following an inspection in September 2018)
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