Barley (VA) Church of England First School
| Type | Primary / Voluntary aided school |
| Age Range | 3-9 |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | Church End Barley Royston Hertfordshire SG8 8JW |
| Reference Number | 117386 |
Barley (VA) Church of England First School has been rated as good overall during its first routine inspection under section 5 of the Education Act 2005. The school, which serves a small community, provides a nurturing environment where pupils thrive academically and socially. Notably, students benefit from a broad and rich curriculum with support for students with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). The school demonstrates high expectations for learning and good personal development, with a focus on emotional well-being and resilience.
General Makeup
| Number of pupils | 29 |
| Boy/Girl ratio |
Boys: 44.83%
Girls: 55.17% |
| Percentage of students eligible for free school meals | 27.6% |
| Percentage of students where English is not their first language | 10.3% |
Class Sizes
| Average size of one teacher classes | 9.7 |
| Average size of Key Stage 1 classes taught by one teacher | 9 |
| Average size of Key Stage 2 classes taught by one teacher | 10 |
Year Groups
| Year | Boys | Girls | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| 2 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| 3 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
| 4 | 8 | 3 | 11 |
Ethnicities
| Ethnicity | Percentage |
|---|---|
| White, British | 82.8% |
| White, Other | 6.9% |
| Mixed, Other | 6.9% |
| White & Black (African) | 3.4% |
| Overall Ofsted Rating | Good |
| > Quality of education | Good |
| > Behaviour & Attitude | Good |
| > Personal Development | Good |
| > Leadership & Management | Good |
| Last Report Date | 17 Jan 2023 |
| Date | Report |
|---|---|
| 17 Jan 2023 | School inspection: |
| 15 Jan 2020 | School inspection |
| 08 Mar 2016 | Short inspection |
| 28 Mar 2014 | Interim assessment |
| 07 Feb 2011 | Full inspection: |
| 03 Jul 2008 | Full inspection: |
| 13 Sep 2004 | Full inspection |
Strengths
- Pupils achieve well in a broad and rich curriculum.
- Strong support for SEND students, ensuring they learn alongside peers.
- High expectations lead to a calm learning environment.
- Effective leadership and management practices.
- Regular checks on pupils' understanding during lessons.
Areas for Improvement
- Inconsistent access to reading materials that match phonics knowledge for some pupils.
- Assessment information in a few foundation subjects is not used strategically.
2025 Admissions
| Number of Applications | Number of Offers | |
| First Preference | ||
| Second Preference | 2 | 0 |
| Third Preference | 2 | 0 |
| From another Local Authority | 1 | 0 |
Previous Years
Sample
Unlock| Name | Distance |
|
Barkway VA Church of England First School
84 High Street, Barkway, Hertfordshire, SG8 8EF |
2.08 miles |
|
Reed First School
Jacksons Lane, Reed, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 8AB |
2.68 miles |
|
Studlands Rise First School
Studlands Rise, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 9HB |
2.69 miles |
|
Icknield Walk First School
Poplar Drive, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 7EZ |
2.8 miles |
|
Chrishall Holy Trinity and St Nicholas CofE (Aided) Primary School and Pre-School
Palmers Lane, Chrishall, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 8QE |
2.82 miles |
|
St Mary Roman Catholic Primary School
Melbourn Road, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 7DB |
3.06 miles |
|
Tannery Drift School
Tannery Drift, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 5DE |
3.34 miles |
|
Anstey First School
Anstey, Buntingford, Hertfordshire, SG9 0BY |
3.51 miles |
|
Roman Way Academy
Burns Road, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 5EQ |
3.57 miles |
|
Melbourn Primary School
Mortlock Street, Melbourn, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 6DB |
4.01 miles |
|
Therfield First School
The Causeway, Therfield, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 9PP |
4.08 miles |
|
Fowlmere Primary School
The Butts, Fowlmere, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 7SL |
4.79 miles |
|
Meldreth Primary School
High Street, Meldreth, Nr Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 6LA |
4.86 miles |
| Name | Distance |
|
King James Academy Royston
Garden Walk, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 7JH |
2.91 miles |
|
Melbourn Village College
The Moor, Melbourn, Royston, Hertfordshire, SG8 6EF |
4.32 miles |