Friern Barnet School is a mainstream secondary school in Barnet, London, for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 64 of its 591 pupils (10.8%) were getting SEN support and 54 (9.1%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 591 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Barnet.
10.8% get SEN support
64 of 591 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
9.1% have an EHC plan
54 of 591 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Moderate learning difficulty44
- Social, emotional and mental health37
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Council-run school
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 591 (places for 810)
- Headteacher
- Mr Simon Horne
- Free school meals
- 38.5% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Barnet
- School reference (URN)
- 101345
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Barnet council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Rated Good, October 2018; school remains Good (February 2024)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in October 2018. That was some time ago, so read the latest report for the full picture.
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (ungraded inspection, February 2024).
Contact and getting there
Hemington Avenue, Friern Barnet, London, N11 3LS
Loading the map…
Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Oakleigh School & Acorn Assessment Centre Special school · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted: Outstanding 0.7 miles
- Summerside Primary Academy Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.8 miles
- Coppetts Wood Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 2–11 · Ofsted report card (2026) 0.9 miles
- Orange Tree School Independent · Ages 8–19 1.2 miles
Other mainstream schools
- St John's CofE Junior Mixed and Infant School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 10.2%, EHC plans 3.7% 0.1 miles
- Holly Park Primary School Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 15.2%, EHC plans 4.8% 0.2 miles
- St Paul's CofE Primary School N11 Primary · Ages 3–11 · SEN support 12.2%, EHC plans 8.8% 0.5 miles
Questions about Friern Barnet School
How many pupils at Friern Barnet School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 64 of the 591 pupils (10.8%) were getting SEN support and 54 (9.1%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Friern Barnet School?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are moderate learning difficulties (44 pupils) and social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (37 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Friern Barnet School?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Friern Barnet School?
Through Barnet council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Friern Barnet School?
You can ask for Friern Barnet School to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Friern Barnet School have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Summerside Primary Academy, about 0.8 miles away.
Where is Friern Barnet School?
Hemington Avenue, Friern Barnet, London, N11 3LS, in Barnet.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.