Barley (VA) Church of England First School is a mainstream primary school in Royston, Hertfordshire, for children aged 3 to 9. In January 2026, 4 of its 25 pupils (16%) were getting SEN support and 2 (8%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 3–9
- 25 pupils
- Ofsted: Good
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state primary schools across England and in Hertfordshire.
16% get SEN support
4 of 25 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
About the same as the England average.
8% have an EHC plan
2 of 25 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
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 primary school
- Run as
- Voluntary aided school
- Ages
- 3 to 9
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 25 (places for 90)
- Headteacher
- Miss Lara Miere
- Faith
- Church of England
- Free school meals
- 32% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Hertfordshire
- School reference (URN)
- 117386
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 Hertfordshire 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, January 2023; school remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (January 2020)
Rated Good at its last graded inspection, in January 2023.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, January 2020).
Contact and getting there
Church End, Barley, Royston, SG8 8JW
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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
- Melbourn Village College Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 4.3 miles
- Aurora Meldreth Manor School Independent · Ages 6–19 · Ofsted: Requires improvement 5.2 miles
- Selwyn Hall School Independent · Ages 7–18 · Ofsted: Good 6.2 miles
- Bentfield Primary School and Nursery Mainstream + base · Ages 3–11 · Ofsted: Good 10 miles
Other mainstream schools
- Barkway VA Church of England First School Primary · Ages 4–9 · SEN support 0%, EHC plans 12.5% 2.1 miles
- Studlands Rise First School Primary · Ages 3–9 · SEN support 17.1%, EHC plans 1.8% 2.7 miles
- Reed First School Primary · Ages 3–9 · SEN support 3.1%, EHC plans 6.3% 2.7 miles
All mainstream schools in Hertfordshire SEND schools in Hertfordshire
Questions about Barley (VA) Church of England First School
How many pupils at Barley (VA) Church of England First School have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 4 of the 25 pupils (16%) were getting SEN support and 2 (8%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state primary schools it is 15.4% and 4.1%.
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Barley (VA) Church of England First 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 Barley (VA) Church of England First School?
Through Hertfordshire 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 Barley (VA) Church of England First School?
You can ask for Barley (VA) Church of England First 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 Barley (VA) Church of England First 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 Melbourn Village College, about 4.3 miles away.
Where is Barley (VA) Church of England First School?
Church End, Barley, Royston, SG8 8JW, in Hertfordshire.
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.