SchoolScoresBarkway VA CofE First School
Voluntary aided school · Primary, ages 4 to 9 · Mixed · Church of England
84 High Street, Barkway, SG8 8EF
01763 848283 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 8 November 2023.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
12 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024.
Hertfordshire comparisons use the 214 of its 398 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 184 have no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school Joint 1st highest of 214 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertfordshire. Higher than 82% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 94% | 88% |
| My child feels safe at this school Joint 1st highest of 214 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertfordshire. Higher than 80% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 100% | 94% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved Joint 98th highest of 214 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertfordshire. Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92% | 90% | 84% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent Joint 101st highest of 214 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Hertfordshire. Higher than 52% of 8,868 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 92%said yes | 89% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families. Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Hertfordshire figures pool parents at the Hertfordshire schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
No test or exam results have been published for this school yet.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Hertfordshire. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 5 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 4 |
| Of those, offered a place | 4 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 14 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 0.8
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
This is a Church of England school. When it has more applicants than places it can give priority to families of the faith, for example those who can show regular worship. Check the school's admissions policy to see how places are allocated.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Hertfordshire | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 1st highest of 398 state primary schools in Hertfordshire. Higher than 90% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 50.0% | 17.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan 39th highest of 398 state primary schools in Hertfordshire. Higher than 88% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.1% | 3.2%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 337th highest of 398 state primary schools in Hertfordshire. Higher than 15% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 9.1% | 14.0%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language 331st highest of 398 state primary schools in Hertfordshire. Higher than 38% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 6.1% | 21.3%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 398th lowest of 398 state primary schools in Hertfordshire. Lower than 0% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 12.7% | 5.0%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 396th lowest of 398 state primary schools in Hertfordshire. Lower than 1% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 33.3% | 11.5%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 398 state primary schools in Hertfordshire. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 2.9 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 398 state primary schools in Hertfordshire. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 397th highest of 397 state primary schools in Hertfordshire. Higher than 0% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 5.9 | 20.2 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 397th highest of 397 state primary schools in Hertfordshire. Higher than 0% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 3.7 | 10.4 | 10.6 |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26.
Nearby primary schools
- Reed First School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2022)
- Barley (VA) CofE First School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2023)
- Anstey First School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 2 needs attention
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Barkway VA CofE First School's Ofsted rating?
Barkway VA CofE First School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 8 November 2023.
Would parents recommend Barkway VA CofE First School?
92% of the 12 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 4 September 2023 and 2 September 2024 said they would recommend Barkway VA CofE First School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Barkway VA CofE First School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 4 families put Barkway VA CofE First School as their first choice for 5 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 4 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 117422.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 4 September 2023 to 2 September 2024.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.