Barley (VA) Church of England First School
Church End, Barley, Royston, SG8 8JWOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Barley (VA) Church of England First School is a primary school in Royston for ages 3 to 9. It is one of the 583 schools in Hertfordshire. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in January 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 17 January 2023, report published 14 March 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Good
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 17 January 2023
Pupils happily attend this very small village school. They have firm friends and feel well supported by the staff. Pupils enjoy the various clubs and outside learning opportunities they have. They welcome new pupils to the school and show kindness while they settle in. Parents value the individual support they feel the school provides. Pupils achieve well. They experience a broad and rich curriculum that extends their interests. Pupils have specialist teachers in some subjects, which they enjoy. Most of the time, high expectations mean pupils can learn in a quiet and calm environment. Pupils know that learning is important, so they work hard. Pupils learn about how to take care of their feelings and emotions. They learn skills to build resilience and independence. Pupils are well prepared and can talk about their transition to a different school. Pupils say bullying is rare but, if it happens, they know the trusted adults around them will sort it out. Pupils learn about different countries and cultures. For instance, they have links with a Kenyan school and learned about life in Ukraine. This helps pupils to consider other viewpoints and learn about life outside their village.
What the school should improve
- Pupils in the early stages of reading are not consistently reading books that match their phonics knowledge. This means that they read too many words that they do not know, or the books do not move their learning on in a systematic way. Pupils need to read books that match their understanding, so they can practise and develop their reading skills.
- Assessment information in a few foundation subjects is not used consistently by leaders to check teaching and plan strategically. This means that pupils may miss some important knowledge as gaps are not always addressed. Leaders need to check that assessment information is used in a strategic way to improve pupils' outcomes.
Pupil numbers and mix
25 pupils on roll, with places for 90
Schools near Barley (VA) Church of England First School
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barkway VA Church of England First School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Reed First School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Not published |
| Studlands Rise First School | 3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | Not published |
| Icknield Walk First School | 3 miles | Ofsted judgements: Good to outstanding | Not published |
| Chrishall Holy Trinity and St Nicholas CofE (Aided) Primary School and Pre-School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | 73% met the expected standard |
School details
- School type
- Voluntary aided school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 3 to 9
- Gender
- Mixed
- Religious character
- Church of England
- Nursery classes
- Yes
- Headteacher
- Miss Lara Miere
- Phone
- 01763848281
- Address
- Church End, Barley, Royston, SG8 8JW
- Local authority
- Hertfordshire
- URN
- 117386
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.