Barnwell School

Secondary
Local authority maintained
Ages 11 to 18

Report card: Needs attention to strong standard

Barnwell, Stevenage, SG2 9SWOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)

Barnwell School is a secondary school in Stevenage for ages 11 to 18. It is one of the 583 schools in Hertfordshire. It ranks 6th of 6 secondary schools in Stevenage. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in January 2026.

Ofsted report card

Inspected 6 January 2026, report published 28 May 2026

Each area is graded from urgent improvement to exceptional, and safeguarding is either met or not met.

Inclusion: Strong standard
Curriculum and teaching: Expected standard
Achievement: Needs attention
Attendance and behaviour: Needs attention
Personal development and wellbeing: Expected standard
Leadership and governance: Expected standard
Post-16 provision: Expected standard
Safeguarding: Met

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)

Exam results

GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25

206 pupils in the year group

Attainment 8 score41.5

41.5, 4.6 below the England average of 46.1.

Grade 5 or above in English and maths37.4%

37.4%, 8 percentage points below the England average of 45.4%.

Grade 4 or above in English and maths58.7%

58.7%, 6.1 percentage points below the England average of 64.8%.

Pupils entering the EBacc13.6%

13.6%, 26.9 percentage points below the England average of 40.5%.

EBacc average point score3.42

3.42, 0.67 below the England average of 4.09.

A level results (key stage 5), 2024/25

29 students

Average point score per A level entry30.54

30.54, 4.46 below the England average of 35.00.

Average A level grade C, England average B-

Pupil numbers and mix

1,270 pupils on roll, with places for 1,590

Eligible for free school meals30.3%

30.3%, 3.8 percentage points above the England average of 26.5%.

English as an additional language15.8%

15.8%, 5.8 percentage points below the England average of 21.6%.

Special educational needs support17.1%

17.1%, 2.3 percentage points above the England average of 14.8%.

Education, health and care plan5.5%

5.5%, 0.5 percentage points below the England average of 6%.

Schools near Barnwell School

School	Distance	Ofsted	Results
Marriotts School	1 mile	Report card: Expected standard	Attainment 8: 42.4
The Nobel School	1 mile	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 50.2
Barclay Academy	2 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 49.5
The Thomas Alleyne Academy	2 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 48.0
The Saint John Henry Newman Catholic School	3 miles	Ofsted: Good	Attainment 8: 57.9

School details

School type: Foundation school
Sector: Local authority maintained
Age range: 11 to 18
Gender: Mixed
Sixth form: Yes
Headteacher: Miss Maria Townsend
Phone: 01438222500
Website: barnwellschool.co.uk (opens in a new tab)
Address: Barnwell, Stevenage, SG2 9SW
Local authority: Hertfordshire
URN: 117518

School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.