School Chooser

Saracens High School

Secondary · ages 11-18MixedFree school1,170 pupilsLondonBarnet
School Chooser Score
68
Above
similar schools
Likely range 58 to 75, so it could be “in line”
Out of 100. Better than 57% of the 50 schools most like it. Slipping year on year.
OfstedGoodLast Ofsted inspection, May 2022
Strong pass in English and maths47%England 46%
Attendance94.2%England 91.4%
Pupils from low-income families58%Far more than most schools
PlacesFull1,170 pupils, 1,130 places
Pupils per teacher15.7School workforce census

Saracens High School is a free school in London for boys and girls aged 11 to 18. It has 1,170 pupils, 40 more than it has places for. About 58 in every 100 pupils come from a low-income family, far more than at most schools in England. We give it 68 out of 100. That puts it above schools like it, ahead of 57% of the 50 schools most like it. Ofsted's last grade was good, back in 2022.

Corner Mead, London, NW9 4AS020 8181 3180saracenshigh.orgDr Matthew Stevens headteacherAll details

What Ofsted found

Ofsted's last full inspection was on 24 May 2022, back when it gave schools one overall grade. Read the report on Ofsted's website.

Good overall.

TeachingOfsted calls this “quality of education”
Good
BehaviourOfsted calls this “behaviour and attitudes”
Good
WellbeingOfsted calls this “personal development”
Good
LeadershipOfsted calls this “leadership and management”
Good
Safeguarding
Effective
Yes

This inspection is more than 4 years old. When Ofsted next visits, the school will get a report card instead of one grade.

Results

GCSE results, summer 2025

161 pupils sat their GCSEs. Here is how they did against every state secondary in England.

Average GCSE score47.1
England 46.8
Official name: Attainment 8
Strong pass in English and maths47%
England 46%
Official name: Grade 5+ in English and maths
Standard pass in English and maths68%
England 66%
Official name: Grade 4+ in English and maths
Progress from age 11+0.42In each subject, pupils here finished about half a grade ahead of children across England who started secondary school at the same level. (From 2023/24, the latest year there is. The government didn't work it out for the 2025 year group.)Official name: Progress 8
Trend
Average GCSE score
2023 to 2025
2023: 51.851.820232024: 55.055.020242025: 47.147.12025
Since 2023: -4.7Declining overall
All GCSE measures, year by year
Measure202520242023BarnetEngland
Pupils at the end of Year 11161142146
Average GCSE scoreAttainment 847.155.051.858.246.8
Progress from age 11Progress 8+0.42+0.43
Strong pass in English and mathsGrade 5+ in English and maths47%68%62%65%46%
Standard pass in English and mathsGrade 4+ in English and maths68%85%76%80%66%
Core subjects scoreEBacc average point score4.305.054.765.404.15
Taking the core subjectsEBacc entry45%50%49%59%41%
Average GCSE score: low-income pupilsAttainment 8, disadvantaged44.953.050.3
Average GCSE score: other pupilsAttainment 8, non-disadvantaged50.457.653.7
Average GCSE score: pupils who started behindAttainment 8, low prior attainers36.031.8
Average GCSE score: pupils who started aheadAttainment 8, high prior attainers71.471.5

Subjects

Results came out for 19 GCSE subjects in 2025. Each figure is the share of pupils who got a grade 5 or better, next to the average for state secondaries in England.

Subjects that did worse than the England average: Drama (21% here, 60% across England), Design & Technology (33% here, 50% across England), Art and Design (44% here, 58% across England), Food Preparation & Nutrition (39% here, 52% across England).

What is taught hereOffers triple science, computer science.

The small number is how many pupils sat each subject. Subjects with fewer than six pupils aren't published.

Every subject against England, 2025
English Language160 entries · 26th of 27 in Barnet
53%England 54%
English Literature159 entries · 25th of 27 in Barnet
60%England 58%
Mathematics159 entries · 22nd of 27 in Barnet
56%England 53%
Combined Science128 entries · 20th of 26 in Barnet
41%England 36%
Geography79 entries · 21st of 25 in Barnet
42%England 51%
Spanish79 entries · 12th of 19 in Barnet
62%England 54%
History77 entries · 21st of 27 in Barnet
56%England 52%
Social Studies75 entries · 8th of 9 in Barnet
47%England 54%
Computer Science65 entries · 15th of 16 in Barnet
43%England 56%
Art and Design41 entries · 22nd of 24 in Barnet
44%England 58%
Food Preparation & Nutrition36 entries · 6th of 7 in Barnet
39%England 52%
Physical Education34 entries · 13th of 16 in Barnet
44%England 56%
Biology31 entries · 22nd of 23 in Barnet
71%England 82%
Design & Technology30 entries · 16th of 18 in Barnet
33%England 50%
Chemistry29 entries · 22nd of 23 in Barnet
79%England 81%
Physics29 entries · 21st of 23 in Barnet
76%England 82%
Drama24 entries · 11th of 11 in Barnet
21%England 60%
Other Modern Languages21 entries · 7th of 19 in Barnet
67%England 49%
Religious Studies20 entries · 18th of 20 in Barnet
55%England 60%
SubjectEntriesGrades 9 to 7Grades 9 to 5Grades 9 to 4England 9 to 5Rank in England
English Language16014%53%74%54%1,567 of 3,210
English Literature15916%60%81%58%1,281 of 3,202
Mathematics15923%56%72%53%1,201 of 3,211
Combined Science12811%41%62%36%1,055 of 3,084
Geography7910%42%63%51%1,992 of 3,116
Spanish7934%62%76%54%719 of 1,941
History7723%56%64%52%1,185 of 3,126
Social Studies754%47%56%54%665 of 1,043
Computer Science659%43%55%56%1,272 of 1,861
Art and Design417%44%76%58%2,097 of 2,818
Food Preparation & Nutrition363%39%53%52%783 of 1,098
Physical Education349%44%62%56%1,079 of 1,559
Biology3129%71%84%82%1,964 of 2,570
Design & Technology3010%33%57%50%1,080 of 1,478
Chemistry2935%79%97%81%1,593 of 2,537
Physics2935%76%86%82%1,764 of 2,546
Drama240%21%42%60%809 of 844
Other Modern Languages2152%67%67%49%210 of 454
Religious Studies2020%55%75%60%1,171 of 1,825

In combined science each pupil gets two grades and we count the lower one. Rankings only include state secondaries where 20 or more pupils sat the subject.

A level and sixth-form results, 2025

80 students finished sixth-form courses.

Average A level gradeC+33.2 points per entry
A level progress-0.14Against students elsewhere with the same GCSE grades. 0 is average.
AAB or better4%with two subjects universities favour
Stayed and finished100%of students who started
All sixth-form measures, year by year
Measure2025
Students80
Average A level points per entryA level APS per entry33.23
Average A level gradeC+
Best three A levelsBest 3 A levels APS33.14
AAB or better in subjects universities likeAAB+ in two facilitating subjects4%
A level progressA level value added-0.14
Stayed and finishedRetained and assessed100%

A level subjects

11 A level subjects had results in 2025. Each figure is the share of students who got an A* to B, next to the average for state sixth forms in England. When only a handful of students take a subject, its figures jump around from year to year.

A levels taught hereThe small number is how many students sat each one in 2025.
SubjectsMathematics29Economics21Business Studies16Biology15Chemistry12Sociology11Art and Design7History7Government and Politics7Geography5English Literature5
Every A level subject against England, 2025
Mathematics29 entries · 14% A* or A · 97% passed
35%England 60%
Economics21 entries · 24% A* or A · 100% passed
67%England 57%
Business Studies16 entries · 6% A* or A · 100% passed
44%England 47%
Biology15 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
40%England 49%
Chemistry12 entries · 8% A* or A · 100% passed
58%England 53%
Sociology11 entries · 18% A* or A · 100% passed
55%England 49%
Art and Design7 entries · 14% A* or A · 100% passed
57%England 60%
History7 entries · 14% A* or A · 100% passed
43%England 55%
Government and Politics7 entries · 0% A* or A · 100% passed
0%England 55%
Geography5 entries · 0% A* or A · 0% passed
0%England 51%
English Literature5 entries · 0% A* or A · 0% passed
0%England 52%

A levels only. BTECs, T levels and other courses are in the table above. Subjects with fewer than five students aren't published.

Does every child do well here?

A good school does well by every child, not just on average. Each row compares two groups of pupils here. The grey marks show the same two groups across England. Every gap at this school is smaller than the gap across England. When a group has fewer than about ten pupils, its figures jump around a lot from year to year.

At GCSE, 2025

Average GCSE scoreLow-income pupils vs other pupils
44.950.4
Gap 5.5England 12.2
Strong pass in English and mathsLow-income pupils vs other pupils
41%57%
Gap 16 ptsEngland 22 pts
Average GCSE scoreBoys vs girls
47.946.0
Gap 1.9England 3.0
First groupSecond groupEngland, each group

Low-income means the child has had free school meals at some point in the last six years. A group's figure isn't published when it has fewer than six pupils.

Getting a place

Admissions policy not published.

A few spare places1,121 pupils for 1,201 places, 2024/25
93% full

About 80 places were empty, so most families who apply get in, though a popular year group can still fill up. Pupil numbers have grown by 71% since 2021/22, so places are getting harder to come by.

Each council publishes its own figures on how many families applied and how far away the last child to get a place lived. We are adding councils one at a time. If you have a link to Barnet council's admissions booklet, send it to us.

Who goes here

Who a school teaches matters. That is why our score compares it with schools that take in a similar mix of children, not with every school in the country.

Pupils on roll1,170Census January 2026
Places1,130104% full
Pupils from low-income families58%58% have had free school meals at some point in the last six years
Pupils learning English60%First language is not English
Pupils getting extra support19%219 pupils with SEN support
Pupils with an EHC plan4%43 pupils with a plan
Average class size22.252 classes, January 2026; England 22.8
Classes with more than 30 pupils25%share of one-teacher classes; England 12%
Pupils with extra funding (pupil premium)59%£608,300 extra funding in 2026/27; England 30%
Boys and girls651 / 519
White British pupils10%

The most common needs among pupils getting extra support: emotional and mental health (87), language and communications needs (77), Moderate learning difficulty (47), Autistic spectrum disorder (19), Specific learning difficulty (19), Other difficulty or disability (5).

How the mix of pupils has changed
Census202620252024202320222021
Pupils on roll1,1701,132985827657474
Pupils from low-income familiesFree school meals58%56%52%46%43%43%
Pupils learning EnglishEnglish as an additional language60%60%62%63%64%66%
Pupils getting extra supportSEN support15%13%13%12%22%
Pupils with an EHC planEducation, health and care plans3%4%3%3%3%

Attendance and behaviour

In 2024/25 pupils were in school 94.2% of the time. Across similar schools in England it was 91.4%.

Attendance94.2%
England 91.4%
Official name: 100 minus overall absence
Pupils missing a lot of school15.2%
England 23.9%
Official name: Persistent absence
Suspensions per 100 pupils13.12024/25, no permanent exclusions
Missed without permission2.9%of school time, 2024/25
Attendance year by year
Measure2024/252023/242022/232021/222020/212018/19England
Sessions missedOverall absence5.8%6.9%8.1%7.7%4.6%4.3%8.6%
Missed with permissionAuthorised absence3.0%3.8%5.8%5.7%3.9%4.0%
Missed without permissionUnauthorised absence2.9%3.1%2.3%2.0%0.7%0.3%
Pupils missing a lot of schoolPersistent absence15.2%19.7%25.7%24.8%10.7%10.9%23.9%
SuspensionsSuspension rate13.116.230.721.919.4
Permanent exclusionsPermanent exclusions00011

What pupils do next

After GCSEs

Where the 146 pupils who left in 2022/23 were a year later.

Still in education, work or training94%and stayed there for at least six months

Among pupils from low-income families it was 96%, compared with 90% for everyone else.

Staff and money

From the government's count of school staff in November 2025 and the school's published accounts.

Teachers74.5full-time equivalent, 76 people
Pupils per teacher15.7Pupils for every full-time teacher
Fully qualified teachers91%hold qualified teacher status
Teaching assistants21.7full-time equivalent
Average teacher pay£57,212
Teachers who left in the year24%2024/25, for any reason including retirement
Vacancies0
Sick days per teacher3.52024/25

Money

From the academy accounts return, year to August 2025. The per-pupil figures are compared with other secondary schools in England that report their accounts the same way.

Spend per pupil£9,264England £7,965. Total £11m
Income per pupil£9,951England £8,423. Total £11m
Spent on teachers per pupil£5,035England £4,444
Money in reserve13%A healthy amount put by: £1.5m, £1,330 per pupil. England 10%
Money in against money out+£782kit took in more than it spent this year
Where the money goes£9,264spent per pupil

Reserves are the money left over at the end of the year, kept back for emergencies and big projects. Being in the red year after year is a warning sign. Very large reserves can mean money sitting in the bank instead of being spent on today's pupils. Academy figures are rounded to the nearest £1,000 and include a share of any money the trust holds centrally.

The area around the school

Crimes within 500 m89312 months to June 2026, mostly violence and sexual offences
Local crime rate79 per 1,000 people13% lower than the England average
Typical house price£580,000Barnet
Nearest bus stop130 mQuakers Course, 12 stops within 500 m

Crime figures come from police.uk. The police record each crime at the nearest of a fixed set of map points rather than the exact spot, so “within 500 m” is only rough. House prices are from HM Land Registry sales nearby over the last two years.

Nearby schools

The closest secondary schools, nearest first. Hover over a row to see it on the map.

Well aboveAboveIn lineBelowWell belowNot scored
SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
St James' Catholic High SchoolRoman Catholic410 m1,243Good 202276Compare
Hasmonean High School for GirlsAcademy990 m570Good 202391Compare
Copthall SchoolAcademy0.8 miles829Good 202365Compare
St Mary's and St John's CofE SchoolAcademy1.1 miles1,651Good 2024Compare
Kingsbury High SchoolAcademy1.4 miles2,001Good 202462Compare
Hasmonean High School for BoysAcademy1.4 miles788Good 202381Compare
Hendon SchoolAcademy1.6 miles1,145Good 202238Compare
Canons High SchoolAcademy1.8 miles1,139Good 202320Compare

Compared with schools like it

Our score compares Saracens High School with the 49 schools in England whose pupils are most like its own. We match on family income, how many children are learning English, special needs, the neighbourhood, the size of the school and how it admits pupils. Those 49 schools are dotted all over the country, so we don't list them. What matters is where this school sits among them.

Beats57%of schools with a similar mix of pupils
In the upper half of its group. Its score of 68 is 8 points above the typical school in the group.
0Lowest of the group 1 · middle 60 · highest 99100

Nearby schools with a similar mix of pupils that score higher

Of those 49 schools, these are within 25 km and score at least five points more than Saracens High School, nearest first. A school with the same kind of pupils and a higher score is the fairest sign that it gets more out of them.

SchoolTypeDistancePupilsOfstedScore
Ark Pioneer AcademyFree school4.0 miles1,107Outstanding 202389Compare
Harris Academy St John's WoodAcademy5.3 miles1,326Good 201978Compare
Paddington AcademyAcademy5.7 miles1,256Outstanding 202397Compare
Ark King Solomon AcademyAcademy6.4 miles1,319Outstanding 202391Compare
Ark Soane AcademyFree school6.5 miles874Outstanding 202483Compare
Drayton Manor High SchoolAcademy7.0 miles1,443Outstanding 202393Compare
The Bridge AcademyAcademy8.7 miles1,070Good 202384Compare
City of London Academy, Shoreditch ParkFree school9.1 miles914No overall grade 202589Compare

How the score was worked out

The score is out of 100. A 68 means that once everything below is added up, this school comes out ahead of 68% of secondary schools in England. Results bounce around from year to year, especially in small schools, so we also show a likely range: 58 to 75. That range is wide enough that the school could sit in the next band, so take the band as a rough guide rather than a verdict. Every part is judged against schools with a similar mix of pupils. For small schools we pull each part towards the group average, so one unusual year can't swing the score too far.

What we looked atHow much it countsAgainst schools like itEffect on the scoreBased on
Results over three years20%above
+0.08
2025, 2024 and 2023 results; 161 pupils
Ofsted inspection17% (normally 20%, cut because the inspection is old)in line
+0.02
Ofsted grade, 4.3 years old
Progress pupils make20%above
+0.16
DfE progress measure; 161 pupils
Direction of travel over five years10%well below
-0.12
results and attendance falling year on year
Attendance and behaviour10%above
+0.09
2024/25; 930 pupils
Results, allowing for the mix of pupils10%in line
+0.02
Attainment relative to schools with a similar intake; 161 pupils
What pupils do next5%above
+0.02
146 pupils
What parents say0%no data

Worked out on 13 September 2026 (method v1). Read how the score works, including every weight and the checks we run. Think a number is wrong? Tell us.

Questions parents ask

Is Saracens High School a good school?

Yes, going by the figures. Saracens High School scores 68 out of 100. That is above schools that take in a similar mix of pupils, and ahead of 57% of the 50 schools most like it in England. The score could fairly be anywhere from 58 to 75, so a few points either way between schools doesn't mean much. Its results have been slipping over the last five years.

What is Saracens High School's Ofsted rating?

Ofsted rated Saracens High School good at its last full inspection on 24 May 2022. That was more than four years ago. When Ofsted next visits, the school will get a report card instead of a single grade.

How good are Saracens High School's GCSE results?

In summer 2025, 47% of pupils got a grade 5 or better in both English and maths. Across England it was 46%. Its Attainment 8 score, which is the average grade across a pupil's best eight subjects times ten, was 47.1, against 46.8 for England. In each subject, pupils here finished about half a grade ahead of children across England who started secondary school at the same level.

How many pupils does Saracens High School have?

1,170 pupils aged 11 to 18 were on the roll in January 2026. It has 1,130 places, so it is 104% full.

Is Saracens High School oversubscribed?

Probably not. 80 places were empty in 2024/25 (7% of the total), so most families who apply get a place.

What is attendance like at Saracens High School?

Pupils were in school 94.2% of the time in 2024/25. Similar schools in England managed 91.4%. 15% of pupils missed at least a tenth of the year.

How big are the classes at Saracens High School?

The average class had 22.2 pupils in January 2026. Across England it was 22.8. 25% of classes had more than 30 pupils.

These answers come straight from the figures on this page and update when new data comes out.

Contact and details

Address
Corner Mead, London, NW9 4AS
Telephone
020 8181 3180
Website
www.saracenshigh.org
Headteacher
Dr Matthew Stevens
Type of school
Free school (Free schools, free schools)
Phase
Secondary school, ages 11-18
Gender
Mixed
Religious character
None
Multi-academy trust
Saracens Multi-Academy Trust (3 schools)
Local authority
Barnet
Ward
Colindale North
Constituency
Hendon
Setting
Urban: Nearer to a major town or city
Opened
1 September 2018
URN
145921 · LAESTAB 3024011 · UKPRN 10068106

Recent changes

  • New KS4 results for 2024/25

Where these figures come from