Alma Primary - The School Companion

Alma Primary

Barnet · N20 0LP

General information Primary School · 4-11 years Who goes here 185 pupils, 3.8% FSM

Parent score Rate this school No reviews yet - be the first SEN 14.1% on SEN support Behaviour 4.5% absence rate Staff 13.7% turnover Financials £10,270 per pupil Environment Buildings and facilities

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Alma Primary

General Information

Address: Friern Barnet Lane, Whetstone, London, N20 0LP – View on map
Phone: 02083439988
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Mrs Deborah Hirshler
Age range: 4-11 years
Demand for places (Reception, September 2026): 13 families put it first for 24 places – 5 for every 10 places. Every one of them was offered a place. 1 of the 24 places went to families living outside the council area. Children putting it first, for every 10 places: 2023 7 · 2024 6 · 2025 7 · 2026 5
Sixth form: No
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: Jewish
Nursery provision: No

Who goes here

185 pupils out of 210 places

Pupils eligible for free school meals: 7
% eligible for free school meals: 3.8%
Pupil mix: 6 in 10 (less mixed than the Barnet average)
English as an additional language: 27% (England 22%)

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Teacher turnover: 13.7% a year (Barnet 18.3%, typical in England 13.9%)
Where they went: about 16% moved to another school, 84% left state schools altogether (retirement, other careers, independent schools, abroad)
Data years: 2022/23 to 2024/25 (average of 3 years, DfE school workforce census)

Teachers who moved school or left state schools in the year after each November, as a share of all the school's teachers. Some turnover is healthy – retirements, promotions, moving house.

Behaviour

Awaiting Data

About this Behaviour status

We've asked this school for real behaviour figures under Freedom of Information and haven't had a response yet.

Across Barnet: suspensions by reason

Suspensions for sexual misconduct: 3 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Permanent exclusions for sexual misconduct: 0
Suspensions for bullying: 4 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Suspensions for abuse against sexual orientation or gender identity: 2 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.0)
Data year: 2024/25 (DfE suspensions and exclusions statistics)

These are figures for all state primary schools in Barnet, not this school's own – the government doesn't publish them school by school. A suspension can have up to three reasons. Most sexual harassment between pupils never leads to a suspension, so these figures show only part of the picture.

Attendance

Overall absence: 4.5%
Persistently absent pupils: 6.6%
Data year: 2024/25

About persistent absence

A pupil is counted as "persistently absent" if they miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions - roughly one day in every two weeks. Schools and Ofsted both pay close attention to this figure specifically, since it can highlight a pattern the overall absence rate alone might hide.

SEN

No dedicated Unit or Resourced Provision

SEN Unit and Resourced Provision

Most mainstream schools don't have a dedicated SEN Unit or Resourced Provision - it isn't a mark against a school that doesn't, just a different kind of setup than one that does.

Pupils on SEN Support: 14.1%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 1.6%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

Social, emotional and mental health: 9 pupils
SEN support but no specialist assessment of type of need: 5 pupils
Specific learning difficulty: 4 pupils
Speech, language and communications needs: 4 pupils
Physical disability: 2 pupils

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Speech, language and communications needs: 1 pupil
Social, emotional and mental health: 1 pupil
Autistic spectrum disorder: 1 pupil

These figures show the makeup of the school.

About these SEND figures

These figures give a sense of the makeup of the school - they aren't a judgement on the quality of support provided.

Parent score - no reviews yet –

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Behaviour

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Openness

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Teaching Quality

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School Ethos

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Ability to Deal with Problems

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Headteacher Approval

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SafeguardingSafeguarding (parent rating)How parents rate the school on keeping children safe - how safe their child feels, and how well concerns are listened to and acted on. It's parents' experience, not an inspection result; Ofsted checks safeguarding separately.

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Wraparound CareWraparound Care (parent rating)How parents rate the school's breakfast and after-school clubs - availability, cost and quality. Only asked for infant, junior and primary schools, where it matters most for working parents.

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Would recommend –

Educational Attainment

Good 2023 report

About this Ofsted rating

Ofsted changed how it rates schools in the last couple of years, so ratings from different years aren't always on the same scale - that's why we show the year alongside every rating.

Year 6 SATs results

Met the expected standard in reading, writing & maths: 78% (England 62%)
Reached the higher standard: 15% (England 8%)
Compared with the area: 6 percentage points above the Barnet average (72%)
Compared with schools with similar pupils: Well above (3-year average 79% against an expected 64%)
3-year average (expected standard): 79%
Expected standard by subject: Reading 85% · Writing 81% · Maths 89% · Grammar, punctuation & spelling 89%
Average test scores: reading 108, maths 107
Based on: 27 Year 6 pupils, 2024/25

View the School Context Comparator – how this school's SATs results compare with schools teaching similar pupils.

SATs results over time

This schoolBarnet averageEngland→ Broadly steady No clear rise or fall since 2022/23 (changes this small are normal from one year group to the next). In 2024/25 this school was 6 percentage points above the Barnet average (72%).

Year 6 SATs: 32nd of 84 junior and primary schools in the area

=27Wren Academy Finchley80%
#31Woodridge Primary School79%
#32Alma Primary78%
=33All Saints' CofE Nursery and Primary School N2077%
=33Beit Shvidler Primary School77%

Click to see the full ranking

Year 6 SATs ranking

Junior and primary schools in this area, ranked by the % of Year 6 pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (official DfE results, 2024/25). Schools with the same result share a place (shown as =). In small schools one or two children can move a school several places, so treat close positions as roughly equal.

Rank School Score

#1Courtland School97%
#2Menorah Foundation School96%
#3Deansbrook Junior School95%
=4Brunswick Park Primary and Nursery School93%
=4St Andrew's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School, Totteridge93%
#6Menorah Primary School for Boys91%
=7Hasmonean Primary School90%
=7Menorah Primary School for Girls90%
=9Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School88%
=9Monken Hadley CofE Primary School88%
=9Monkfrith Primary School88%
=12St John's CofE Primary and Nursery School87%
=12St Paul's CofE Primary School NW787%
=14Akiva School86%
=14Chalgrove Primary School86%
=14London Academy86%
=17St Catherine's RC School85%
=17Woodcroft Primary School85%
#19Foulds School84%
=20Independent Jewish Day School83%
=20Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School83%
=22Brookland Junior School82%
=22St Agnes' Catholic Primary School82%
=22St Mary's CofE Primary School82%
=25Goldbeaters Primary School81%
=25Moss Hall Junior School81%
=27Ashmole Primary School80%
=27Rimon Jewish Primary School80%
=27Sunnyfields Primary School80%
=27Wren Academy Finchley80%
#31Woodridge Primary School79%
#32Alma Primary78%
=33All Saints' CofE Nursery and Primary School N2077%
=33Beit Shvidler Primary School77%
=33Christ Church Primary School77%
=33Sacks Morasha Jewish Primary School77%
=33St Mary's CofE Primary School, East Barnet77%
=33The Orion Primary School77%
=33Whitings Hill Primary School77%
=40Barnfield Primary School76%
=40Holy Trinity CofE Primary School76%
=40Saracens Broadfields76%
=40The Hyde School76%
=44Garden Suburb Junior School75%
=44Rosh Pinah Primary School75%
#46Shalom Noam Primary School74%
=47Church Hill School73%
=47Manorside Primary School73%
=47Martin Primary School73%
#50Hollickwood Primary School72%
#51The Annunciation RC Junior School71%
#52Mathilda Marks-Kennedy Jewish Primary School70%
=53Edgware Primary School69%
=53Livingstone Primary and Nursery School69%
=53St Theresa's Catholic Primary School69%
=53Summerside Primary Academy69%
=53Trent CofE Primary School69%
=58Blessed Dominic Catholic Primary School68%
=58Fairway Primary School and Children's Centre68%
=58Frith Manor Primary School68%
=58St Joseph's Catholic Primary School68%
=58Underhill School68%
#63Our Lady of Lourdes RC School66%
#64Tudor Primary School64%
=65Cromer Road Primary School63%
=65Queenswell Junior School63%
=65St John's CofE Junior Mixed and Infant School63%
=65St Paul's CofE Primary School N1163%
=65Wessex Gardens Primary School63%
#70Pardes House Primary School62%
=71Colindale Primary School60%
=71Dollis Primary School60%
#73Northside Primary School57%
=74Childs Hill Primary School56%
=74St Vincent's Catholic Primary School56%
=76All Saints' CofE Primary School NW255%
=76Danegrove Primary School55%
=76Watling Park School55%
#79Parkfield Primary School51%
#80Holly Park Primary School49%
#81Claremont Primary School48%
#82Millbrook Park Primary School44%
#83Coppetts Wood Primary School43%
#84Saracens Bell Lane39%

View full Ofsted inspection report

15th of 63 primary schools in Barnet for Ofsted rating

#13Akiva SchoolGood
#14All Saints' CofE Nursery and Primary School N20Good
#15Alma PrimaryGood
#16Barnfield Primary SchoolGood
#17Beit Shvidler Primary SchoolGood

Click to see the full ranking

Ofsted Rating ranking

Based on real Ofsted ratings (via official DfE data) for schools on the same four-word grading scale.

Rank School Score

#1Ashmole Primary SchoolOutstanding
#2Blessed Dominic Catholic Primary SchoolOutstanding
#3Chalgrove Primary SchoolOutstanding
#4Courtland SchoolOutstanding
#5Goldbeaters Primary SchoolOutstanding
#6Livingstone Primary and Nursery SchoolOutstanding
#7Menorah Primary School for GirlsOutstanding
#8Monken Hadley CofE Primary SchoolOutstanding
#9St Agnes' Catholic Primary SchoolOutstanding
#10The Orion Primary SchoolOutstanding
#11Trent CofE Primary SchoolOutstanding
#12Whitings Hill Primary SchoolOutstanding
#13Akiva SchoolGood
#14All Saints' CofE Nursery and Primary School N20Good
#15Alma PrimaryGood
#16Barnfield Primary SchoolGood
#17Beit Shvidler Primary SchoolGood
#18Brunswick Park Primary and Nursery SchoolGood
#19Childs Hill Primary SchoolGood
#20Christ Church Primary SchoolGood
#21Church Hill SchoolGood
#22Claremont Primary SchoolGood
#23Colindale Primary SchoolGood
#24Cromer Road Primary SchoolGood
#25Danegrove Primary SchoolGood
#26Dollis Primary SchoolGood
#27Edgware Primary SchoolGood
#28Etz Chaim Jewish Primary SchoolGood
#29Fairway Primary School and Children's CentreGood
#30Foulds SchoolGood
#31Frith Manor Primary SchoolGood
#32Hasmonean Primary SchoolGood
#33Hollickwood Primary SchoolGood
#34Holly Park Primary SchoolGood
#35Holy Trinity CofE Primary SchoolGood
#36Manorside Primary SchoolGood
#37Martin Primary SchoolGood
#38Millbrook Park Primary SchoolGood
#39Monkfrith Primary SchoolGood
#40Northside Primary SchoolGood
#41Our Lady of Lourdes RC SchoolGood
#42Parkfield Primary SchoolGood
#43Rimon Jewish Primary SchoolGood
#44Sacks Morasha Jewish Primary SchoolGood
#45Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#46Saracens BroadfieldsGood
#47Shalom Noam Primary SchoolGood
#48St Catherine's RC SchoolGood
#49St John's CofE Junior Mixed and Infant SchoolGood
#50St John's CofE Primary and Nursery SchoolGood
#51St Mary's CofE Primary School, East BarnetGood
#52St Paul's CofE Primary School N11Good
#53St Paul's CofE Primary School NW7Good
#54St Theresa's Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#55St Vincent's Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#56Summerside Primary AcademyGood
#57Sunnyfields Primary SchoolGood
#58Tudor Primary SchoolGood
#59Underhill SchoolGood
#60Watling Park SchoolGood
#61Woodcroft Primary SchoolGood
#62Woodridge Primary SchoolGood
#63Saracens Bell LaneRequires improvement

Financials

Spending per pupil: £10,270 (2024-25)

About this spending figure

A higher or lower position here isn't a sign of a better or worse school - schools have different needs and circumstances - but it can help reassure you that a school has sufficient funding behind your child's education.

6th of 75 primary schools in Barnet for spending per pupil

#4Wessex Gardens Primary School£10,739
#5Saracens Broadfields£10,509
#6Alma Primary£10,270
#7Menorah Foundation School£10,120
#8Hollickwood Primary School£10,101

Click to see the full ranking

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Based on official DfE financial return data (Consistent Financial Reporting / Academies Accounts Return) - not a ranking of school quality.

Rank School Score

#1Coppetts Wood Primary School£12,301
#2Tudor Primary School£11,539
#3Livingstone Primary and Nursery School£11,074
#4Wessex Gardens Primary School£10,739
#5Saracens Broadfields£10,509
#6Alma Primary£10,270
#7Menorah Foundation School£10,120
#8Hollickwood Primary School£10,101
#9Independent Jewish Day School£9,950
#10Claremont Primary School£9,950
#11Chalgrove Primary School£9,695
#12St Theresa's Catholic Primary School£9,606
#13Hasmonean Primary School£9,599
#14Fairway Primary School and Children's Centre£9,440
#15Shalom Noam Primary School£9,421
#16Beit Shvidler Primary School£9,409
#17The Orion Primary School£9,361
#18Sacks Morasha Jewish Primary School£9,100
#19Manorside Primary School£8,916
#20Mathilda Marks-Kennedy Jewish Primary School£8,875
#21Saracens Bell Lane£8,850
#22Underhill School£8,823
#23Etz Chaim Jewish Primary School£8,739
#24Rimon Jewish Primary School£8,593
#25Northside Primary School£8,571
#26Holy Trinity CofE Primary School£8,542
#27Our Lady of Lourdes RC School£8,524
#28Church Hill School£8,451
#29All Saints' CofE Primary School NW2£8,404
#30Childs Hill Primary School£8,369
#31St Paul's CofE Primary School N11£8,329
#32Whitings Hill Primary School£8,328
#33Brunswick Park Primary and Nursery School£8,235
#34Holly Park Primary School£8,108
#35Edgware Primary School£8,101
#36Summerside Primary Academy£8,097
#37Dollis Primary School£8,056
#38Woodcroft Primary School£8,006
#39St Paul's CofE Primary School NW7£7,974
#40Christ Church Primary School£7,958
#41Watling Park School£7,931
#42Goldbeaters Primary School£7,924
#43All Saints' CofE Nursery and Primary School N20£7,921
#44Cromer Road Primary School£7,824
#45Colindale Primary School£7,778
#46Sunnyfields Primary School£7,772
#47Rosh Pinah Primary School£7,689
#48Barnfield Primary School£7,683
#49Parkfield Primary School£7,675
#50St Agnes' Catholic Primary School£7,665
#51Danegrove Primary School£7,648
#52St John's CofE Primary and Nursery School£7,618
#53St Andrew's CofE Voluntary Aided Primary School, Totteridge£7,577
#54Martin Primary School£7,547
#55Monken Hadley CofE Primary School£7,455
#56Menorah Primary School for Girls£7,427
#57St Vincent's Catholic Primary School£7,416
#58St Joseph's Catholic Primary School£7,369
#59The Hyde School£7,361
#60St Mary's CofE Primary School, East Barnet£7,278
#61Akiva School£7,246
#62Blessed Dominic Catholic Primary School£7,230
#63St Mary's CofE Primary School£7,228
#64Trent CofE Primary School£7,216
#65Courtland School£7,213
#66Woodridge Primary School£7,202
#67Ashmole Primary School£7,202
#68Millbrook Park Primary School£7,129
#69Frith Manor Primary School£7,118
#70St John's CofE Junior Mixed and Infant School£7,040
#71Foulds School£6,974
#72St Catherine's RC School£6,819
#73Monkfrith Primary School£6,758
#74Pardes House Primary School£6,725
#75Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Primary School£6,443

View on the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (GOV.UK)

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