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Schools in Potters Bar

A town in Hertfordshire

  • Town
  • 23 schools and nurseries
  • 3,230 pupils

In short: Most primary schools here are rated Good or better, about the same as across England. Results at 11 are above England, and results at 16 were above England in 2026. Fewer pupils miss a lot of school than across England.

Three children with backpacks crossing a street
A red-brick school building under a blue sky

Potters Bar at a glance

Ahead of England on results at 11

How Potters Bar's schools compare with England, area by area.

DfE and Ofsted data, 2014 to 2026How we work this out
  • Schools and nurseries235 primary · 2 secondary · 10 nurseries
  • Primaries Good or better100%England 96%
  • Met the standard at 1171%England 62%
  • Grade 5 in English and maths91%Attainment 8 73.6, England 46.2
  • Free school meals, primary17%A sign of family income
  • Missed a lot of school15%England 18%
Top-rated

The highest-rated schools in Potters Bar

Primary and secondary schools are ranked by Eduscope score, which weighs up results, inspections, attendance and more. Nurseries, special and independent schools aren't ranked. A high score isn't everything: always visit.

All Potters Bar primary schools

Top Primary Schools in Potters Bar

5 mainstream schools in Potters Bar, best first

Cranborne Primary School

Potters Bar, EN6 2BA · State · Primary · Ages 3 to 11

  • Ofsted:Good

Results well above the England average.

76 first choices, 60 offers made

Met the standard at 1187%

England 62%

Days missed
4.6%
Pupils
448
Pupils per teacher
24.3
View school Cranborne Primary School

The Wroxham School

Potters Bar, EN6 3DJ · Academy · Primary · Ages 4 to 11

  • Ofsted:Good

Results well above the England average.

22 first choices, 29 offers made

Met the standard at 1177%

England 62%

Days missed
5.7%
Pupils
218
Pupils per teacher
24.5
View school The Wroxham School

Little Heath Primary School

Potters Bar, EN6 1JW · State · Primary · Ages 3 to 11

  • Ofsted:Good

Results close to the England average.

30 first choices, 29 offers made

Met the standard at 1163%

England 62%

Days missed
4.8%
Pupils
225
Pupils per teacher
19.4
View school Little Heath Primary School
See all 9 primary schools

Top Secondary Schools in Potters Bar

2 mainstream schools in Potters Bar, best first

Dame Alice Owen's School

Potters Bar, EN6 2DU · Academy · Secondary · Ages 11 to 18

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Results well above the England average.

331 first choices, 186 offers made

Attainment 8 at 1673.6

England 46.2

Days missed
4.0%
Pupils
1,467
Pupils per teacher
15.6
View school Dame Alice Owen's School

Gracewood Academy

Potters Bar, EN6 1EZ · Academy · Secondary · Ages 11 to 18

  • Ofsted:Requires improvement

Results below the England average.

31 first choices, 108 offers made

Attainment 8 at 1643.2

England 46.2

Days missed
13.2%
Pupils
420
Pupils per teacher
15.5
View school Gracewood Academy
See all 5 secondary schools

Nurseries in Potters Bar

10 in Potters Bar, highest Ofsted grade first

See all 10 nurseries

Sixth Forms in Potters Bar

2 in Potters Bar, by the school's Eduscope score

Dame Alice Owen's School

Potters Bar, EN6 2DU · Academy · Secondary · Ages 11 to 18

  • Ofsted:Outstanding

Results well above the England average.

331 first choices, 186 offers made

Attainment 8 at 1673.6

England 46.2

Days missed
4.0%
Pupils
1,467
Pupils per teacher
15.6
View school Dame Alice Owen's School

Gracewood Academy

Potters Bar, EN6 1EZ · Academy · Secondary · Ages 11 to 18

  • Ofsted:Requires improvement

Results below the England average.

31 first choices, 108 offers made

Attainment 8 at 1643.2

England 46.2

Days missed
13.2%
Pupils
420
Pupils per teacher
15.5
View school Gracewood Academy

Special Schools in Potters Bar

4 in Potters Bar. Eduscope doesn't rank these.

Chase House School

Potters Bar, EN6 1AG · Independent · All-through · Ages 7 to 16

  • Ofsted:Good

Specialist provision. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
7
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Chase House School

Fenton Grange School

Potters Bar, EN6 1AG · Independent · Secondary · Ages 11 to 18

  • Ofsted:Good

Specialist provision. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
7
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Fenton Grange School

The Orchard School

Potters Bar, EN6 1AG · Independent · Secondary · Ages 11 to 18

  • Ofsted:Good

Specialist provision. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
4
Pupils per teacher
–
View school The Orchard School
See all 4 special schools

Private Schools in Potters Bar

5 in Potters Bar. Eduscope doesn't rank these.

Chase House School

Potters Bar, EN6 1AG · Independent · All-through · Ages 7 to 16

  • Ofsted:Good

Specialist provision. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
7
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Chase House School

Fenton Grange School

Potters Bar, EN6 1AG · Independent · Secondary · Ages 11 to 18

  • Ofsted:Good

Specialist provision. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
7
Pupils per teacher
–
View school Fenton Grange School

The Orchard School

Potters Bar, EN6 1AG · Independent · Secondary · Ages 11 to 18

  • Ofsted:Good

Specialist provision. Results aren't published in the same way.

Results

Not published for this kind of school.

Days missed
–
Pupils
4
Pupils per teacher
–
View school The Orchard School
See all 5 private schools
The map

Every school in Potters Bar, on one map

Each dot is a school or nursery, coloured by its latest Ofsted grade. Point at a dot to see its name, or use the list.

See them as a list
Show
Cranborne Primary School, GoodLadbrooke Junior Mixed and Infant School, GoodOakmere Primary School, Good in every areaLittle Heath Primary School, GoodLochinver House School, InspectedStormont School, InspectedDame Alice Owen's School, OutstandingThe Wroxham School, GoodChase House School, GoodFenton Grange School, GoodThe Orchard School, GoodGracewood Academy, Requires improvementAlpha Bears Day Care Nursery, GoodThe Potters Bar Day Nursery and Pre-school, GoodSt. John's Nursery Playgroup, GoodStarjumps Nursery, Creche and Out of School Provision, GoodTilbury Nursery, GoodSt John's Nursery Playgroup, Wayside, Expected standard or betterLittle Heath Nursery Playgroup, GoodCanopy Nurseries Potters Bar, GoodBrooklands CoveLittle Elms Montessori Nursery, Expected standard or betterJourneys Academy
  • Outstanding1
  • Good14
  • Requires improvement1
  • Not graded yet7
Before you apply

Apply through the council where you live

Schools in Potters Bar sit in 4 council areas. Your home council handles your application, wherever the school is. Living nearby doesn't guarantee a place: each school's admission rules decide.

By age

What's on offer for each age

Pick a stage to see every Potters Bar school for that age, with filters for type, faith and Ofsted grade.

More ways to narrow it down

Here's how Potters Bar's schools break down by type, faith and more.

Postcodes

Browse Potters Bar by postcode

Some areas, like parts of a bigger town, are easiest to find by postcode.

Potters Bar vs England

How good are Potters Bar's schools?

Inspections, exam results and attendance, next to the figure for England where we have it.

Worked out by Eduscope from each school's published figures. Not an official statistic for this town.

Numbers that sum up Potters Bar

Potters BarEngland

  • Primaries rated Good or Outstanding

    Latest Ofsted grade, 4 primaries with one.

    100%

    England 96%

    Close to England

  • Secondaries rated Good or Outstanding

    1 of the 2 with a grade.

    50%

    England 93%

    Below England

  • Met the expected standard at 11

    Reading, writing and maths.

    71%

    England 62%

    Above England

  • Grade 5 or above in English and maths

    At GCSE.

    91%

  • Pupils who miss a lot of school

    Missed 1 in 10 days or more. Lower is better.

    15%

    England 18%

    Better than England

  • Primary pupils on free school meals

    A sign of family income, not of school quality.

    17%

Ofsted grades

Latest graded inspection for the 9 schools that have one.

89%

Good or Outstanding

  • Outstanding1
  • Good7
  • Requires improvement1
  • Inadequate0

How it has changed

Potters Bar in blue. There were no tests in 2020 and 2021 because of Covid.

Met the expected standard at 11
Covid gap50%65%80%20182019202320242025
71% in 2025. England now 62% (dashed line).
Grade 5 or above in English and maths
Covid gap50%75%100%2018201920222023202420252026
91% in 2026.
Pupils who miss a lot of school
Covid gap0%15%30%20142015201620172018201920212022202320242025
15% in 2025. England now 18% (dashed line).
Living here

What it's like for families

Potters Bar has 23 schools and nurseries.

There are 8% fewer pupils than in 2018.

17% of primary pupils here get free school meals. Schools get extra money for each of them.

Pupil numbers

Pupils in Potters Bar's state schools each January.

Down 8% since 2018.

Free school meals

Out of every 10 primary pupils, how many get free school meals. It's a sign of family income, not of school quality.

Potters Bar17%

Dates to know

Apply through your local council, even for academies and faith schools.

  • 31 OctSecondary deadlineFor children starting Year 7.
  • 15 JanPrimary deadlineFor children starting Reception.
  • 1 MarSecondary offersOffers day for Year 7 places.
  • 16 AprPrimary offersOffers day for Reception places.

Keep up with schools in Potters Bar

Follow any school and we'll email you when it gets a new Ofsted report or new results are out. Nothing else.

Find a school to follow
Questions

Questions parents ask about Potters Bar

Nearby areas

How many schools are in Potters Bar?

Potters Bar has 23 schools, including 9 primary schools, 5 secondary schools, 10 nurseries, 5 independent schools, 4 special schools. Some count in more than one group. You can browse each category using the filters on Eduscope.

What are the best schools in Potters Bar?

The highest-ranked schools in Potters Bar on Eduscope are Dame Alice Owen's School, Cranborne Primary School, The Wroxham School. We rank each state school against schools of the same phase across England on its Ofsted inspection, results and attendance. Independent, special and nursery schools aren't ranked.

What percentage of schools in Potters Bar are rated Good or Outstanding?

89% of inspected schools in Potters Bar hold a Good or Outstanding Ofsted rating, which is below the England average of 94.8%. This includes 1 school rated Outstanding and 7 rated Good.

How do primary schools in Potters Bar perform at Key Stage 2?

Across primary schools in Potters Bar, 71% of pupils meet the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths at Key Stage 2. This is based on the latest published results from the Department for Education.

What is the average pupil-teacher ratio in Potters Bar?

The average pupil-teacher ratio across schools in Potters Bar is 18.1:1. While not a direct measure of class size, this indicates the level of teaching resource available per pupil. Across England it is 17.9:1.

What is the persistent absence rate in Potters Bar schools?

The persistent absence rate across schools in Potters Bar is 15.4%. A pupil is classed as persistently absent if they miss 10% or more of school sessions. Across England it is 18.1%.

How many pupils attend schools in Potters Bar?

There are 3,230 pupils enrolled across schools in Potters Bar, with 1,343 in primary and 1,887 in secondary. 12.2% of pupils are eligible for free school meals.

How many private schools are in Potters Bar?

There are 5 independent schools in Potters Bar. Fees vary by school and age group, with day school fees typically ranging from £10,000 to £20,000 per year. You can compare all private schools in Potters Bar on Eduscope, including ISI inspection ratings where available.

How do I choose the right school in Potters Bar?

Start by considering your child's age, your location, and whether you prefer a state or independent school. Use Eduscope to compare 23 schools in Potters Bar by Ofsted ratings, exam results, and distance. Filter by school type, gender, religious character, and admissions policy to narrow your options.

Sources: DfE school performance tables, DfE school census and workforce, DfE pupil absence, Ofsted. Photos are stand-ins.

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