Friern Barnet School

In line with our school motto, ‘Enjoy and Excel’, we are hugely ambitious academically for all our students, ensuring that they secure the results to go on to excellent further and higher education institutions and then on to fulfilling careers. But we also want them to live lives which are personally and socially fulfilling, developing a love for art, music, dance, theatre and culture which will enrich the whole of their lives. Our desire is that students leave us as mature, independent learners who are also engaged and responsible citizens.

We use our strengths in the arts to enhance the learning opportunities for all students. Your son or daughter will feel welcomed, valued and appropriately challenged at all levels. We believe that working constructively with parents we can provide the very best for our students in a happy, well-ordered community.

Our desire is that students leave us as mature, independent learners who are also engaged and responsible citizens, ensuring that they secure the results to go on to further and higher education institutions and then on to fulfilling careers. We are in partnership with Woodhouse College, which acts as our sixth form and offers excellent opportunities for our students.

Pupil voice is significant in FBS. Our student elected school parliament plays a strong role in our school. This is involved in making the school a better place to learn. The governing body receives regular reports from chief ministers of the parliament. Governors have an annual day in school when they meet groups of students from across the school. Students are also involved in all teacher appointments. Student questionnaires and interviews are also conducted throughout the year. We aim to develop an understanding of how citizens can influence decision-making through the democratic process.

Understanding of the importance of rules, and how and why they are set, will be consistently reinforced through assemblies and our curriculum. Students will be involved in any review of the school rules to help them to understand the reasons behind the rules and the consequences if they are broken. Through enquiry in lessons, we allow opportunity to debate and discuss the reasons for laws so that children can recognise the importance of these for their own protection. Throughout the year we welcome visits from members of the wider community as well as organising trips out of Friern Barnet School school to meet with a variety of people and visit a wide variety of institutions. We believe that clear explanations and real life stories emphasise the importance of the rule of law for our students.

Aims & Vision
Our vision is to develop confident and successful learners who are also engaged and responsible citizens. We aspire to ‘develop the whole child’.

This is being achieved through our commitment to...

• equity in education with high quality teaching for all
• a calm, safe and ordered environment with equal access to learning for all irrespective of students’ background, gender, religion or race
• a broad and balanced curriculum that develops skills, knowledge and understanding
• provide high quality creative opportunities that enable students to thrive
• encouraging students to be independent and responsible for their own actions
• creating opportunities to develop friendships
• positive working relationships and good communication with parents and carers
• nurturing constructive relationships to ensure students can make a positive contribution to school and the wider community
• inclusion of children with special educational needs in mainstream schooling