Barnet Hill Academy is a mixed independent Islamic primary in Hendon, serving children aged 3 to 11, with nursery provision from age 3. It has capacity for up to 400 pupils, although Ofsted’s listing shows a smaller roll in recent years, which can translate into a more personal feel for families.
The school’s identity is overt and consistent, faith, character education, and routines are woven into the school day rather than bolted on. The published timetable includes congregational prayer (Salah) for Years 3 to 6 and keeps the school day tightly organised around learning blocks and breaks, with a 3:20pm finish for primary.
For parents, the key practical headline is cost: for 2025 to 2026, the published tuition fee is £6,540 per year for Reception to Year 6. Fees are payable in advance and the school also lists application and registration charges.
Barnet Hill Academy positions itself clearly as an Islamic faith designated school, aiming to develop values, resilience, and character alongside academic learning. That clarity matters, because it shapes expectations for daily life. Prayer is scheduled for older pupils, and faith education is not treated as an optional add-on.
Leadership is closely tied to that ethos. The headteacher is Mr Shuayb Patel, who is also described within school materials as Head of Islamic Studies and Pastoral Care. Families for whom faith alignment is a priority will appreciate the coherence, children hear the same moral language in assemblies, Islamic studies, and behaviour expectations.
The school’s “small enough to know children well” feel is supported by its published numbers in official listings, which indicate a roll below its registered capacity. That does not automatically mean small class sizes, but it does often mean staff can build strong relationships with pupils and parents, and that routines can be reinforced consistently across the school.
Nursery is an important part of the atmosphere because it sets the tone early. The nursery information emphasises an orderly day with structured learning and play, running Monday to Friday. The early years messaging is explicit about staff modelling courtesy and respect, which is often what parents are really asking about when they ask “what is it like”.
The latest Ofsted standard inspection in June 2024 judged the school Good. For parents, “Good” at an independent primary typically indicates that the essentials are in place: pupils are safe, teaching is secure, the curriculum is coherent, and leadership is functioning effectively.
Where Barnet Hill particularly helps itself is by publishing a clear curriculum framework and subject documentation for the current academic year, which makes it easier for parents to understand what is taught and when.
In the early years, the school sets out its EYFS intent and highlights the prime areas of learning, with phonics taught using Bug Club Phonics. The practical implication is straightforward: children are likely to experience a phonics-first approach to early reading, with daily routines that prioritise communication and language.
In primary, the structure of the day is very explicit. Gates open and close within a short window and the timetable is presented in blocks, with defined learning periods and breaks. For many children this predictability is calming, and for parents it tends to reduce “grey areas” around start-of-day organisation.
Islamic education is part of the curriculum identity, not an add-on, and the school’s published spiritual life material makes that clear. Families who want a school where faith is integrated into daily practice will see the alignment between stated intent and operational detail (for example, the scheduled Salah for older year groups).
For pupils with additional needs, the SEN page sets out an intention to differentiate and respond to individual need. What is less clear online is the operational detail parents often want, such as what specialist interventions look like, how the SENCO is deployed, or typical support ratios. Those questions are best raised directly during a visit.
What can be said with confidence is that Barnet is a borough with a mix of state comprehensives, faith secondaries, and selective options nearby, so families often plan early for secondary transfer. The most helpful next step is to align your child’s needs and your family’s priorities (faith provision, travel time, academic stretch, pastoral model) with the specific admissions criteria of your target secondaries.
If you are building a shortlist, FindMySchool’s Saved Schools tool can help you keep track of options, while the map tools are useful for modelling realistic daily travel routes.
Barnet Hill Academy’s admissions pathway is described as direct to the school rather than local authority coordinated. The school invites parents to obtain an application form by calling the school, or to download documents, and it asks families to arrange an appointment in advance for visits.
The school also publishes scheduled open mornings. In early 2026, these are listed as 13 January, 5 February, and 10 March, with a 9:30am to 11:00am window. Given today’s date (06 February 2026), the March open morning is the next upcoming one.
No published deadlines for applications or offers were found on the admissions pages surfaced in research. In practice, many independent primaries operate rolling admissions where places are offered as vacancies arise, but you should confirm year-group availability and timelines directly with the school.
Barnet Hill’s published messaging links pastoral life to values and faith, with the headteacher also explicitly connected to pastoral care in school materials. That can work well for families who want pastoral conversations to be framed in a shared moral vocabulary, expectations are clearer and consistency between home and school is easier to achieve.
The safeguarding documentation and inspection history also matter. A formal inspection in 2024 confirmed the school met the independent school standards, which includes requirements around welfare, health and safety, and safeguarding systems.
The school’s online archive includes specific examples of clubs that go beyond generic claims.
Science Club is referenced as an after-school club (historically described for older year groups). Where this is done well, it gives curious pupils a different type of learning experience, more practical exploration and discussion, less worksheet-driven work.
Homework Club is also listed in the school’s news archive, described as a weekly session in an ICT room. For some families the implication is very practical: it can reduce evening pressure at home and provide a quieter workspace for pupils who find homework challenging.
The school also shows evidence of Cooking Club activity in its gallery content. Cooking clubs at primary age are often less about gourmet skills and more about sequencing, following instructions, teamwork, and healthy eating habits.
Because club availability changes over time, treat these as examples of the school’s enrichment style rather than a guaranteed weekly timetable. Confirm the current offer for your child’s year group during a visit.
*Bursaries may be available for eligible families.
Basis: per year
The published school day schedule shows a primary finish time of 3:20pm, with gates open between 8:15am and 8:25am and registration shortly after. Reception is described separately with an 8:30am start and 3:15pm end.
The nursery operates Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 15:15 for children aged 3 to 4.
Wraparound care (breakfast club, after-school club beyond the published end-of-day) is not clearly set out on the pages found in research. Families who need care beyond 3:15pm to 3:20pm should ask directly what is currently available.
For the 2025 to 2026 academic year (commencing September 2025), the school publishes a tuition fee of £6,540 per annum for Reception to Year 6. The fee policy also states that the basic fee is inclusive of 20% VAT.
The school lists additional charges for new pupils, including:
Application processing charge: £100
Registration fee (on acceptance of a place): £250
Entry examination resit charge (where offered): £100
On financial support, the fee policy indicates that limited bursaries may be available only in exceptional circumstances, and it also references sibling subsidies and a time-limited subsidy option described within the contract process. Families considering the school on affordability grounds should ask early what support is realistic and what evidence is required.
Nursery fees are not quoted here. For nursery fee details, use the school’s official nursery information and admissions material.
Faith integration is central. Daily life includes explicit Islamic ethos and scheduled prayer for older pupils. This is a strength for families seeking that alignment, but it may not suit families wanting a more secular environment.
Fees are meaningful, even at modest independent levels. £6,540 per year plus extras such as uniform and trips is a real household commitment. Ask for a full annual cost picture before deciding.
Wraparound care is not clearly published. If you need before-school or after-school care beyond the stated day, confirm availability and costs directly.
Barnet Hill Academy suits families who want an Islamic primary where faith, routines, and learning expectations are tightly aligned, and who value a clearly structured school day from nursery onwards. The main decision points are practical: whether the fees and extras work for your household, and whether the school’s faith-integrated model matches what you want day-to-day. For families seeking that specific blend in Barnet, it is a credible option with a recent Good inspection judgement.
Barnet Hill Academy was judged Good at its most recent standard inspection (June 2024). The school publishes clear information about routines, curriculum intent, and the structure of the school day, which helps parents assess fit.
For the 2025 to 2026 academic year, the published tuition fee is £6,540 per year for Reception to Year 6. The school also lists charges for application and registration for new pupils.
Yes. The nursery provision is for children aged 3 to 4 and is published as operating Monday to Friday from 08:30 to 15:15.
Applications are described as direct to the school. The school invites parents to obtain or download an application form and to arrange appointments in advance for visits.
The school lists open mornings from 9:30am to 11:00am, with dates shown in early 2026 including 10 March 2026 as the next upcoming one after early February.
Get in touch with the school directly
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