The Orion Primary School Review 2026: Barnet primary with festivals, theatre, and an inclusive offer

Word Up and Go Fest tell you a lot about this school. One is an extended literacy festival built around vocabulary, speaking and listening, and storytelling; the other is a summer cultural programme that shifts learning into performances, outdoor experiences, and community showcases. Together, they signal a primary that treats enrichment as part of the core, not an optional add on.

Academically, the data points to consistently high outcomes. In 2024, 86.67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, well above the England average of 62%. On FindMySchool’s primary outcomes ranking (based on official data), the school sits 994th in England and 16th locally in Barnet, a level that places it well above the England average (top 10%).

Leadership is stable. The headteacher is Mr Chris Flathers, and Barnet Council records him as having served as headteacher since 2000.

A clear theme runs through the school’s own language about learning: positivity, confidence, and frequent shared events that create common reference points for pupils across year groups. The headteacher describes a distinctive model, I Shine Learning, alongside weekly set pieces that shape the rhythm of the year, including Word Up and Go Fest.

Scale matters here. With capacity close to 1,000 pupils, it operates more like a small community than a small village school. The upside is breadth, including specialist spaces and named programmes that can run at volume. The school references its theatre and studios as the base for creative activity, including a staff led group, One Kind Productions, which uses film, acting and live shows to engage pupils and families.

Inclusion is not treated as a separate strand. Alongside mainstream classes, the school runs an additionally resourced provision for pupils with autism called The Jets, with places for up to 21 pupils aged four to 11. This shapes the culture day to day, because staff are used to adapting routines, communication, and curriculum access for a wide range of needs.

Historically, this is not a school that has simply “always been here”. The school opened in January 2000 following the closure of local predecessor infant and junior schools, and later moved into a purpose built building in April 2014. For families who value modern, accessible facilities over heritage buildings, that context is often reassuring.

This is a state primary, so the most relevant benchmarks are Key Stage 2 outcomes and how they compare with England averages.

In 2024, 86.67% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics combined, compared with an England average of 62%. At the higher standard, 34.67% achieved greater depth in reading, writing and mathematics, compared with an England average of 8%.

The scaled score profile is also strong, with average scaled scores of 108 in reading and 108 in mathematics, and 111 in grammar, punctuation and spelling.

Rankings provide another lens for parents comparing options locally. On FindMySchool’s primary outcomes ranking (based on official data), the school ranks 994th in England and 16th in Barnet, a profile that sits well above the England average (top 10%).

What this tends to mean in practice is that the school is not just securing expected standards, it is pushing a meaningful proportion of pupils into higher attainment as well. For families who want both solid foundations and stretch, the data supports that shortlist decision.

Curriculum language on the school site emphasises structured learning, clear routines in the early years, and a deliberate push on literacy through the Word Up programme. Rather than treating reading as a single subject block, the inspection narrative points to reading being prioritised across the wider curriculum, with pupils routinely encountering a broad range of texts.

The distinctive feature is how teaching is paired with staged, school wide experiences. Word Up typically runs for 8 to 10 weeks and is framed as a whole school focus on vocabulary, speaking and listening, and reading and writing, with workshops and visiting presenters described as part of the model. The implication for pupils is sustained immersion rather than occasional theme days.

For pupils with additional needs, provision is layered. The school has SEN leadership capacity that includes a SENCO and co headteachers, and the autism resource provision, The Jets, provides a specialist route for pupils who need it while still being part of the wider school community. For families considering the school on inclusion grounds, it is sensible to ask how children move between mainstream and resourced provision, and how communication with external professionals is handled, because this is central to the model described in official reporting.

As a large Barnet primary, most pupils move on to a mix of local secondary schools across the borough and nearby areas, depending on family preference and admissions criteria. The school’s admissions pages are designed to support Year 6 families through secondary transfer, signposting key dates and encouraging visits to secondary open evenings.

Barnet’s secondary transfer deadline for on time applications for September 2026 entry was 31 October 2025, with National Offer Day on 02 March 2026. While those dates are now in the past, the pattern and the council timeline give families a practical planning framework for future cycles.

For pupils in The Jets, transition planning is typically more individualised, because the destination school needs to match needs and provision. Families considering the school specifically for resourced autism provision should discuss transition early, including how evidence is gathered for secondary placement and how the school liaises with Barnet.

Reception entry is coordinated by Barnet, with applications made through the London eAdmissions system. For September 2026 entry, Barnet set the on time deadline as 15 January 2026, with Primary National Offer Day on 16 April 2026 and second round offers issued during 11 to 15 May 2026.

Competition is material. Recent admissions data shows 380 applications for 116 offers, which is roughly 3.28 applications per place. First preference demand also looks strong, with 1.57 first preference applications per first preference offer.

The school describes itself as four form entry, fully inclusive, and indicates 120 Reception places each year, while noting that the school is oversubscribed. The practical implication is that families should treat distance and priority criteria as decisive, rather than assuming a place based on general proximity. If you are shortlisting multiple Barnet primaries, FindMySchool’s Map Search is a sensible way to sanity check home to school distance against typical allocation patterns, especially in tighter pockets.

Nursery admissions work differently. The school runs provision for two year olds (Sunbeam Nursery) and three to four year olds, and indicates that nursery applications are handled directly via the school. It also references funded routes, including 30 hour childcare, alongside other funded and paid places for eligible families. Nursery fees are not stated here; families should check directly with the school for current early years pricing and funding availability.

Pastoral care is closely tied to routines, behaviour expectations, and the way staff respond to concerns. Pupils are encouraged to speak to staff when worried, and staff responsiveness is presented as a core part of pupils feeling safe and settled.

The school’s inclusion profile adds another dimension to wellbeing. With an autism resource provision on site and significant SEND capacity, the working assumption is that staff are used to making adjustments, involving external professionals, and keeping parents informed. For families of children with SEND, the most useful questions tend to be operational, for example how communication works week to week, what interventions look like in practice, and how the school balances consistency of routines with flexibility for individual needs.

The latest Ofsted report confirms that safeguarding arrangements are effective.

This is where the school most clearly differentiates itself. There is a deliberate architecture of festivals, shows, and themed programmes that create shared momentum. Go Fest is described as a summer festival running for around five to six weeks after May half term, designed to supplement normal lessons with outdoor learning, performance, and cultural experiences. Past examples cited by the school include dance, circus, opera, Shakespeare, and a community week that culminates in large scale performances. The implication for pupils is that confidence building and cultural exposure are recurring, planned elements of the year, not occasional add ons.

Word Up plays a similar role on the literacy side. The school frames it as an annual 8 to 10 week focus that builds vocabulary and oracy, alongside reading and writing, with workshops and visitors. In practice, this can be attractive for pupils who respond well to narrative, performance, and themed learning arcs, particularly in the early and middle primary years.

The creative infrastructure is reinforced through One Kind Productions, a staff led initiative spanning film and theatre. It is presented as a way of engaging pupils in learning through acting and production, including regular films and live shows, with the I Shine Theatre referenced as an on site base. For families, this can translate into higher visibility of school life and a stronger sense of shared culture across home and school.

Sports and clubs sit alongside this. The headteacher references weekend football through a Go Stars club, as well as clubs and academies through I Shine University. Details vary by term, but the through line is structured extension beyond the statutory school day.

This is a state school with no tuition fees.

The school day starts with arrival between 8.30am and 8.45am, followed by registration at 8.45am. The day ends at 3.05pm for Reception and Key Stage 1, and 3.10pm for Key Stage 2. The school also references selected weeks with an extended Wednesday until 3.40pm.

Wraparound care is a clear strength. Breakfast Club runs from 7.30am, and the school publishes pricing of £3 per day from 7.30am or £2 from 8.00am. The After School Hub runs from the end of the day until 6.00pm, and is listed at £15.

Term dates for 2025 to 2026 are published by the school, including multiple 1.00pm finishes at the end of terms and stated INSET days. Families juggling work patterns should check those early, especially where early finishes affect childcare planning.

• Competition for Reception places. Recent admissions data shows 380 applications for 116 offers, so families should assume a competitive intake and plan preferences accordingly.

• A distinctive, event driven calendar. Word Up and Go Fest are significant commitments of time and attention across the year. Many pupils thrive on this energy, but families who prefer a quieter, more conventional rhythm should explore whether it feels like the right fit.

• Large school dynamics. A near 1,000 pupil primary can offer breadth and specialist provision, but it also means navigating a bigger organisation. Ask how communication works, especially around SEND, transitions, and day to day routines.

• Early years decisions need careful checking. The school offers nursery provision with funded routes, but early years places and funding eligibility are more variable than Reception. Confirm the current offer, availability, and the practicalities of progression into Reception.

The Orion Primary School combines strong academic outcomes with an unusually structured approach to enrichment, including long running literacy and cultural programmes and a visible theatre and production strand. It will suit families who want a high performing Barnet primary with an inclusive ethos, practical wraparound care, and a school culture built around shared events and experiences. The main decision point is fit, both in terms of scale and the energetic calendar, alongside the challenge of securing a Reception place in an oversubscribed school.