Ofsted graded the Finchley school Strong standard in six of seven areas. 86% of its Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.
Ofsted has graded Chalgrove Primary School in Finchley at “strong standard” in six of the seven areas on its new report card. The seventh, curriculum and teaching, was graded “expected standard”. Inspectors also confirmed that the school’s safeguarding standards are met.
The report was published on Tuesday 22 September. It follows a full inspection on 7 July 2026, led by His Majesty’s Inspector Lisa Smith with two team inspectors.
Chalgrove is a small community primary on Chalgrove Gardens, N3. It had 216 pupils when inspectors visited, against a capacity of 224. It also runs a specialist resource provision for autistic pupils, which the school calls Forest Lodge. The headteacher is Jennifer Gaffney.
The seven grades
Ofsted now grades each area separately on a five-point scale: exceptional, strong standard, expected standard, needs attention and urgent improvement. Chalgrove’s report card reads:
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Achievement | Strong standard |
| Attendance and behaviour | Strong standard |
| Early years | Strong standard |
| Inclusion | Strong standard |
| Leadership and governance | Strong standard |
| Personal development and wellbeing | Strong standard |
| Curriculum and teaching | Expected standard |
No area was graded exceptional. At its previous full inspection, in May 2022, the school was rated outstanding in every category under the old framework. The two sets of grades use different scales, so they cannot be compared like for like.
The results behind the grades
The report carries the key stage 2 figures inspectors used. At the end of Year 6 in 2024/25:
- 86% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, against 62% in England
- 93% reached it in reading, against 75%
- 86% reached it in writing, against 72%
- 93% reached it in maths, against 74%
The combined figure has risen for three years running. It was 69% in 2022/23 and 81% in 2023/24.
Inspectors wrote that pupils “achieve above national averages in almost all areas at the end of key stage 2 over time”. Attendance is above the national average, they found, including for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs. They described bullying as “very rare”.
The school’s intake is unusual in one respect. 11.11% of its pupils have an education, health and care plan, against 3.5% nationally. That reflects the autism provision. Inspectors said the approach there, which mixes specialist support with time in mainstream classes, “is proving highly successful”. They added that other local schools visit it to learn from it.
What inspectors want improved
The one area below strong standard was curriculum and teaching. Inspectors found “some variability in how well the curriculum is taught”. Their next steps for the school are:
- make sure teaching is consistently high quality, including checking what pupils have remembered and correcting mistakes quickly
- set consistent expectations for how pupils speak and explain their thinking in class
The report also notes that “a small number of staff hold more mixed views” about how workload and wellbeing are managed.
What it means for you
If you are choosing a primary school in Finchley for September 2027, these are the practical points.
- “Strong standard” is the second of Ofsted’s five grades. It means the school goes beyond the expected standard in that area.
- The school is small and close to full, with 216 pupils against room for 224. Reception places are allocated through Barnet’s coordinated admissions round, and the national closing date for primary school applications is 15 January.
- Places at the autism resource provision are not allocated through the normal round. They are arranged through a child’s education, health and care plan with Barnet Council.
- Ofsted normally inspects every four years. It carries out monitoring visits where an area is graded needs attention or urgent improvement, and neither applies here.
The school’s own website still showed its 2022 outstanding badge on 29 September. The full eight-page report is on Ofsted’s site.
For other recent report cards in the borough, see Moss Hall Junior School in Finchley and St James’ Catholic High School in Colindale. Term dates for the year are on our Barnet school term dates page.
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