Friern Barnet School (FBS) is a comprehensive school with approximately 800 students. The school is situated at the end of Hemington Avenue (a
cul-de-sac
A dead end, also known as a cul-de-sac (, from French for 'bag-bottom'), no through road or no exit road, is a street with only one inlet or outlet.
The term "dead end" is understood in all varieties of English, but the official terminology ...
) in
Friern Barnet
Friern Barnet is a suburban area within the London Borough of Barnet, north of Charing Cross. Its centre is formed by the busy intersection of Colney Hatch Lane (running north and south), Woodhouse Road (taking westbound traffic towards North Fi ...
,
North London
North London is the northern part of London, England, north of the River Thames. It extends from Clerkenwell and Finsbury, on the edge of the City of London financial district, to Greater London's boundary with Hertfordshire.
The term ''nort ...
. It is a short distance from the former
Friern Barnet Town Hall
Friern Barnet Town Hall is a municipal building in Friern Barnet Lane in Friern Barnet, London, England. The building, which was the headquarters of Friern Barnet Urban District Council from 1941 to 1965, is a Grade II listed building.
History
...
(now converted to flats), and 2 other local schools
The Compton School
The Compton School is situated on Summers Lane, North Finchley, London, England. It is an academy school for boys and girls aged eleven to eighteen and the school years range from year 7 to year 13. It opened a Sixth Form in the year of 2015. ...
and
Wren Academy
Wren Academy is a mixed all-through school (plus sixth form) located in North Finchley, London, England.
It was opened in 2008. In 2015 Wren Academy opened a primary school phase. The school also has an in-house chapel.
All Through Academy
...
.
History
The school site was built in 1960-1 and was opened in 1961 as Friern Barnet County School, with 500 pupils who had transferred from Holly Park School.
Overview
Specialism
The school became a Specialist Arts College in Performing Arts in September 2004 and has twice received the Artsmark Gold award.
Infrastructure and resources
The arrival of Jeremy Turner as Head Teacher in September 2006 has prompted a major change in the running of the school. In March 2007 the school was named the most improved secondary school in the Borough of Barnet.
The school increased the number of forms in each year from six to eight in September 2011. This allowed the number of students per form to be reduced from 25 to 20. The school now has six
houses
A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...
: Aldwych, Barbican, Cottesloe, Dominion, Empire and Forum. All of the houses are named after famous Theatres to represent the school's Performing Arts values.
The school's infrastructure has also been improved, with the school buildings re-painted throughout, signs outside the school's main building, Usher building and Arts department and the playground improved with 5 outdoor
Table Tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong and whiff-whaff, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight ball, also known as the ping-pong ball, back and forth across a table using small solid rackets. It takes place on a hard table div ...
tables, and 6
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appr ...
hoops. A new outdoor food court was built for the canteen, shelters in place of the green slopes outside the art room, an anti bullying shelter and a professional dance floor was added to the school gymnasium. Barnet Youth Council funded a new beauty therapy suite, which are used by Key-Stage 4 GCSE students.
Robots and updated computer systems have been added to the technology building for Key-Stage 3 lessons. The school library (now known as the LRC: Learning Resource Centre) has been updated with similar computer systems and a new catalogue of books.
At the beginning of the 2009/2010 academic year, further improvements were made to the school canteen. The kitchens were replaced with a self-service bar, and a dance floor was installed, similar to that in the school hall.
Student Parliament
The school's Student Parliament also has developed a strong voice representing students within the school. They are a key part of the running of the school, and ensure that the voice of students is put across and heard, and this was something that was noted by Ofsted in the 2011 Inspection. The Student Parliament is led by a single male student in Year 11, supported by the Student Leadership Team, members of which were appointed by the previous Head Students, Assistant Headteacher, and the Headteacher in June 2012.
Performing Arts
The Performing Arts Faculty at Friern Barnet regularly produces outstanding whole school productions. Including 'Little Shop of Horrors' (February 2011), 'Grease' (December 2011), 'Oliver!' (December 2012), 'Hairspray' (December 2013) and the new production of 'Bugsy Malone' which was held in December 2014.
The schools Glee Club entitled 'FBS FUSION' also won the Jack Petchy Glee Club challenge competition in November 2011. It involved schools across the country, with knock out stages and a Grand Final held at the Savoy Theatre in London.
The competition final was judged by TV Presenter Graham Norton and Actress Tamzin Outhwaite.
Sixth form
The school has a partnership with
Woodhouse College
Woodhouse College is a single site selective state sixth form centre situated between North Finchley and Friern Barnet on the eastern side of the London Borough of Barnet in North London, England. It is one of the most successful sixth form colle ...
which acts as the sixth form provision. The school also has links with
Barnet College
Barnet and Southgate College is a further education college in North London, England. The current college was established in 2011. It has three main campuses and two other learning centres in the London Borough of Barnet and the London Borough o ...
.
References
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Secondary schools in the London Borough of Barnet
Community schools in the London Borough of Barnet
Friern Barnet
1961 establishments in England
Educational institutions established in 1961