Inequalities

Narrative

Education and children

Data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reveals that in 2024/25, one in nine children (11%) in Barnet were living in relative low income before housing costs. This is defined as relative poverty, or 60% below the median income each year. This figure contrasts with one in five children in England and roughly one in six children in London, highlighting the inequality between low and middle-income households.

In terms of absolute low income, which is defined as 60% of the median household income in financial year 2025 adjusted for inflation, 11.2% of children in Barnet fell into this category before housing costs in 2024/25. This percentage rises to 15.6% in London and 19.8% in the UK. This measure, which uses an income threshold fixed in time, examines how the living standards of low-income households are evolving over time. National level DWP data also indicates an increase in both relative and absolute child poverty once housing costs are factored in[1].

In the year 2024/25, the highest rates of relative and absolute child poverty were observed among children in Burnt Oak. In contrast (23.5%), the lowest rates were found among children residing in Garden Suburb (1.8%).

In 2022, school census data highlighted significant inequalities in the probability of receiving free school meals among different ethnic groups compared to white children. Black or Black British children and children from other ethnic groups were three times as likely as White or White British children to receive free school meals. Children of mixed or multiple ethnic backgrounds were twice as likely as White or White British children. Asian or Asian British children had a similar likelihood as White or White British children. In Golders Green, Black or Black British children were six times as likely, and mixed or multiple ethnic children were nine times as likely to receive free school meals compared to White or White British children.

Black or Black British children were 1.8 times more likely than White or White British children to be referred to early help services in 2022 according to early help data for Barnet, and children with mixed or multiple ethnic backgrounds were 1.6 times more likely. The highest likelihood of referral to early help services was observed among children aged 0 to 4 years, with Black or Black British children being 160% more likely to be referred compared to White or White British children. In the Golden Suburb, Black or Black British children were ten times (or 1000%) more likely to be referred to early help services in 2022 compared to White or White British children living in the same area. Children from mixed or multiple ethnic backgrounds in Golders Green were seven times as likely as White or White British children to be referred. The smallest inequalities in referrals to early help services compared to White children were observed among Asian or Asian British children. In some wards (Totteridge & Woodside, Whetstone, Edgware, Colindale North, Friern Barnet, Edgwarebury, and High Barnet), they were less likely to be referred to early help services compared to White or White British children.

Data from the Department of Education shows that the number of children in Barnet who are looked after, defined as a child who has been in the care of their local authority for more than 24 hours, has remained relatively stable the last few years. In 2024/25, Barnet council had 342 children in their care. This was reported as a stable figure compared with previous years

When adjusting for the child population, Barnet a rate of looked after children of 37 per 10,000 children in 2024/5. This is lower than London, which has a rate of 48 looked after children per 10,000, and England, which has a rate of 67 per 10,000.

Between 2021/22 and 2024/25, pupils in Barnet demonstrated a considerable improvement in their school readiness compared to their counterparts in England and London based on data from the Department for Education.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic halted progress in the development of 4- to 5-year-old children across all ethnic groups and widened existing inequalities. In 2021/22, only 46.1% of pupils from other ethnic groups achieved the expected level of development, compared with 68.3% of White or White British boys. However, since 2022/23, attainment has rebounded across most ethnic groups in Barnet, indicating a recovery from the disruption caused by the pandemic, although inequalities between groups remain.

While children from all ethnic groups in Barnet achieved higher GCSE attainment than their counterparts in England and London, ethnic inequalities in GCSE attainment were similar to those observed nationally and across London between 2018/19 and 2024/25.

In a similar vein, socioeconomic inequalities in GCSE attainment, as measured by FSM eligibility, remained broadly in line with those observed at the national and London levels.

In the academic year of 2024/25, the rate of suspensions or exclusions for a fixed period was notably higher among Black pupils. Specifically, the rate was 74 for every 1,000 pupils. This rate was 38% higher than that of White pupils, who had a rate of 46 for every 1,000 pupils.

Pupils of mixed ethnicity had a suspension rate of 67 per 1,000 students. The lowest rate was observed among Asian students, with a rate of 26 per 1,000 students.

When it comes to permanent exclusions, the rates were lower for all ethnic groups, except for any other ethnic group, in comparison to the overall rates in England. However, students from any other ethnic group had the highest rate at 0.81, or 8.1 per 10,000 students, compared to White students who had a rate of 0.27, or 2.7 per 10,000 students.

It’s worth highlighting that the rate of permanent exclusions for students from any other group increased from 0.43 per 1,000 (or 4.3 per 10,000) in 2014/15, while it decreased for White students from 0.75 (7.5 per 10,000). This trend indicates a growing inequality in exclusion rates among different ethnic groups.

Data from the National Child Measurement Program for the year 2024/25 reveals significant inequalities in child obesity rates. For children aged 4 and 5, the data shows that overweight/obesity rates vary considerably across different wards. In East Barnet, 5.7 % of children were classified as very overweight overweight. This figure contrasts sharply with the rates in Edgware (13.3%), Mill Hill (12.9%), and Woodhouse (11.1%).

Among 11-year-olds, the highest prevalence of obesity was observed in Colindale North, where the rate stood at 32%. This was closely followed by Cricklewood and Burnt Oak with rates of 31.6% and 31.3% respectively. On the other hand, the lowest rates were found in High Barnet (10.0%), Totteridge and Woodside (13.8%), and Woodhouse (14.3%).

Health and social care

Barnet boasts one of the highest life expectancies for both males and females among the London Boroughs, significantly surpassing the London average. However, the improvements in life expectancy observed from 2010-12 were reversed with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This impact was particularly pronounced for males, with life expectancy decreasing by 17 months between 2017-19 and 2020-22, compared to a decrease of 6 months for female residents. However, 2021-23 life expectancy figures showed a statistically significant increase for both male and female Barnet residents.

Pre-pandemic data also reveals substantial inequalities in life expectancies among residents living in different electoral wards in Barnet. For instance, residents born in Finchley Church End between 2016-2020 are expected to live up to 86.1 years, while those living in Burnt Oak are expected to live up to 79.4 years.

In terms of healthy life expectancy at birth, Barnet’s male and female residents are expected to live a similar number of years in good health compared to those in England and London. However, there has been a significant decrease in the healthy life expectancy of males since 2011-13. This means that, on average, males born between 2022-2024 are expected to live fewer years in good health compared to those born between 2011-13.

Mirroring the trend in England, Barnet has witnessed a significant rise in the percentage of adult residents classified as obese in 2024/25, increasing from 10% in 2023/24 to 11.4% in 2024/25. Despite this increase, the prevalence in Barnet remained significantly lower than the English average in 2024/25.

From 2020 to 2022, females in Barnet, at the age of 15, were projected to spend more years of their remaining life providing unpaid care (7.2 years) compared to males (5.4 years). This represents a notable decrease from the period of 2010 to 2012, when females and males were expected to spend 8.9 and 7 years respectively, of their remaining life providing unpaid care.

According to data from the Office for National Statistics, in the same period of 2020 to 2022, females in Barnet, at the age of 50, were expected to dedicate 4.7 years (or 13% of their remaining life expectancy) to unpaid care. In contrast, males of the same age were projected to spend 3.5 years (equivalent to 10.9% of their remaining life expectancy) on unpaid care. It’s worth noting that these percentages are significantly higher than those for females and males aged 15 and 65 respectively.

Data from the NHS Central London Integrative Care Board (renamed to West and North London ICB) underscores considerable inequalities in current levels of adult obesity. Approximately 16% of residents in Burnt Oak are currently obese, compared to 9% in Garden Suburb. The data also reveals a correlation between obesity, cigarette smoking, and alcohol abuse or dependence. Burnt Oak has the highest prevalence of cigarette smoking at 18%, and the highest number of residents abusing or being dependent on alcohol (264). In contrast, Garden Suburb has a lower prevalence of cigarette smoking at 9%, and fewer residents abusing or being dependent on alcohol (126).

The alcohol-related mortality rate in Barnet has remained relatively stable, even as alcohol-specific mortality rates have been rising in England in recent years. Alcohol-specific mortality rates in Barnet are higher for males than females. The alcohol-related mortality rate for female residents in Barnet is significantly lower than the rates for England and London in 2023. However, the alcohol-specific mortality rate for female residents in Barnet is similar to London’s rate and significantly lower than England’s.

In terms of hospital admissions for alcohol-specific conditions for under 18 years in 2021/22-2023/24, the rates were higher for males than females in Barnet than males and females in London. However, these rates were similar to the English averages.

In 2022, Black residents were, on average, twice as likely as White or White British residents to utilise adult social care services. Meanwhile, Asian, or Asian British, Mixed, and other ethnic groups were equally likely to use these services. However, significant inequalities were observed at the ward level. For instance, Black or Black British residents in Whetstone were three and a half times more likely, and in West Finchley approximately three times more likely, to use adult social care services compared to their White or White British counterparts.

Asian or Asian British residents in West Finchley were 70% more likely to use adult social care services than White or White British residents. In contrast, in most wards, Mixed and other ethnic groups were less likely than White or White British residents use these services.

Housing and deprivation

Female residents born in 2020/21, residing in the least deprived 20% of areas in Barnet, were projected to live 4.6 years longer than their counterparts in the most deprived 20% of areas. In contrast, the life expectancy gap for male residents stood at 5.4 years. This disparity can be attributed to various factors. More than one third of the inequalities in life expectancy between the least and the most deprived quintiles are caused by higher mortality rates from heart and respiratory disease, and male cancers in the most deprived areas of Barnet.

Data from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in 2022 indicated that Burnt Oak (13.5%) and Cricklewood (13.1%) had the highest percentage of fuel-poor households, while Barnet Vale (7.9%) had the lowest.

According to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) data from November 2025, the highest rate of pensioner poverty, as defined by the receipt of pension credit, was observed in Colindale North, where 33.6% of residents aged 66 and above were claiming pension credit. This was followed by Cricklewood (28.3%), Burnt Oak (27.7%) and Colindale South (23.5%). The lowest rate was observed in Garden Suburb (5.3%). From May 2018 to November 2025, there was an increase in the percentage of residents aged 66 and above in Golders Green (from 18% to 19.2%) and Cricklewood (from 25.2% to 28.3%).

The 2021 Census data revealed that 39% of households in Burnt Oak were deprived in at least one dimension (employment, education, disability, and health), compared to 27.7% in Garden Suburb. Additionally, 26% of households in Colindale North and 25.1% in Burnt Oak were overcrowded, based on the number of bedrooms being less than the required amount. This compares to 5.4% in Garden Suburb and 7% in Brunswick Park.

In 2022, minority ethnic residents were more likely to approach Barnet homes as homeless. Black residents had the highest risk, being twelve times more likely in Golders Green and ten times more likely in Garden Suburb to approach Barnet homes services as homeless compared to white residents. Asian or Asian British and Mixed ethnic groups had the highest risk in Golders Green, being approximately three and a half times and six times more likely, respectively.

In terms of access to gardens and public green spaces, the lowest percentage of addresses with private outdoor space were found in Hendon (68.6%) and Totteridge (71%). Conversely, the highest percentages were observed in Brunswick Park (93.3%) and Underhill (90.5%).

Employment

In 2022, White (21.6%), Black (33%), and other ethnic groups (28.5%) in Barnet had higher levels of economic inactivity than in England (20.2%, 25.6% & 25.6% respectively) and in London (16.9%, 25.4% & 25% respectively), with the highest observed for Black residents (33%) and the lowest for Indians (17.1%).