Astrea Academy Dearne
Rotherham, S63 9EW · Barnsley · secondary school
Check the area around this school
10th of 11 secondary schools in Barnsley we can score. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still — 3.2/10 against 423 of them, against 1.8/10 nationally. Both figures are results only, without the inspection grade. A lower figure here means a stronger comparison group, not a weaker school.
How this is worked out
| Measure | Percentile | Weight | Adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.84 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2025/26 | 35.4 · 25 | 30% | 0.76 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.67 · 9 | 25% | 0.23 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 39.3 · 16 | 10% | 0.16 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Astrea Academy Dearne overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 40.0% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 40.2, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.67 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than nationally matched peers. Ofsted rated the school Good in July 2023. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (4.6 out of 10 against similar schools, 2.5 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,071 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,200. These whole-school figures do not establish entry-year vacancies or the likelihood of an offer. Confirm entry-year availability and admissions criteria with the school or local authority.
Worth asking on a visit
How does the school support pupils to close the gap between their current attainment and the national median? What specific steps are taken to improve Progress 8 scores for students from similar backgrounds?
What Ofsted said about Astrea Academy Dearne
Overview
The report states that the quality of education has "improved rapidly" since the new headteacher’s appointment, with leaders raising expectations and creating a "calm and positive" atmosphere. While the curriculum is "well thought through" and pupils are closing knowledge gaps, the school requires improvement in behaviour and attitudes, partly due to concerns from some parents and pupils regarding the management approach.
Strengths
- Leaders have developed an "ambitious curriculum" that connects new content to prior knowledge, helping pupils "know and remember much of the important knowledge".
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities receive a "carefully planned curriculum" and are "well supported to access the curriculum".
- The atmosphere is described as "calm and positive", with suspensions falling quickly as pupils adapt to new behaviour systems.
- Safeguarding arrangements are "effective", with staff receiving appropriate training and being "confident to identify and report any concerns".
- Staff are "proud to work at Astrea Academy Dearne" and value the actions taken to improve workload and well-being.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should further embed their approach to securing improved attendance, as some pupils are absent regularly and miss learning.
- A coherent programme for character development is needed to support pupils who are "hesitant to contribute fully" and lack confidence, resilience, and independence.
- Curriculum implementation must consistently help pupils make connections between current and previous learning to develop a "deep body of knowledge" rather than just recalling facts.
Safeguarding
The report confirms that "the arrangements for safeguarding are effective" and that leaders are proactive in developing a safeguarding culture.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 39.6 |
| 2024/25 | 40.2 |
| 2025/26 | 39.3 |
| England | 44.9 |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 3,682 state schools in England we hold a 2025/26 figure for — a school-level median, not the DfE's pupil-weighted national figure.
Your offer chance
—Based on official applications/offers, distance and catchment where we have it. Bands only — never a percentage.
Sibling, faith, looked-after and other criteria can override distance. Always confirm with the school or local authority.
Next dates
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2026
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2027
- Secondary application deadline31 Oct 2027
- Secondary National Offer Day1 Mar 2028
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