Barnsley Academy
Barnsley, S70 3DL · Barnsley · secondary school
5th of 10 secondary schools in Barnsley we can score, 11 in total — the rest without enough published data. 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 — 6.5/10 against 336 of them, against 3.9/10 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% | 1.81 |
| Grade 5+ English & maths 2024/25 | 44.1 · 50 | 30% | 1.52 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.39 · 21 | 25% | 0.53 |
| Attainment 8 2024/25 | 45.1 · 46 | 10% | 0.47 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Get to know the school
How it's doing. In 2024/25, 44.1% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 45.1, slightly above the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.39 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than peers nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (6.5 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.9 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in February 2025.
Beyond the classroom. Pupils can join clubs including Dungeons & Dragons, Formula 1, School Newspaper, Sugar Craft, The Bake Off, Outright Debate, Homework Club, and Student Leadership. Sports options include Boys Football, Swimming, Netball, Basketball, Fitness Boxing, Badminton, and Retro Fitness Boxing. Music and arts activities cover Band, Flute, Percussion, Trombone, MiSST Ensemble, Violin, and Clarinet practice.
Getting in. There are 874 pupils in a school with 900 places, leaving 26 spare places. The school is close to full, so places are likely to be competitive.
Worth asking on a visit. How does the school support students who need extra help to reach the national median in attainment? What specific support is available for pupils who are falling behind in progress? How does the school manage the competitive nature of admissions for the remaining
Written by AI from this school's published results, inspection record and its own website — not by Ofsted, the school, or SchoolsGPT staff. Every figure above comes from the sources on this page. Check anything that matters with the school.
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.
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