Kirk Balk Academy
Barnsley, S74 9HX · Barnsley · secondary school
Check the area around this school
5th 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 — 6.9/10 against 815 of them, against 5.6/10 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 | 54.0 · 71 | 30% | 2.14 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | -0.13 · 40 | 25% | 1.00 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 46.4 · 52 | 10% | 0.52 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Kirk Balk Academy overview
How it's doing
Ofsted rated the school Good in July 2025. In 2024/25, 54.7% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 46.0, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was -0.13 in 2023/24, indicating pupils did worse than those nationally who started from the same place. Narrow the comparison to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds and it does better still (7.1 out of 10 against similar schools, 5.7 out of 10 against all schools).
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,318 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,250. 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
What support is available for pupils whose Progress 8 scores are below the national baseline? How does the school ensure equitable access to extracurricular opportunities for all students?
What Ofsted said about Kirk Balk Academy
Overview
Kirk Balk Academy has taken effective action to maintain the standards identified at the previous inspection. The school is described as successful in its vision to be ‘outcomes focused, child centred’, with a deep commitment to improving pupils’ life chances. Leaders are skilled and effective, ensuring high standards are maintained while prioritising staff workload and well-being.
Strengths
- The curriculum is ambitious, with clear expectations of what pupils should know, supported by identified ‘subject DNA’ to guide teaching.
- Pupils are happy, well-mannered, and conduct themselves well in a calm and orderly environment.
- Teachers explain concepts clearly and use probing questions, while the school encourages a love of reading with carefully chosen books.
- Attendance rates are improving as the school works to understand and address barriers to regular attendance.
- The careers programme ensures pupils receive independent advice, with the overwhelming majority gaining access to further education, employment, or training.
Areas to improve
- Teaching is not always adapted sufficiently to meet the needs of all pupils, particularly those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), meaning some do not achieve as well as they could.
- Strategies to support a minority of pupils with challenging behaviour are not yet having the required impact, leading to occasional disruption.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 46.8 |
| 2024/25 | 46.0 |
| 2025/26 | 46.4 |
| 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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