Lift St Helen's
Barnsley, S71 2PS · Barnsley · primary school
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58th of 72 primary schools in Barnsley we can score, 77 in total — the rest without enough published data. Local and same-phase on purpose: a national table mostly measures who attends.
Its results hold up when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — 3.4/10 against 2,015 of them, against 3.1/10 nationally. So this is not simply a reflection of who attends. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expected standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 62.0 · 44 | 40% | 1.74 |
| Ofsted | 52 | 35% | 1.82 |
| Higher standard (RWM) 2024/25 | 0.0 · 10 | 25% | 0.26 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Lift St Helen's overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 62.0% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, compared with the national median of 64%. The proportion reaching the higher standard was 0.0%, against a national median of 7%. Its results are much the same when the comparison narrows to schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds, so the gap is not explained by intake (3.4 out of 10 against similar schools, 3.1 out of 10 against all schools). Ofsted rated the school Good in March 2024.
Getting in
The published school roll is 183 pupils against a stated capacity of 280. 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 progress from the expected standard to the higher standard in core subjects? What specific strategies are used to improve attainment in maths? How does the school maintain its Good Ofsted rating while addressing the gap in higher-standard results?
What Ofsted said about Lift St Helen's
Overview
St Helen’s Primary Academy is described as a “friendly and happy place to learn” where pupils are “proud to be part of this highly inclusive school.” The inspection found that the school provides a “Good” quality of education, with leaders establishing values based on “excellent attitudes, knowledge and teaching” that galvanise staff. Pupils demonstrate impressive understanding across subjects and show “consistently positive attitudes towards their learning.”
Strengths
- The school has established an “ambitious curriculum” that is implemented consistently, helping pupils secure “deep knowledge” in subjects such as history and mathematics.
- Reading is a clear priority, with “exemplary” work to broaden pupils’ vocabulary, giving them the confidence to read; one pupil noted it makes them feel “brave.”
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) “flourish” as they learn the same ambitious curriculum as their peers, with teachers successfully adapting learning to meet diverse needs.
- Staff apply a behaviour ladder consistently, ensuring pupils “behave well most of the time” and can focus on learning with “few distractions.”
- Governance is “extremely knowledgeable,” and the trust provides “highly effective support” for staff, prioritising workload and well-being.
Areas to improve
- The school must ensure pupils are given opportunities to address “gaps in their knowledge from previous years” across subjects, which currently hinder new learning.
- In early years, some activities are not focused closely enough on essential knowledge and skills; the school should ensure tasks provide better opportunities for children to “learn more deeply.”
Safeguarding
The report states that “the arrangements for safeguarding are effective.”
Results over time
Expected standard (reading, writing, maths), the years we hold.
| Year | Expected standard (reading, writing, maths) |
|---|---|
| 2022/23 | 34% |
| 2023/24 | 53% |
| 2024/25 | 62% |
| England | 64% |
Source: DfE Explore Education Statistics. “England” is the median of the 14,326 state schools in England we hold a 2024/25 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
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2027
- Primary National Offer Day16 Apr 2027
- Primary (Reception) application deadline15 Jan 2028
- Primary National Offer Day17 Apr 2028
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