Penistone Grammar School
Sheffield, S36 7BX · Barnsley · secondary school
Check the area around this school
3rd 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 the 712 schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 6.2/10 among them, against 7.7/10 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 | 59.1 · 80 | 30% | 2.40 |
| Progress 8 2023/24 | 0.33 · 74 | 25% | 1.86 |
| Attainment 8 2025/26 | 51.4 · 76 | 10% | 0.76 |
Each measure is read as a position among comparable schools, so a school in the middle of the country scores 5. Full method.
Penistone Grammar School overview
How it's doing
In 2024/25, 59.6% of pupils achieved Grade 5 or above in English and maths. Attainment 8 was 53.6, compared to the national median of 44.6. Progress 8 was +0.33 in 2023/24, indicating better progress than pupils nationally who started from the same place. Ofsted rated the school Good in March 2023. Narrow the comparison to the schools whose pupils have similar backgrounds — a tougher field — and it places 6.4 out of 10 among them, against 7.9 out of 10 nationally.
Beyond the classroom
Pupils access Barnsley Fencing Club, Barnsley Kixx, Barnsley Youth Choir (West), Penistone Community Wind Band, Penistone Gymnastics, Tang Soo Do Korean Martial Art, Cawthorne Badminton Club, Cawthorne Cricket Club, Circuit Class, Cumberworth Cricket Club, Denby Dale Cricket Club, Greenmoor Cricket Club, Higham Cricket Club, Hoylandswaine Cricket Club, and Michelle Heppenstall Dance.
Getting in
The published school roll is 1,946 pupils against a stated capacity of 1,877. 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 many places are there in the entry year, and how many families applied last year?
What Ofsted said about Penistone Grammar School
Overview
Penistone Grammar School continues to be a good school, where leaders hold high aspirations for pupils who study for ambitious qualifications and achieve well in external examinations. Pupils are respectful, focus on learning, and secure appropriate destinations for their next steps in education or training.
Strengths
- Teachers deliver high-quality lessons using a common approach that builds logically on prior knowledge, helping pupils "know and remember more."
- Pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) receive detailed support, including in the ‘Heart Space’ provision, enabling them to keep up with peers.
- Leaders provide high-quality enrichment opportunities, including educational visits, sport, and performing arts clubs, which most pupils take advantage of.
- The sixth form achieves well, with over half of students progressing to prestigious Russell Group universities.
- Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with a well-trained team and strong relationships with external agencies.
Areas to improve
- Leaders should ensure disadvantaged pupils and other groups participate fully in wider opportunities, as they currently miss out on important learning for broader development.
- Leaders need to improve engagement with stakeholders, as some parents, carers, and staff do not feel fully listened to or that their views are adequately considered.
Safeguarding
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective, with staff knowledgeable about local risks and pupils confident to raise concerns.
Results over time
Attainment 8, the years we hold.
| Year | Attainment 8 |
|---|---|
| 2023/24 | 55.4 |
| 2024/25 | 53.6 |
| 2025/26 | 51.4 |
| 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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