Grammar schools in Barnsley
There are no grammar schools in Barnsley.
Grammar schools are state secondaries that select by ability, usually through an 11+ test. Only 46 of the 226 local authorities in the UK still have any — Barnsley is one of the majority that does not, so local state secondaries admit without a selective test.
The nearest is Heckmondwike Grammar School, about 14.1 miles away in Kirklees.
Could a child from Barnsley get a place?
Passing the test is not enough. These schools give places first to children in their priority groups, such as looked-after children, siblings and children in the school's own catchment area. Any places left go to other children who passed, nearest home first. A child from Barnsley without one of those priorities competes for those last places, so what matters is how far they reached.
Trafford works differently: Stretford Grammar School and Urmston Grammar Academy each give about 20 places to their highest scorers wherever they live, and Altrincham Grammar School for Boys and Sale Grammar School rank children from outside their own areas by score, not distance. A very high score can win a Trafford place from beyond these distances.
| School | Intake | Last place by distance, 2026 | Earlier years | Barnsley postcodes within that distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stretford Grammar School | Mixed | 4.4 miles | — | none |
The furthest straight-line distance from home at which each school offered a place by distance on National Offer Day, from the council's allocation figures. The distance changes every year, and later rounds can stretch it slightly. The postcode share uses ONS postcode centres, so it counts postcodes, not households.
Key dates
- 31 October 2026: deadline to apply for a secondary place, through Barnsley Council even for schools in another council
Each council's test has its own registration window, months before the test itself. Children who don't attend a school in that council usually have to be registered by their parents.
Nearest grammar schools to Barnsley
Straight-line distance from the centre of Barnsley — not a travel time.
| School | Area | Distance | Intake | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heckmondwike Grammar School | Heckmondwike | 14.1 miles | Mixed | Good |
| The Crossley Heath School | Halifax | 20.6 miles | Mixed | Good |
| The North Halifax Grammar School | Halifax | 22.6 miles | Mixed | Good |
| The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough | Gainsborough | 29.5 miles | Mixed | Good |
| Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School | Rossendale | 33.9 miles | Mixed | Inadequate |
| Stretford Grammar School | Manchester | 35.2 miles | Mixed | Good |
Published admissions priorities
These are extracts from school-specific arrangements for the entry years shown, in priority order. They are not the full policy or a prediction of an offer. Check the linked arrangement for test eligibility, deadlines and all remaining priorities.
Heckmondwike Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked After/Previously Looked After Children (in or outside England) of selective ability (published source)
- Pupil Premium children of selective ability (published source)
- Children of selective ability resident in the catchment area (published source)
The Crossley Heath School — 2026 entry
- Looked After, Previously Looked After, or Special Guardianship children (published source)
- Pupil Premium and Service Premium children (published source)
- Remaining places by combined order of merit (English + Maths), until PAN (180) is reached (published source)
The North Halifax Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked After, Previously Looked After, or Special Guardianship children (published source)
- Pupil Premium and Service Premium children (published source)
- Up to 10% of places (of PAN 180): children in NHGS's own Priority Admissions Area (published source)
The Queen Elizabeth's High School, Gainsborough — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children who reach the qualifying standard (published source)
- Children with a brother or sister on roll (published source)
- Children of staff (published source)
Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked After/Previously Looked After Children (published source)
- Children attending Area 1 primary schools, ranked by entrance exam mark (siblings at BRGS get priority within this tier) (published source)
- Children attending Area 2 primary schools, ranked by entrance exam mark (siblings at BRGS get priority within this tier) (published source)
Stretford Grammar School — 2026 entry
- Looked after and previously looked after children, including those adopted from state care outside England (published source)
- Children in the catchment area receiving the Pupil or Service Premium (published source)
- Children with a sibling at the school in Years 7–11 (published source)
Schools in Barnsley
Barnsley has 92 open schools. Browse all Barnsley schools with Ofsted ratings, catchment areas and admission criteria, or see them on the map.
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