Carlton Primary Academy
About Carlton Primary Academy
Carlton Primary Academy is a state-funded mixed primary school in Barnsley, currently home to 317 pupils against a capacity of 332, meaning it runs close to full but with a small handful of spare places. The proportion of pupils eligible for free school meals stands at 22.1%, which is notably higher than the national average for primary schools and suggests a catchment with above-average levels of disadvantage. Despite this, the school is clearly in demand: for the 2025/26 intake, it received 64 applications for just 38 places, with all 38 first-preference families offered a spot. That oversubscription ratio of 1.68 to one indicates a school that local families are actively choosing, even if it isn’t the most selective or high-performing in the borough. The school has a nursery provision, so children can join from age three, and it serves a mixed cohort across the full primary age range.
Key Details
The full report on this school
The inspection in plain English, admissions context, and how this school compares to nearby alternatives — all in one full school report.
- Ofsted inspection in plain EnglishStrengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
- Parent View survey resultsWhat parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
- Where Ofsted and parents disagreeGaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
- Admissions & catchmentAdmission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
- Nearby schools comparedBackup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
- Attendance & behaviour dataPersistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
13 Jun 2023Source: Ofsted, 25 Jul 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
Facilities
5Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
10Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Was this page helpful?
Frequently Asked Questions About Carlton Primary Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
How to Choose a Primary School
Step-by-step guide to choosing the right primary school
KS2 SATs Explained
A parent's guide to Year 6 SATs and how results are reported
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights