Classpot

Darton Academy

Barnsley, S75 5EFSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Feb 2023
Progress 8
+0.37
Above average
−20+2
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
167 1st-choice / 190 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#711 of 3,141 nationally

About Darton Academy

Darton Academy is a mixed, non-denominational secondary school for 11- to 16-year-olds in Barnsley, and it currently stands as the top-performing school in the local authority for academic progress. According to the most recent data, it ranks first out of eleven secondary schools in Barnsley based on its Progress 8 score, placing it well ahead of its nearest peers. The next highest-ranked school in the area is Penistone Grammar School, followed by Horizon Community College and Kirk Balk Academy. Darton’s strong position is reflected in its national percentile ranking, where it sits in the top 23% of all secondary schools in England. The school is also notably oversubscribed: for the 2025/26 academic year, it received 365 applications for 190 places, with 167 of those coming as first preferences. This level of demand suggests a strong local reputation, and the school’s most recent Ofsted inspection in 2023 rated it Good overall, with an Outstanding mark for personal development.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressBallfield Lane, Barnsley, Barnsley, S75 5EF
HeadteacherJoseph Spencer
Local AuthorityBarnsley
Number of Pupils1,114
Free School Meals (FSM)21.0%
School Capacity1,114 / 1,200 (93% full)

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 English
    Strengths, concerns and what inspectors flagged
  • Parent View survey results
    What parents told Ofsted — when the school has 10+ responses
  • Where Ofsted and parents disagree
    Gaps to probe + questions to ask at the open day
  • Admissions & catchment
    Admission criteria, distance cutoffs (where the LA publishes them)
  • Nearby schools compared
    Backup options with Ofsted, demand and distance
  • Attendance & behaviour data
    Persistent absentees, suspensions and exclusions vs national
See an example
One-off paymentNo subscriptionStripe checkout

Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

8 Feb 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Quality of Education
Good
Behaviour & Attitudes
Good
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Good

Source: Ofsted, 28 Mar 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

8
Swimming PoolSports HallGymnasiumMusic RoomsAstro TurfSixth Form CentreICT SuiteChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

13

Sports

Cross CountryFootballNetballRugbyAthleticsDanceBasketballSwimming

Clubs & Activities

Model United NationsScience ClubChoirDuke of EdinburghBook Club

Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionLearning DifficultyOther

Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.

Was this page helpful?

Frequently Asked Questions About Darton Academy

Darton Academy has been rated "Good" by Ofsted. This means the school provides a good standard of education and effectively supports all pupils to succeed.