Darton Academy
93%
Capacity
1,114
Pupils
1.9x
Demand
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.
Academically, Darton Academy delivers results that are significantly above the local average. Its Progress 8 score of 0.37 is classed as ‘Above average’ by the Department for Education, and it compares very favourably to the Barnsley local authority average of -0.51. This means pupils at Darton make substantially more progress between the end of primary school and their GCSEs than their peers in other local schools. The school’s Attainment 8 score stands at 48.9, and 53.8% of pupils achieved a grade 5 or above in English and maths — a key benchmark. In English, the school’s Progress 8 score is particularly strong at 0.77, while maths sits at 0.43. The EBacc average points score is 4.39, with 39.8% of pupils entering the EBacc combination of subjects. Compared with its previous inspection in 2017, when the school was rated Inadequate overall, the improvement to Good represents a significant turnaround in leadership and teaching quality.
The school offers a broad range of facilities, including a swimming pool, sports hall, gymnasium, astro turf, music rooms, and an ICT suite. Sports on offer include football, netball, rugby, athletics, dance, basketball, and swimming, while extracurricular clubs range from Model UN and Science Club to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and choir. Darton also provides support for a wide range of special educational needs, including autistic spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and social, emotional and mental health needs. There is no sixth form on site, so pupils will need to plan for post-16 education elsewhere. With its strong academic outcomes and oversubscribed admissions, Darton Academy is a good fit for families in Barnsley who prioritise academic progress and want a school with a clear track record of improvement, a wide range of enrichment opportunities, and a supportive SEND framework.
Key Details
| School Type | Secondary (State) |
| Age Range | 11 to 16 years |
| Gender | Mixed |
| Religious Character | Does not apply |
| Address | Ballfield Lane, Barnsley, Barnsley, S75 5EF |
| Headteacher | Joseph Spencer |
| Local Authority | Barnsley |
| Number of Pupils | 1,114 |
| Free School Meals (FSM) | 21.0% |
| School Capacity | 1,114 / 1,200 (93% full) |
Ofsted Inspection Breakdown
8 Feb 2023Overall Effectiveness
Good
Source: Ofsted, 28 Mar 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.
League Table Position
Based on Progress 8 (+0.37)
711th of 3,141
Nationally
59th of 306
In Yorkshire and the Humber
1st of 11
In Barnsley
Source: Classpot analysis of DfE Progress 8 data
GCSE Results
2023/24Progress 8 Score
Students make more progress than similar students nationally
Attainment 8 (vs national avg)
Students achieve significantly higher grades than the national average
Source: Department for Education, 2023/24. Progress 8 compares to students with similar Key Stage 2 results.
Where GCSE leavers go
2022/232%
of GCSE leavers stay on for sixth form at this school (cohort: 229 pupils).
- FE college69%
- Sixth form college10%
- Apprenticeship8%
- Employment5%
- Not sustained5%
- School sixth form (stay)2%
95% of leavers had a sustained destination 6 months on.
Source: DfE Compare School & College Performance, KS4 pupil destinations 2022/23 (revised). Only state-funded schools are required to report.
SEND Support
Source: Department for Education, 2024/25. Support availability based on current student population.
Facilities
8Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.
Extracurriculars
13Sports
Clubs & Activities
Activities may vary by term. Contact the school for current offerings.
Admissions
2025/26Oversubscribed190
365
Good Demand
Popular school with more applications than places
167 families put this school as their 1st choice (46% of all applications)
Source: Department for Education, 2025/26. Data reflects national offer day applications and offers.
Class profile
2024/25Half of schools in England do better than this.
Better than half of schools in England.
Lower is generally better — fewer pupils per teacher or per class means more individual attention. Sources: DfE School Workforce Census & Schools, pupils and their characteristics, 2024/25.
Pupils & demographics
2024/25Below the national average (25%).
Lower than the national median (10%) — mostly English as first language.
Ethnic background
- White British87.9%
- White (other)3.1%
- Mixed1.5%
- Asian1.3%
- Black0.3%
Source: DfE Schools, pupils and their characteristics (2024/25). Percentages may not sum to 100% — pupils classified as “unclassified”, “refused” or minor categories are not shown.
Attendance & Behaviour
2024/2575% of schools in England do better than this.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
Pupils missing 10% or more of sessions.
75% of schools in England do better than this.
A pupil temporarily sent home for behaviour.
Like most schools in England, no pupils were permanently excluded this year.
Ranks vs all state-funded schools in England. Source: DfE Pupil absence in schools & Suspensions and permanent exclusions.
Catchment & Local Competition
No catchment data published for this school
The dashed grey ring is a generic 1-mile reference area — it's not an admission boundary. Real catchment depends on year, demand, and council criteria. We currently have real data for about 6% of UK schools and are actively expanding the database.
⚠ This school is oversubscribed — without published cutoff data we can't show how far places reach. Check your council's admissions page.
Schools within 1 mile (reference area)
1 mile is a fixed reference, not this school's catchment.
3
Total schools
3
Oversubscribed
2
Primary
Don’t use the dashed grey ring as a catchment boundary — it’s a reference area for counting nearby schools only. Real admission boundaries depend on year-by-year demand and council criteria; ask the school or council for authoritative info.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Darton Academy
Helpful Guides for Parents
Ofsted Ratings Explained
Understand the 4 Ofsted ratings and what they mean
Understanding Progress 8
Learn how Progress 8 measures pupil progress from primary to GCSE
SEN & EHCP: A Parent's Guide
Understanding SEN support, EHC Plans and your legal rights
Understanding School Catchment Areas
How admission distances work and tips for maximising your choices
Contact Information
Ballfield Lane, Barnsley
Barnsley, S75 5EF
Journey to School
Journey times are estimates based on current conditions. Actual times may vary.
Opening Hours
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