Horizon Community College

About Horizon Community College

Horizon Community College sits within the Barnsley local authority, where it ranks third out of 11 secondary schools on Progress 8, placing it comfortably in the top third locally. The two schools ahead of it are Darton Academy and Penistone Grammar School, both of which post positive Progress 8 scores. Horizon’s own score of -0.07 is well above the Barnsley average of -0.51, meaning pupils here make progress broadly in line with the national average, unlike many schools in the area. The school is a large 11-16 mixed state secondary with no sixth form, and it is heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26 entry, it received 752 applications for 389 places, with 283 of those coming from first-preference families. That level of demand suggests strong local reputation. The nearest Outstanding-rated school is Trinity Academy St. Edwards, just 0.7 km away, but Horizon’s own Good rating from its most recent inspection in 2023 gives parents a solid, well-regarded option within the local landscape.

Academically, Horizon’s results tell a story of solid but uneven performance. Its Attainment 8 score of 44.8 is slightly above the national average, and 62.2% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in both English and maths, dropping to 40.4% at grade 5 or above. The school’s Progress 8 score of -0.07 is classed as ‘Average’ nationally, meaning students achieve roughly what would be expected given their starting points. However, there are notable subject-level differences: Progress 8 in English is -0.37, suggesting weaker progress in that subject, while maths (-0.05) and the EBacc subjects (0.03) are much closer to the national benchmark. The EBacc entry rate is 56.3%, with 36.2% of pupils achieving a grade 4 or above across the full EBacc suite. The school’s EBacc average point score of 4.1 is modest but reflects a broad curriculum offer. Compared with the Barnsley LA average Progress 8 of -0.51, Horizon is clearly performing above the typical local school, which will reassure parents concerned about regional attainment.

The school is well equipped for a large secondary, with facilities including a swimming pool, theatre, sports hall, and dedicated music and art studios. Its extensive list of clubs and activities — from Young Enterprise and Model UN to DofE, coding, and orchestra — suggests a genuine attempt to offer breadth beyond the classroom. Sports provision is strong, with swimming, cricket, hockey, netball, and athletics all on offer. For families with children who have additional needs, Horizon provides for a wide range of SEND categories, including specific learning difficulties, speech and language needs, autistic spectrum disorder, and physical disabilities, and it operates a resourced provision. With 27.6% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a diverse intake. Given its oversubscription, parents should apply early and list it as a first preference. Horizon suits families looking for a large, well-resourced state school with decent academic outcomes and a strong local reputation, particularly those who value extracurricular breadth and inclusive SEND support.

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