Classpot

Horizon Community College

Barnsley, S70 6PDSecondaryAges 11–16MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Oct 2023
Progress 8
-0.07
Below average
−20+2
Competition
0.8×
Not oversubscribed
290 1st-choice / 389 places
Ranking
#1,684
of 3,141 nationally

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.

Key Details

School TypeSecondary (State)
Age Range11 to 16 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressDodworth Road, Barnsley, Barnsley, S70 6PD
HeadteacherClaire Huddart
Local AuthorityBarnsley
Number of Pupils1,916
Free School Meals (FSM)27.6%
School Capacity1,916 / 2,000 (96% 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
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Ofsted Inspection Breakdown

5 Oct 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good

Latest monitoring visit (5 Oct 2023): School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next

Source: Ofsted, 8 Sept 2014. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

10
GymnasiumSports HallSwimming PoolMusic RoomsArt StudiosPlaying FieldsTennis CourtsTheatreLibraryChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

18

Sports

SwimmingCricketHockeyBasketballGymnasticsRoundersNetballAthletics

Clubs & Activities

Young EnterpriseEco ClubChessDuke of EdinburghDebateScience ClubCodingFilm ClubModel United NationsOrchestra

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

SEND Support

Resourced Provision
AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageHearingVisionPhysicalLearning DifficultySevere LearningResourced Provision

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Horizon Community College

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