Classpot

Joseph Locke Primary School

Barnsley, S70 6JLPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Good
Jun 2024
KS2 Results
48%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
52 1st-choice / 57 places
Ranking
#11,229
of 13,686 nationally

About Joseph Locke Primary School

Joseph Locke Primary School sits in a tricky spot compared with the Barnsley average for Key Stage 2 outcomes. The local authority average for pupils reaching the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined is 63 per cent, but at Joseph Locke only 48 per cent of pupils hit that benchmark. That gap of 15 percentage points is significant and places the school 60th out of 77 primary schools in the borough, putting it firmly in the bottom half of local schools. On the other hand, the school is oversubscribed — 101 applications for 57 places in 2025/26, with 52 first-preference offers — so local families are clearly still keen to get in. The picture is mixed: the school’s reading and maths average scores both sit at 101, which is exactly the national expectation, and 81 per cent of pupils reach the expected standard in writing, a notably stronger result. But the proportion reaching the higher standard across all three subjects is just 6 per cent, well below what you’d hope for.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressShaw Street, Joseph Locke Primary School, Barnsley, Barnsley, S70 6JL
HeadteacherJudith Brock
Local AuthorityBarnsley
Number of Pupils448
Free School Meals (FSM)30.2%
School Capacity448 / 444 (101% full)
Nursery ClassesYes

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

6 Jun 2024
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Good
Leadership & Management
Good
Early Years Provision
Good

Latest monitoring visit (6 Jun 2024): School remains Good

Source: Ofsted, 16 Apr 2015. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

6
Outdoor PlaygroundLibraryDining HallPlaying FieldsSports HallChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

9

Sports

RoundersDanceFootballAthleticsNetballTennis

Clubs & Activities

DramaArt ClubFilm Club

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

SEND Support

AutismDyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageLearning DifficultyOther

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Joseph Locke Primary School

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