Lift Shafton

About Lift Shafton

Ofsted's Parent View survey, completed by 41 families during the 2024-25 period, shows that 80% of respondents would recommend Lift Shafton to other parents. That's a strong signal, and it's backed up by the school's popularity: for the 2025/26 reception intake, there were 52 applications for just 21 places, giving an oversubscription ratio of 2.48. Among those, 20 families put it as their first preference and all 20 received an offer. On individual questions, the picture is positive but not without nuance. 90% of parents agreed or strongly agreed that their child is happy, and 91% felt their child is safe. However, only 56% felt that concerns are dealt with properly (combining 'agree' and 'strongly agree'), and 22% actively disagreed on that point. The school's most recent Ofsted inspection, an ungraded visit in November 2024, judged that the school has 'improved significantly' since its previous graded inspection, when it was rated Good overall with Outstanding marks for early years provision and leadership.

Academically, Lift Shafton performs well above the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 tests, 74% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared to a Barnsley average of 63%. That places the school 17th out of 70 primaries in the local authority, putting it in the top 25% nationally. Looking at individual subjects, 82% met the expected standard in both maths and writing, while 79% did so in reading. At the higher standard, 28% of pupils achieved that level in reading, 21% in maths and 15% in writing. Average scaled scores were 105 in both reading and maths. The school's previous Ofsted inspection, a graded visit in 2015, rated it Good overall after it had been judged to Require Improvement in 2013. That trajectory of improvement is reflected in the current leadership and management being rated Outstanding.

The school is a mixed, non-denominational primary for children aged 4 to 11, with a current roll of 243 pupils against a capacity of 280. It has a range of facilities including a forest school, sensory room, music rooms, art studios and a chapel. Sports on offer include football, cricket, swimming and athletics, while clubs include art, drama, film and book club. The school's SEND provision covers moderate learning difficulty, social emotional and mental health needs, speech language and communication needs, and autistic spectrum disorder. With 23.5% of pupils eligible for free school meals, the school serves a community with above-average disadvantage. Given its strong academic outcomes, high parental satisfaction and clear oversubscription, this is a school that suits families who want a well-regarded local primary with a proven track record, but who should be aware that securing a place is competitive.

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