Outwood Academy Carlton

About Outwood Academy Carlton

Outwood Academy Carlton is a mixed 11-16 state secondary in Barnsley, one of 13 schools of its type in the local authority. It sits fifth in the Barnsley rankings by Progress 8 score, placing it in the middle of the pack. The top-performing local peers are Darton Academy, Penistone Grammar School, and Horizon Community College, all of which post stronger Progress 8 scores. The school is oversubscribed for 2025/26, receiving 395 applications for 207 places, with 210 of those as first preferences and 203 first-preference offers made. That level of demand suggests it holds a solid reputation locally, even if it isn't the highest-ranked school in the area. Headteacher Paul Taylor leads a school of 1,130 pupils, which is slightly above its stated capacity of 1,100. Over a third of pupils (36.1%) are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average, reflecting the school's intake in a relatively disadvantaged community.

Academically, the school's Progress 8 score of -0.25 is rated 'Below average' nationally, but it is notably better than the Barnsley local authority average of -0.51. That means pupils here make more progress than the typical student in the borough, even if the score is below the national zero benchmark. Attainment 8 sits at 39.7, and 56.6% of pupils achieved a grade 4 or above in English and maths, dropping to 40.2% at grade 5 or above. The EBacc average point score is 3.39, with 26.5% of pupils entering the EBacc combination and 19.2% achieving a grade 4 or above in it. In its most recent Ofsted inspection, the school retained its Good rating, with leadership and management also judged Good. An ungraded inspection in October 2024 confirmed that standards are being maintained. Parent View responses from 96 families show 60% would recommend the school, though opinions are mixed: 72% agree their child is happy, but only 45% feel concerns are dealt with properly.

The school offers a broad range of facilities including science labs, a sports hall, astro turf, tennis courts, a library, and a sixth form centre (though the school itself does not have a sixth form). Sports on offer include football, rugby, hockey, cricket, martial arts, swimming, and rounders, while clubs range from art and orchestra to coding, chess, and gardening. SEND provision is extensive, covering specific learning difficulties like dyslexia, moderate learning difficulties, social emotional and mental health needs, speech and language communication needs, hearing and visual impairments, autistic spectrum disorder, and a resourced provision. However, Parent View data on SEND support is sharply divided: 45% of respondents disagree or strongly disagree that the school gives SEND children the support they need, while 45% agree or strongly agree. This school suits families in Barnsley who want a mainstream secondary with strong local demand, a Good Ofsted rating, and a wide extracurricular offer, but who should investigate SEND support carefully if their child has additional needs.

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