Classpot

The Forest Academy

Barnsley, S70 3NGPrimaryAges 3–11MixedState
Ofsted Rating
Outstanding
Feb 2023
KS2 Results
73%
meeting expected standard in RWM
Competition
0.9×
Not oversubscribed
38 1st-choice / 42 places
Ranking
🏆Top 25%
#3321 of 13,686 nationally

About The Forest Academy

The Forest Academy is a primary school in Barnsley that stands out sharply against the local average. In the 2023/24 Key Stage 2 results, 73% of its pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, compared with the Barnsley local authority average of 63%. That is a ten-point gap in the school’s favour. The school also performs well above the LA average on individual subjects: 85% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, 75% in writing and 88% in maths. The average scaled scores for reading and maths both sit at 107, comfortably above the national benchmark of 100. This is a school that consistently delivers results ahead of its local peers, and it does so while serving a community where 37.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the national average. The school is also heavily oversubscribed: for 2025/26, it received 64 applications for just 42 places, with 38 first-preference offers made.

Key Details

School TypePrimary (State)
Age Range3 to 11 years
GenderMixed
Religious CharacterDoes not apply
AddressThornton Road, Barnsley, Barnsley, S70 3NG
HeadteacherKatie Pierce
Local AuthorityBarnsley
Number of Pupils352
Free School Meals (FSM)37.3%
School Capacity352 / 253 (139% 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

2 Feb 2023
View Report
Overall Effectiveness
Outstanding
Quality of Education
Outstanding
Behaviour & Attitudes
Outstanding
Personal Development
Outstanding
Leadership & Management
Outstanding
Early Years Provision
Outstanding

Source: Ofsted, 20 Mar 2023. Ratings: 1=Outstanding, 2=Good, 3=Requires Improvement, 4=Inadequate.

Facilities

7
Outdoor PlaygroundGymnasiumPlaying FieldsMusic RoomsArt StudiosICT SuiteChapel

Facilities may vary. Contact the school for current availability.

Extracurriculars

10

Sports

TennisSwimmingDanceNetball

Clubs & Activities

Book ClubArt ClubGardeningChoirScience ClubEco Club

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

SEND Support

DyslexiaMental HealthSpeech & LanguageVisionPhysicalLearning Difficulty

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Forest Academy

The Forest Academy has been rated "Outstanding" by Ofsted. This means the school provides an exceptional quality of education, and pupils thrive both academically and personally.