Schools in Barnsley

87 schools with published admissions figures

The newest figures for each school. "1st prefs per place" is how many families put the school first, for each place it gave out. It measures demand, not whether a child would get a place. A dash means the figure is not available.

How the 2026 round went in Barnsley

Primary

Offered their first choice 95.7%
Of families applying for a primary place for September 2026. Against 89.6% in 2016.
Offered one of their three 99.2%
Families offered any of the schools they named.
Families who applied 2,423
Applications received for a primary place. A family naming three schools counts once.

For September 2026, 95.7% of families applying for a primary place here were offered their first choice, and 99.2% were offered one of the three schools they named.

That is 6.1 points higher than in 2016, when it was 89.6%.

The council's primary schools between them had 2,979 places for 2,423 applications. That is a total for the whole council and says nothing about any one school in it.

Secondary

Offered their first choice 91.0%
Of families applying for a secondary place for September 2026. Against 95.2% in 2016.
Offered one of their three 98.2%
Families offered any of the schools they named.
Families who applied 2,653
Applications received for a secondary place. A family naming three schools counts once.

For September 2026, 91.0% of families applying for a secondary place here were offered their first choice, and 98.2% were offered one of the three schools they named.

That is 4.2 points lower than in 2016, when it was 95.2%.

The council's secondary schools between them had 2,717 places for 2,653 applications. That is a total for the whole council and says nothing about any one school in it.

Source: Department for Education, applications and offers. The same round across England.

If a family is refused a place

In 2026, families in Barnsley lodged 147 appeals about a school place.

121 of them were heard by a panel and 31 succeeded, which is about 26 in every 100 heard.

The other 26 did not reach a panel. Most appeals that do not are withdrawn because a place comes up first.

This is a record of decisions already made. A panel hears one case at a time and decides it on what that family sets out, so these figures do not indicate what would happen in any particular appeal.

Source: Department for Education, admission appeals in England, reporting year 2026. Counts every school in this council area. The share that succeeded is taken over appeals heard by a panel, not over appeals lodged.

Secondary

School	1st prefs per place	Demand since	Latest Ofsted
Astrea Academy Dearne Rotherham	0.77	-	Good Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)
Barnsley Academy Barnsley	0.82	-	Standards maintained Ofsted ungraded inspection
Darton Academy Barnsley	0.94	-	Good Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)
Horizon Community College Barnsley	0.90	-	School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next Ofsted ungraded inspection
Kirk Balk Academy Barnsley	0.93	-	Standards maintained Ofsted ungraded inspection
Netherwood Academy Barnsley	0.84	-	Good Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)
Outwood Academy Carlton Barnsley	0.96	-	Standards maintained Ofsted ungraded inspection
Outwood Academy Shafton Barnsley	1.08	-	Not judged Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)
Penistone Grammar School Sheffield	1.01	-	School remains Good Ofsted ungraded inspection
Trinity Academy St. Edwards Barnsley	1.45	-	Outstanding Ofsted graded inspection (previous framework)

Elsewhere

Most sought-after schools in Barnsley by first preferences per place
Schools in S35 (16)
Schools in S36 (11)
Schools in S63 (17)
Schools in S70 (14)
Schools in S71 (15)
Schools in S72 (10)
Schools in S73 (10)
Schools in S74 (7)
Schools in S75 (16)
What data we hold