Schools by area › Barnsley › The Forest Academy
The Forest Academy
Primary · Mixed · Ages 3–11 · Sponsored academy
Thornton Road, Kendray, Barnsley S70 3NG · theforest-academy.co.uk · 01226 284719
Overview
- Ofsted
- Outstanding
- 2019 framework · inspected Feb 2023
- Key stage 2, 2024/25
- 70%
- reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths. Barnsley 65%, England 62%
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Reception, September 2026
- Pupils
- 346
- 93 over 253 places · 137%
- Local authority
- Barnsley
- Nursery class
- Yes
- Free school meals
- 42.4%
- First language not English
- 22.8%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Reception in September 2026, 33 families put the school first and 35 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Reception | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 35 | 33 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 42 | 38 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 45 | 48 | 1.1▲ | 92% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 44 | 49 | 1.1▲ | 90% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 45 | 50 | 1.1▲ | 90% |
Results
In 2024/25, 70% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths at the end of key stage 2, and 0% the higher standard. Across Barnsley it was 65%, and across England 62%.
Expected standard reading, writing and maths
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths | |||
| ▲70% | 62% | ||
| ▼0% | 8% | ||
| Average scaled score | |||
| ●104 | 106 | ||
| ●106 | 105 | ||
| ●103 | 105 | ||
Ofsted
The Forest Academy was judged Outstanding at its last graded inspection, on 2 February 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Outstanding
- Inspected
- 2 Feb 2023
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Outstanding |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Outstanding |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Outstanding |
| Early years | Outstanding |
Previously: Improving, ungraded inspection, Jan 2019
Earlier inspections
Before September 2019
Jan 2019Ungraded inspectionImproving
Safeguarding Effective Jan 2015Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Early years Good
What parents said
98% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (57 replies, to 1 January 2024).
- Recommend
- 98%
- Replies
- 57
- 16% · 1 Jan 2024
based on the 67% who raised concerns
based on the 42% who had a child bullied