Schools by area › Barnsley › Netherwood Academy
Netherwood Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Sponsored academy
Dove Valley Way, Wombwell, Barnsley S73 8FE · astreanetherwood.org · 01226 272000
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Mar 2024
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 42.6
- average Attainment 8 score. Barnsley 44, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.8
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,229
- 77% of 1,600 places
- Local authority
- Barnsley
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 37.9%
- First language not English
- 10.3%
- School census 2025/26
- Trust
- Astrea Academy Trust
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 228 families put the school first and 271 places were offered; 100% of those families were offered a place there. Admission depends on the school’s own rules.
First choices against places
| Year 7 | Places | First choices | Per place | % offered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026Sept 2026 | 271 | 228 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 259 | 211 | 0.8 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 310 | 189 | 0.6 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 270 | 187 | 0.7 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 255 | 218 | 0.9 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 42.6, and 39.3% of pupils got grade 5 or above in English and maths. Across Barnsley it was 44, and across England 46.
GCSE results
Attainment 8
| 2024/25 | Trend | School | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▼42.6 | 46.0 | ||
| ▼39.3% | 45.4% | ||
| ▼62.0% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼37.2% | 40.5% | ||
| ▼3.87 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 136403)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 3.4 | 0 |
| Further education | 80.3 | +10.5 |
| Other education | 0.9 | +0.4 |
| Apprenticeship | 3.9 | −2.4 |
| Employment | 3.4 | −3.4 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 5.6 | −3.7 |
| Activity not captured | 2.6 | −1.3 |
Ofsted
Netherwood Academy was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 12 March 2024, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 12 Mar 2024
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Requires improvement |
| Personal development | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Previously: Requires improvement, graded inspection, Oct 2021
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 136403), which Ofsted links to this one.
September 2019 to November 2025
Dec 2022Monitoring visit
Safeguarding Met Oct 2021Requires improvement
Quality of education Requires improvement Behaviour and attitudes Requires improvement Personal development Requires improvement Leadership and management Requires improvement Safeguarding Effective
Before September 2019
Jul 2014Requires improvement
Leadership and management Requires improvement Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 136403)
What parents said
63% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (142 replies, to 6 January 2025).
- Recommend
- 63%
- Replies
- 142
- 11% · 6 Jan 2025
based on the 79% who raised concerns
based on the 51% who had a child bullied
based on 38 parents (27%) with SEND