Schools by area › Barnsley › Darton Academy
Darton Academy
Secondary · Mixed · Ages 11–16 · Sponsored academy
Ballfield Lane, Darton, Barnsley S75 5EF · dartonacademy.org.uk · 01226 232306
Overview
- Ofsted
- Good
- 2019 framework · inspected Feb 2023
- GCSEs, 2024/25
- 52.1
- average Attainment 8 score. Barnsley 44, England 46
- Demand for places
- 0.9
- first choices for each place · Year 7, September 2026
- Pupils
- 1,099
- 92% of 1,200 places
- Local authority
- Barnsley
- Sixth form
- No
- Admissions
- Non-selective
- Free school meals
- 22.2%
- First language not English
- 3.6%
- School census 2025/26
The official school record (Department for Education)
Admissions
For Year 7 in September 2026, 217 families put the school first and 230 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 | 230 | 217 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2025Sept 2025 | 190 | 167 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2024Sept 2024 | 222 | 208 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2023Sept 2023 | 233 | 208 | 0.9 | 100% |
| September 2022Sept 2022 | 253 | 233 | 0.9 | 100% |
Results
In 2024/25 the average Attainment 8 score at GCSE was 52.1, and 65% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| ▲52.1 | 46.0 | ||
| ▲65.0% | 45.4% | ||
| ▲78.6% | 64.8% | ||
| ▼38.3% | 40.5% | ||
| ▲4.67 | 4.09 |
Some years are for the predecessor school (URN 106651)
Where Year 11 leavers went
| Left in 2023/24 | Since 2021/22 | |
|---|---|---|
| School sixth form | 3.6 | −1.1 |
| Sixth form college | 4.8 | −5.4 |
| Further education | 77.7 | +11.3 |
| Apprenticeship | 5.2 | −2.9 |
| Employment | 2.4 | −1.4 |
| Not in a lasting destination | 4.8 | −1.2 |
| Activity not captured | 1.6 | +0.7 |
Ofsted
Darton Academy was judged Good at its last graded inspection, on 8 February 2023, under Ofsted’s 2019 framework.
- Overall
- Good
- Inspected
- 8 Feb 2023
- Graded inspection
Safeguarding effectiveInspection reports
Graded areas
| Quality of education | Good |
|---|---|
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
Previously: Inadequate, graded inspection, Oct 2017
Earlier inspections
Including inspections of the predecessor school (URN 106651), which Ofsted links to this one.
Before September 2019
Oct 2017Inadequate
Outcomes for pupils Inadequate Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Inadequate Personal development, behaviour and welfare Requires improvement Leadership and management Inadequate Safeguarding Effective Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 106651)
Jun 2013Good
Outcomes for pupils Good Quality of teaching, learning and assessment Good Leadership and management Good Inspection of the predecessor school (URN 106651)
What parents said
51% of the parents who answered Ofsted’s Parent View survey would recommend the school (193 replies, to 1 January 2024).
- Recommend
- 51%
- Replies
- 193
- 17% · 1 Jan 2024
based on the 83% who raised concerns
based on the 49% who had a child bullied
based on 42 parents (22%) with SEND