Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #2 in Barnsley public Top 10% UK

Darton Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personMr Joseph Spencer

corporate_fareDELTA ACADEMIES TRUST

location_onBarnsley, S75 5EF

language Visit Website phone 1226232306

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2023

groups

Students

1,159

trending_up

Attainment 8

52.1

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GCSE Rank

#2 in Barnsley

#699 of 3,216 nationally

summarize

Darton Academy is a Academy sponsor led secondary school in Barnsley, serving ages 11-16. Rated Good by Ofsted.

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School Summary

Darton Academy is an academy sponsor led in Barnsley, admitting pupils aged 11-16. It is part of DELTA ACADEMIES TRUST. The school has approximately 1,114 pupils on roll, of whom 23% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, pupils achieved an Attainment 8 score of 52.1, placing the school #2 in Barnsley and #699 of 3,216 nationally. 65.00% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in English and Maths. 26.6% of all GCSE entries were graded 9–7.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2023. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Outstanding, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 21.4:1. There is 1 teaching vacancy.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were 10 permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 11.2 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

analytics

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

2025

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

52.1

Grade 5+ E&M

65.00%

Grade 9–7 (all GCSEs)26.6%

Entering EBacc38.30%

EBacc APS4.67

2024

Progress 8 Score

0.37

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

48.9

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc39.80%

EBacc APS4.39

2023

Progress 8 Score

0.35

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

49.8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc32%

EBacc APS4.29

2022

Progress 8 Score

0.4

vs National Avg

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc23%

EBacc APS4.36

2021

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc11%

EBacc APS-

2019

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

2018

Progress 8 Score

Attainment 8

Grade 5+ E&M

Entering EBacc-%

EBacc APS-

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Student Destinations (After Secondary)

This module shows what students did after finishing Key Stage 4 (GCSEs). It reflects how well the school prepares pupils for the real world.

2025

Stayed in Education / Employment

90%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships6%

Employment3%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)8%

2024

Stayed in Education / Employment

94%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)81%

Apprenticeships8%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2023

Stayed in Education / Employment

95%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)82%

Apprenticeships8%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)5%

2022

Stayed in Education / Employment

97%

Education (e.g. Sixth Form/College)88%

Apprenticeships4%

Employment5%

Not in Education / Employment (NEET)3%

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

08 February 2023

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

3 Evaluations

2023-02-08

Academy First Section 5 EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Outstanding

Leadership

Good

2017-10-18

Maintained Academy and School Short inspection EIF

Inadequate

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Inadequate

2013-06-05

None EIF

Good

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

10.9%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 7.3% for this term (secondary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

6.4%(71 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

1pupils

gavel Exclusion recorded

National average: 7.398% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 1,114 pupils. During this period, there were 121 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 10.9%, which is above the termly national average of 7.3%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	1,114	121	10.9%	7.3%	1
2024/25 (Autumn term)	1,131	130	11.5%	7.8%	9
2023/24 (Summer term)	1,158	160	13.8%	7.4%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	1,156	113	9.8%	7.1%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	1,166	172	14.8%	8.2%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	1,154	123	10.7%	6.6%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	1,159	116	10.0%	6.4%	1
2022/23 (Autumn term)	1,155	114	9.9%	5.9%	3
2021/22 (Summer term)	1,137	69	6.1%	4.7%	1
2021/22 (Spring term)	1,142	80	7.0%	4.9%	1
2021/22 (Autumn term)	1,144	67	5.9%	4.4%	0
2020/21 (Summer term)	1,173	81	6.9%	3.6%	1
2020/21 (Spring term)	1,172	10	0.9%	1.0%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	1,177	63	5.4%	3.9%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	1,170	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	1,170	55	4.7%	3.2%	0
2019/20 (Autumn term)	1,168	53	4.5%	4.2%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	1,156	49	4.2%	3.1%	3
2018/19 (Spring term)	1,160	118	10.2%	3.8%	2
2018/19 (Autumn term)	1,168	67	5.7%	3.8%	0

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 50 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 29 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 29 pupils

Speech, Language & Communication 9 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 9 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 9 pupils

Visual Impairment 2 pupils

Hearing Impairment 1 pupils

Physical Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

67.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

69.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

18.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree20%

agree41%

disagree22%

strongly disagree10%

don't know7%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree24%

agree46%

disagree18%

strongly disagree8%

don't know3%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree23%

agree17%

disagree20%

strongly disagree21%

don't know1%

not applicable18%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes21%

no79%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree26%

agree23%

disagree13%

strongly disagree38%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree36%

agree33%

disagree10%

strongly disagree7%

don't know14%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree33%

agree37%

disagree16%

strongly disagree9%

don't know4%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree23%

agree35%

disagree27%

strongly disagree14%

don't know1%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree27%

agree58%

disagree8%

strongly disagree3%

don't know5%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree37%

agree52%

disagree4%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree22%

agree28%

disagree21%

strongly disagree14%

don't know15%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes57%

no43%

Top Secondary Schools in Barnsley

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

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Horizon Community College

Good

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location_on Barnsley, S74 9HX

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Barnsley Academy

Good

location_on Barnsley, S70 3DL

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Netherwood Academy

Good

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Good

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School Summary

Academic Performance

Secondary Performance Trends (KS4)

Student Destinations (After Secondary)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Secondary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Secondary Schools in Barnsley

Penistone Grammar School

Horizon Community College

Kirk Balk Academy

Barnsley Academy

Netherwood Academy

Outwood Academy Shafton