Barnsley
Darton Academy
GCSE results 2026: every Barnsley school ranked · how England did
Dependable results for a comprehensive intake; the journey is the main thing to weigh.
What the data says
Published data, read plainly. It tells you what to check next; it does not guarantee a place or replace your local authority’s admissions guidance.
Attainment 8 of 50.7 is above the national average of around 46.
- 50.7
- Attainment 8
- 66%
- 5+ Eng & Maths
- 2025/2026
- Academic year
Pupils made above-average progress compared with similar pupils nationally. The confidence interval is entirely above zero, which is strong evidence of added value.
- +0.37
- Progress 8
- [0.19, 0.55]
- Confidence interval
Admissions realism depends on your home postcode and the school's published allocation data. Enter your postcode on this page to get a more specific assessment, and always verify the latest policy on the school's official admissions page.
What to do next
- Verify the school's official admissions policy
- Book an open day or school visit
- Add this school to your shortlist and compare with backup options
Starting school in September 2027
- Secondary (Year 7): apply by 31 October 2026; offers on 1 March 2027.
National dates for England. You apply through the council where you live, even for a school in another council.
Applications and offers
National offer day figures that councils report to the Department for Education. These are counts only: they do not show how far away the last child offered a place lived.
Year 7 entry
| Year of entry | Places offered | Put it first | First choices offered | Applications (any preference) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | 230 | 217 | 217 (100%) | 373 |
| September 2025 | 190 | 167 | 167 (100%) | 365 |
| September 2024 | 222 | 208 | 208 (100%) | 382 |
| September 2023 | 233 | 208 | 207 (100%) | 395 |
| September 2022 | 253 | 233 | 233 (100%) | 343 |
Source: Department for Education: Primary and secondary school applications and offers, Academic year 2026/27, school-level data, published 18 June 2026. “–” means the figure was not published. The council’s own allocation figures are the official record: check Barnsley’s admissions page for cut-off distances, the admission rules and this year’s dates.
Performance over time
Attainment 8 over time
Progress 8 over time(not available 2024/25 or 2025/26)
Historical results
| Year | Pupils | Att8 | P8 | 5+ E&M | 7+ E&M | EBacc % | EBacc APS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/2026 (provisional) | 186 | 50.7 | — | 66.1% | 21.5% | — | — |
| 2024/2025 | 206 | 52.1 | — | 65.0% | — | 38.3% | 4.7 |
| 2023/2024 | 251 | 48.9 | +0.37 | 53.8% | — | 39.8% | 4.4 |
| 2022/2023 | 229 | 49.8 | +0.35 | 55.5% | — | 32.3% | 4.3 |
| 2021/2022 | 235 | 51.0 | +0.40 | — | — | 23.0% | 4.4 |
EBacc figures stop at 2024/2025: the DfE no longer publishes them from 2025/2026.
Nearby and similar schools
Other secondary schools in Barnsley for local comparison.
School information
| URN | 146320 |
| Local authority | Barnsley |
| Region | Yorkshire and The Humber |
| Phase | Secondary |
| Type | Academy sponsor led |
| Gender of entry | Mixed |
| Age range | 11-16 |
| Headteacher | Joseph Spencer |
| Trust | DELTA ACADEMIES TRUST |
| Admissions | Non-selective |
| Religious character | Does not apply |
| Postcode | S75 5EF |
| Pupils | 1,114 |
| FSM eligible | 21.0% |
Contact and identifiers
Ballfield Lane, Darton, Barnsley, S75 5EF
https://www.dartonacademy.org.ukView local authority page1226232306| DfE number | 4012 |
| UKPRN | 10081147 |
| Opened | 1 Oct 2018 |
| GIAS updated | 21 Jan 2026 |
Data sources and freshness
| Official record updated | 21 Jan 2026 |
| Latest KS4 year | 2025/2026 |
| Latest KS2 year | — |
| Ofsted published | 28 Mar 2023 |
Latest Ofsted inspection
| Quality of education | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Personal development | Outstanding |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
| Inspection type | Academy First Section 5 |
| Category of concern | — |
| Inspection date | 8 Feb 2023 |
| Publication date | 28 Mar 2023 |