Best Primary & Secondary Schools in Barnsley 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 96 schools across Barnsley. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Barnsley has 96 open primary & secondary schools. Of the 95 with a published Ofsted inspection, 10 (11%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 95% held Good or Outstanding — these are the last single-word grades from before Ofsted retired them on 10 November 2025 (how we treat Ofsted data). On our composite Schools Near Me score, Trinity Academy St. Edwards currently leads the local rankings. Closed schools are excluded from every list on this page.

Use the ranked table below to compare schools side by side, then open any school for the full picture. Application deadlines in Barnsley follow the national calendar: 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively.

96
Total schools
10
Outstanding (historic grade)
11%
of inspected schools (pre-Nov-2025)
67.5%
Avg KS2 SATs
38.4
Avg GCSE A8
All schools Primary Secondary
Rank School Ofsted (historic) SNM Score Profile
1. Trinity Academy St. Edwards
Secondary
 Outstanding 82 View school
2. Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
3. Silkstone Common Junior and Infant School
Primary
 Good 80 View school
4. Mapplewell Primary School
Primary
 Good 78 View school
5. Hunningley Primary Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 78 View school
6. Birdwell Primary School
Primary
 Good 78 View school
7. Cawthorne Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
8. Silkstone Primary School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
9. The Forest Academy
Primary
 Outstanding 77 View school
10. Springvale Primary School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
11. Gawber Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 77 View school
12. Oxspring Primary School
Primary
 Good 77 View school
13. Bank End Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 75 View school
14. Millhouse Primary School
Primary
 Good 74 View school
15. Brierley Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Primary
 Good 73 View school
16. Summerfields Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 73 View school
17. Tankersley St Peter's CofE (Aided) Primary School
Primary
 Good 72 View school
18. Penistone St John's Voluntary Aided Primary School
Primary
 Good 72 View school
19. Parkside Primary Academy
Primary
 Good 69 View school
20. Cherry Dale Primary School
Primary
 Outstanding 68 View school

Ranked by the Schools Near Me score. Ofsted grades shown are each school's last single-word grade from before 10 November 2025, when Ofsted retired single-word overall judgements — they are historic and not comparable to the new report cards. How we use Ofsted data. Closed schools are excluded.

Related lists for Barnsley

Best primary schools in BarnsleyTop-ranked Reception–Year 6 Best secondary schools in BarnsleyTop-ranked Year 7 onwards Primary schools in BarnsleyReception–Year 6 only Secondary schools in BarnsleyYear 7 onwards How the Schools Near Me score worksOur ranking methodology, explained

Nearby areas

Schools in WakefieldCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in RotherhamCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in SheffieldCompare neighbouring authoritySchools in KirkleesCompare neighbouring authority

See full data for any school in Barnsley

Catchment distances, exam trends, SEN data, attendance, and more — all in one place.

Search schools in Barnsley

Frequently asked questions

How many primary & secondary schools are there in Barnsley?
There are 96 open primary & secondary schools in Barnsley (closed schools are excluded). 10 of the 95 with a published inspection held a historic Ofsted grade of Outstanding (the last single-word grade before single-word grades were retired on 10 November 2025).
What are the best-rated primary & secondary schools in Barnsley?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked primary & secondary school in Barnsley is Trinity Academy St. Edwards. The full ranked table above lists the top 20 schools with their score and last historic Ofsted grade. We never list closed schools.
How is the Schools Near Me score calculated?
The Schools Near Me score is a 0–100 composite combining the school's last historic Ofsted grade, published exam and assessment results, attendance and pupil–teacher ratio. It is not an Ofsted rating. Full methodology: https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#score
Are Ofsted single-word grades still current in Barnsley?
No. Ofsted retired single-word overall grades (Outstanding, Good, Requires Improvement, Inadequate) on 10 November 2025 and replaced them with report cards. Any single-word grade shown on this page is the school's last historic grade from before that date and is not comparable to the new report cards. See https://schoolsnearme.ai/methodology#ofsted
How do I apply for a school place in Barnsley?
Primary and secondary applications in Barnsley are coordinated by the local authority on the national timetable: apply by 31 October for Year 7 secondary entry and by 15 January for Reception primary entry, with offers on 1 March and 16 April respectively. Check the Barnsley council website for local forms and any in-year rules.

Data sourced from Ofsted, Department for Education, and ISI. School rankings reflect the Schools Near Me composite score combining Ofsted ratings, exam results, attendance, and pupil-teacher ratios. Last updated April 2026.