Best Secondary Schools in Barnsley 2026

Ranked by Ofsted rating, exam results, attendance, and class sizes. 10 schools across Barnsley. Updated with 2025–26 data.

Barnsley has 10 open secondary schools. Of the 10 with a published Ofsted inspection, 1 (10%) held a historic grade of Outstanding and 100% 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.

10
Total schools
1
Outstanding (historic grade)
10%
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
🥇 Trinity Academy St. Edwards
Secondary
 Outstanding 95 View school
🥈 Penistone Grammar School
Secondary
 Good 69 View school
🥉 Darton Academy
Secondary
 Good 67 View school
4. Horizon Community College
Secondary
 Good 65 View school
5. Kirk Balk Academy
Secondary
 Good 60 View school
6. Barnsley Academy
Secondary
 Good 59 View school
7. Netherwood Academy
Secondary
 Good 56 View school
8. Outwood Academy Carlton
Secondary
 Good 54 View school
9. Astrea Academy Dearne
Secondary
 Good 52 View school
10. Outwood Academy Shafton
Secondary
 Good 40 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 All schools in BarnsleyPrimary & secondary combined Primary schools in BarnsleyReception–Year 6 only 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

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Frequently asked questions

How many secondary schools are there in Barnsley?
There are 10 open secondary schools in Barnsley (closed schools are excluded). 1 of the 10 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 secondary schools in Barnsley?
On our Schools Near Me score, the top-ranked secondary school in Barnsley is Trinity Academy St. Edwards. The full ranked table above lists the top 10 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.