Academy sponsor led · Barnsley

Outwood Academy Shafton

11–16Ages
1,377Pupils
SecondaryPhase
139211URN

Engine Lane, Shafton, Barnsley, S72 8RE · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · May 2025 Previous framework

No overall grade given

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.4per place

0.2 below Barnsley median (1.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Barnsley

364 applications for 261 places · 9th of 11 in Barnsley

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

43.3of 90

Barnsley 43.3 England 46.0

6th of 11 in Barnsley

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Graded inspection · 7 May 2025Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024). Between September 2024 and November 2025 Ofsted graded areas but gave no overall grade.
Area	Outstanding	Good	Requires improvement	Inadequate
Quality of education		Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Good
Personal development		Good
Leadership and management		Good

Inspection history

7 May 2025
Graded inspection, no overall grade
27 September 2023
Ungraded inspection: School remains Good (Concerns)

Full reports on the Ofsted website · How to read Ofsted grades

About these grades

Ofsted's report cards (from November 2025) grade each area on five steps and give no overall grade. Earlier grades come from a different framework; Ofsted says the two cannot be compared, so they are never converted here. Ofsted: "We normally inspect schools every 4 years or at any time if we have concerns." Methodology.

How hard is it to get a place?

DfE · Sept 2026 entry

1.4applications per place, Year 7

0.2 below Barnsley median (1.6) 0.8 below England median (2.2)

364 applications · 261 places offered · 281 named it first

HistoryEarlier years not shown: formed from, or split from, other schools.

2026 1.4; Barnsley median median 1.6
2025 1.4; Barnsley median median 1.9
2024 1.4; Barnsley median median 1.7
2023 1.3; Barnsley median median 1.7
2022 1.2; Barnsley median median 1.5
2021 1.3; Barnsley median median 1.5
2020 1.2; Barnsley median median 1.5
2019 1.2; Barnsley median median 1.6
2018 1.2; Barnsley median median 1.3
2017 1.2; Barnsley median median 1.7
2016 1.2; Barnsley median median 1.7
2015 1.2; Barnsley median median 1.7; as the previous school
2014 1.3; Barnsley median median 1.9; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Barnsley median in 0 of 11 years.

This school
Barnsley median

Dashed bars: as Shafton Advanced Learning Centre (URN 136371), the previous school.

Year 7 applications for September 2027 close 31 October 2026, through your council

How this is measured

Applications per place: every application naming the school at any preference, divided by places offered on National Offer Day. It is not your chance of a place. Methodology.

Entry	Places	Applications	Per place	First preferences	First-pref. ratio
Sep 2026	261	364	1.4	281	1.08
Sep 2025	260	357	1.4	273	1.05
Sep 2024	263	379	1.4	292	1.11
Sep 2023	293	392	1.3	315	1.08
Sep 2022	297	347	1.2	296	1.00
Sep 2021	267	353	1.3	291	1.09
Sep 2020	273	316	1.2	268	0.98
Sep 2019	248	287	1.2	241	0.97
Sep 2018	250	299	1.2	241	0.96
Sep 2017	241	290	1.2	235	0.98
Sep 2016	228	274	1.2	221	0.97
Sep 2015 *	178	218	1.2	172	0.97
Sep 2014 *	211	275	1.3	206	0.98

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

261 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)43.36th of 11 in Barnsley

Barnsley 43.3 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths42%7th of 11 in Barnsley

Barnsley 49% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths64%

Barnsley 67% England 66%

This school
Barnsley median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.44

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	261	43.3	42%	64%	–
2024/25	263	42.0	45%	63%	–
2023/24	259	40.7	38%	61%	−0.44
2022/23	254	40.2	34%	59%	−0.61

Progress 8 is not published for 2024/25 or 2025/26: those pupils had no key stage 2 tests in 2020 and 2021.

Schools nearby

The 8 nearest secondary schools in a straight line, in any local authority

Outwood Academy ShaftonThis school
This school

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.4applications per place 43.3Attainment 8
Outwood Academy Carlton
2.9 km · Barnsley

Standards maintained2024

1.9applications per place 42.0Attainment 8
Holy Trinity Catholic and Church of England School
3.7 km · Barnsley

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.8applications per place 37.2Attainment 8
Outwood Academy Hemsworth
4.8 km · Wakefield

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.4applications per place 37.5Attainment 8
Netherwood Academy
6.3 km · Barnsley

Good2024

1.3applications per place 41.0Attainment 8
Barnsley Academy
6.5 km · Barnsley

Standards maintained2025

2.0applications per place 41.6Attainment 8
Minsthorpe Community College
7.7 km · Wakefield

Remains Good2023

1.1applications per place 44.7Attainment 8
Trinity Academy St. Edwards
7.8 km · Barnsley

Outstanding2024

3.6applications per place 53.4Attainment 8
Horizon Community College
7.8 km · Barnsley

Remains Good · improving2023

2.0applications per place 49.0Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 139211 · 370/4003
Trust: Outwood Grange Academies Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,350 pupils · 1,377 on roll
Free school meals: 38.3% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 March 2015
Replaced: Shafton Advanced Learning Centre (URN 136371)
Address: Engine Lane, Shafton, Barnsley, S72 8RE
Local authority: Barnsley

Data last changed 19 October 2026 · Report an error · Corrections · Sources