Academy sponsor led · Barnsley

Netherwood Academy

11–16Ages
1,229Pupils
SecondaryPhase
143907URN

Dove Valley Way, Wombwell, Barnsley, S73 8FE · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school

Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Mar 2024 Previous framework

Good

Quality of education
Behaviour and attitudes
Personal development
Leadership and management

What Ofsted found

Applications per place · Sept 2026

1.3per place

0.3 below Barnsley median (1.6)

Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Barnsley

357 applications for 271 places · 10th of 11 in Barnsley

Every year since 2014

Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)

41.0of 90

Barnsley 43.3 England 46.0

9th of 11 in Barnsley

All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026

Overall effectiveness: Good · 12 March 2024Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
Area	Good	Requires improvement
Quality of education	Good
Behaviour and attitudes		Requires improvement
Personal development	Good
Leadership and management	Good

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

1.3applications per place, Year 7

0.3 below Barnsley median (1.6) 0.9 below England median (2.2)

357 applications · 271 places offered · 228 named it first

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

2026 1.3; Barnsley median median 1.6
2025 1.3; Barnsley median median 1.9
2024 1.0; Barnsley median median 1.7
2023 1.1; Barnsley median median 1.7
2022 1.2; Barnsley median median 1.5
2021 1.3; Barnsley median median 1.5
2020 1.3; Barnsley median median 1.5
2019 1.4; Barnsley median median 1.6
2018 1.3; Barnsley median median 1.3
2017 1.5; Barnsley median median 1.7; as the previous school
2016 1.4; Barnsley median median 1.7; as the previous school
2015 1.5; Barnsley median median 1.7; as the previous school
2014 1.6; Barnsley median median 1.9; as the previous school

More applications per place than the Barnsley median in 0 of 9 years.

This school
Barnsley median

Dashed bars: as Netherwood Advanced Learning Centre (URN 136403), 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	271	357	1.3	228	0.84
Sep 2025	259	323	1.3	211	0.81
Sep 2024	310	323	1.0	189	0.61
Sep 2023	270	305	1.1	187	0.69
Sep 2022	255	296	1.2	218	0.85
Sep 2021	246	308	1.3	229	0.93
Sep 2020	234	307	1.3	212	0.91
Sep 2019	235	328	1.4	228	0.97
Sep 2018	230	290	1.3	219	0.95
Sep 2017 *	207	305	1.5	189	0.91
Sep 2016 *	206	286	1.4	195	0.95
Sep 2015 *	202	311	1.5	181	0.90
Sep 2014 *	224	352	1.6	210	0.94

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

222 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)41.09th of 11 in Barnsley

Barnsley 43.3 England 46.0

Grade 5 or above in English and maths38%8th of 11 in Barnsley

Barnsley 49% England 45%

Grade 4 or above in English and maths58%

Barnsley 67% England 66%

This school
Barnsley median
England median

Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)−0.41

−20 = national average+2

Every year as a table

Year	Pupils	Attainment 8	5+ Eng & maths	4+ Eng & maths	Progress 8
2025/26 (prov.)	222	41.0	38%	58%	–
2024/25	234	42.6	39%	62%	–
2023/24	233	42.6	34%	51%	−0.41
2022/23	232	42.3	36%	56%	−0.35

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

Netherwood AcademyThis school
This school

Good2024

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

Standards maintained2025

2.0applications per place 41.6Attainment 8
Kirk Balk Academy
4.7 km · Barnsley

Standards maintained2025

1.6applications per place 46.4Attainment 8
Wath Academy
5.3 km · Rotherham

Good2023

2.3applications per place 49.7Attainment 8
Saint Pius X Catholic High School A Specialist School in Humanities
5.9 km · Rotherham

Requires improvement2024

2.4applications per place 39.7Attainment 8
Astrea Academy Dearne
6.1 km · Barnsley

Good2023

1.1applications per place 39.3Attainment 8
Outwood Academy Shafton
6.3 km · Barnsley

Graded · no overall grade2025

1.4applications per place 43.3Attainment 8
Holy Trinity Catholic and Church of England School
6.6 km · Barnsley

Graded · no overall grade2025

2.8applications per place 37.2Attainment 8
Trinity Academy St. Edwards
6.9 km · Barnsley

Outstanding2024

3.6applications per place 53.4Attainment 8

School details

Type: Academy sponsor led
Phase: Secondary
URN · DfE number: 143907 · 370/4009
Trust: Astrea Academy Trust
Admissions policy: Non-selective
Capacity: 1,600 pupils · 1,229 on roll
Free school meals: 37.9% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened: 1 May 2017
Replaced: Netherwood Advanced Learning Centre (URN 136403)
Address: Dove Valley Way, Wombwell, Barnsley, S73 8FE
Local authority: Barnsley

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