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Academy sponsor led · Barnsley

Darton Academy

  • 11–16Ages
  • 1,099Pupils
  • SecondaryPhase
  • 146320URN

Ballfield Lane, Darton, Barnsley, S75 5EF · School website

Applications per placeCircle size: applicationsThis school
Latest Ofsted

Graded inspection · Feb 2023 Previous framework

Good
  • Quality of education
  • Behaviour and attitudes
  • Personal development
  • Leadership and management
What Ofsted found
Applications per place · Sept 2026
1.6per place
close to Barnsley median (1.6)
Fewer applicationsMore

This schoolOther secondary schools in Barnsley

373 applications for 230 places · 6th of 11 in Barnsley
Every year since 2014
Attainment 8 · 2025/26 (provisional)
50.7of 90
3rd of 11 in Barnsley
All GCSE results

What did Ofsted find?

Ofsted data to 30 September 2026
Overall effectiveness: Good · 8 February 2023Ofsted's previous 4-point scale (to August 2024)
AreaOutstandingGoodRequires improvementInadequate
Quality of educationGood
Behaviour and attitudesGood
Personal developmentOutstanding
Leadership and managementGood

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
1.6applications per place, Year 7
close to Barnsley median (1.6) 0.6 below England median (2.2)

373 applications · 230 places offered · 217 named it first

  1. 2026 1.6; Barnsley median median 1.6
  2. 2025 1.9; Barnsley median median 1.9
  3. 2024 1.7; Barnsley median median 1.7
  4. 2023 1.7; Barnsley median median 1.7
  5. 2022 1.4; Barnsley median median 1.5
  6. 2021 1.8; Barnsley median median 1.5
  7. 2020 1.7; Barnsley median median 1.5
  8. 2019 1.7; Barnsley median median 1.6
  9. 2018 1.9; Barnsley median median 1.3; as the previous school
  10. 2017 2.0; Barnsley median median 1.7; as the previous school
  11. 2016 2.2; Barnsley median median 1.7; as the previous school
  12. 2015 2.0; Barnsley median median 1.7; as the previous school
  13. 2014 2.0; Barnsley median median 1.9; as the previous school
  • This school
  • Barnsley median

Dashed bars: as Darton College (URN 106651), 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.

EntryPlacesApplicationsPer placeFirst preferencesFirst-pref. ratio
Sep 20262303731.62170.94
Sep 20251903651.91670.88
Sep 20242223821.72080.94
Sep 20232333951.72080.89
Sep 20222533431.42330.92
Sep 20211933431.81840.95
Sep 20202153651.71770.82
Sep 20192394011.72020.85
Sep 2018 *2304271.92160.94
Sep 2017 *2304602.02311.00
Sep 2016 *2214802.22100.95
Sep 2015 *2264482.02160.96
Sep 2014 *2334552.02371.02

How did pupils do at GCSE?

DfE KS4 · 2025/26 provisional

186 pupils took GCSEs in 2025/26.

Attainment 8 (out of 90)50.73rd of 11 in Barnsley
Grade 5 or above in English and maths66%1st of 11 in Barnsley
Grade 4 or above in English and maths77%
  • This school
  • Barnsley median
  • England median
Progress 8 (2023/24, the latest published)+0.37
−20 = national average+2
Every year as a table
YearPupilsAttainment 85+ Eng & maths4+ Eng & mathsProgress 8
2025/26 (prov.)18650.766%77%–
2024/2520652.165%79%–
2023/2425148.954%73%+0.37
2022/2322949.856%75%+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

  • Exceptional
  • Strong standard
  • Expected standard
  • Needs attention
  • Urgent improvement
  • Does not apply

Eight dots, one per area: inclusion, curriculum, achievement, attendance, personal development, early years, post-16, leadership. Colours follow Ofsted's report card scale; Schoolfile is independent of Ofsted.

School details

Type
Academy sponsor led
Phase
Secondary
URN · DfE number
146320 · 370/4012
Trust
Delta Academies Trust
Admissions policy
Non-selective
Capacity
1,200 pupils · 1,099 on roll
Free school meals
22.2% of pupils (England median 23%)
Opened
1 October 2018
Replaced
Darton College (URN 106651)
Address
Ballfield Lane, Darton, Barnsley, S75 5EF
Local authority
Barnsley

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