SchoolScoresDarton Primary School
Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class
Part of HCAT
Station Road, Darton, Barnsley South, S75 5AD
01226 394050 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 12 October 2016.
This inspection used Ofsted's older format with four grades: Outstanding, Good, Requires improvement and Inadequate. Newer inspections use report cards. What changed.
| Area | Grade |
|---|---|
| Quality of education | Good |
| Outcomes for pupils | Good |
| Behaviour and attitudes | Good |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Early years | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 22 June 2022: Ofsted found the school was still Good.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
Results
Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25
33 pupils in this year group.
58% — 7 points below the Barnsley average, and 4 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Barnsley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths | 58% | 65% | 62% |
| Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths | 3% | 8% | 8% |
| Met the expected standard in reading | 79% | 76% | 75% |
| Met the expected standard in writing | 70% | 73% | 72% |
| Met the expected standard in maths | 64% | 77% | 74% |
| Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 106 | 105 | 106 |
| Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. | 104 | 105 | 105 |
Source: DfE key stage 2 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
Admissions
Apply through the council where you live, even if the school is in a different council area. This school is in Barnsley. The national closing date for primary applications is 15 January, and offers are sent on 16 April.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were fewer first-choice applications than places.
| Places offered | 38 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 33 |
| Of those, offered a place | 33 (100%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 86 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 2025: 0.8 · 2026: 0.9
This isn't your chance of getting a place. That depends on the school's admissions rules (for example siblings, distance or faith) and where you live. Source: DfE applications and offers, September 2026 intake.
Pupils, staff and SEND
| Pupils | This school | Barnsley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 55th highest of 77 state primary schools in Barnsley. Higher than 44% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 19.0% | 30.1%* | 26.3% |
| With an education, health and care plan Joint 65th highest of 77 state primary schools in Barnsley. Higher than 23% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.7% | 3.6%* | 3.5% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 27th highest of 77 state primary schools in Barnsley. Higher than 61% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 16.0% | 13.8%* | 15.0% |
| English as an additional language Joint 65th highest of 77 state primary schools in Barnsley. Higher than 14% of 16,656 state primary schools in England. | 1.7% | 9.7%* | 23.4% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) Joint 19th lowest of 77 state primary schools in Barnsley. Lower than 75% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 4.2% | 5.2%* | 5.2% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 19th lowest of 77 state primary schools in Barnsley. Lower than 78% of 16,640 state primary schools in England. | 7.2% | 12.1%* | 13.0% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils Joint 1st lowest of 77 state primary schools in Barnsley. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.5 |
| Pupils suspended at least once Joint 1st lowest of 77 state primary schools in Barnsley. Lower than 69% of 16,651 state primary schools in England. | 0.0% | 0.9% | 1.1% |
| Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils | 0.00% | 0.02% | 0.03% |
| Pupils per teacher 3rd highest of 77 state primary schools in Barnsley. Higher than 96% of 16,642 state primary schools in England. | 26.5 | 21.8 | 20.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) 1st highest of 77 state primary schools in Barnsley. Higher than 98% of 16,653 state primary schools in England. | 15.9 | 11.0 | 10.6 |
| Teachers who left during the year 4th highest of 77 state primary schools in Barnsley. Higher than 97% of 15,063 state primary schools in England. | 41.7% | 15.7%* | 14.4%* |
Comparisons are with primary schools. Scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) figures. For absence and suspensions lower is better, so their scales run green to red; blue scales describe the school's pupils and staff and aren't good or bad. * Calculated by SchoolScores from the council's or England's schools, weighted by pupils (or teachers, for turnover); other figures are published by DfE. Sources: DfE school census 2024/25; DfE pupil absence 2024/25; DfE suspensions and permanent exclusions 2024/25; DfE school workforce census 2025/26; DfE teacher turnover 2024/25.
Nearby primary schools
- Wellgate Primary School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2016, before conversion), improved significantly 2025 · 72% met expected standard (KS2)
- Kexborough Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2014, before conversion), confirmed 2025 · 57% met expected standard (KS2)
- Mapplewell Primary School 1.0 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024) · 76% met expected standard (KS2)
- Barugh Green Primary School 1.4 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024, before conversion) · 67% met expected standard (KS2)
- Athersley North Primary School 1.7 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 5 expected, 2 needs attention · 49% met expected standard (KS2)
- Wilthorpe Primary School 1.8 miles · Ofsted: Good (2024, before conversion) · 71% met expected standard (KS2)
- Gawber Primary School 1.9 miles · Ofsted: Outstanding (2024) · 80% met expected standard (KS2)
- Laithes Primary School 2.0 miles · Ofsted: Report card 2026: 6 strong, 1 expected · 68% met expected standard (KS2)
- Athersley South Primary School 2.1 miles · Ofsted: Good (2018, before conversion), confirmed 2024 · 66% met expected standard (KS2)
- Summer Lane Primary 2.2 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025, before conversion)
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Darton Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Darton Primary School was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 12 October 2016. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 22 June 2022, Ofsted found the school was still Good.
How did Darton Primary School do in its SATs?
In 2024/25, 58% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 4 points below the England average of 62%.
Is Darton Primary School oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 33 families put Darton Primary School as their first choice for 38 places: fewer first-choice applications than places. 33 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.
Sources
- School details: Get Information about Schools (DfE), 26 September 2026. URN 140602.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, Key stage 2 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.