SchoolScoresOutwood Academy Carlton
Academy · Secondary, ages 11 to 16 · Mixed
Part of OUTWOOD GRANGE ACADEMIES TRUST
Royston Lane, Carlton, Barnsley, S71 3EW
01226 728494 · School website · Map and directions
Ofsted inspection
Ofsted rated this school Good at the inspection that started on 16 January 2019.
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 | Requires improvement |
| Leadership and management | Good |
| Safeguarding | Effective |
Since then, a shorter ungraded inspection on 16 October 2024: Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
Read the full Ofsted reports for this school
Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.
What parents say
96 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025.
Barnsley comparisons use the 8 of its 9 state secondary schools with comparable results. The other one has no published Parent View results (Ofsted only publishes a survey once at least 10 parents answer) or used Ofsted's newer questions, which we don't compare with the older ones.
| Statement | This school | Barnsley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| My child is happy at this school 5th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Barnsley. Higher than 23% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 72% | 74% | 89% |
| My child feels safe at this school 5th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Barnsley. Higher than 25% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 76% | 78% | 90% |
| The school makes sure pupils are well behaved 7th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Barnsley. Higher than 18% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 59% | 68% | 84% |
| Bullying was dealt with quickly and effectivelyOf 31 parents whose child had been bullied Joint 3rd highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Barnsley. Higher than 37% of 1,665 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 45% | 43% | 51% |
| Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 71 parents who had raised a concern 7th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Barnsley. Higher than 12% of 1,736 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 48% | 60% | 76% |
| My child with SEND gets the support they needOf 29 parents of children with SEND 3rd highest of 5 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Barnsley. Higher than 20% of 789 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 45% | 42% | 68% |
| I would recommend this school to another parent 6th highest of 8 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in Barnsley. Higher than 17% of 1,763 state secondary schools with comparable Parent View results in England. | 60%said yes | 67% | 84% |
Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 8%). Figures are the share who agree or strongly agree. England figures are all parents answering the same questions over the same period, for state-funded schools. Barnsley figures pool parents at the Barnsley schools compared, from each school's latest survey, so survey dates differ between schools. The scales run from lower (left) to higher (right) agreement, and the dot marks this school among state schools of the same phase that used the same survey questions. The third it falls in is coloured: green for the top third, amber the middle, red the bottom. This survey used Ofsted's previous Parent View questions, which changed in November 2025. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.
Results
GCSEs (key stage 4, age 16), 2024/25
213 pupils in this year group.
40% — 5 points below the Barnsley average, and 6 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Barnsley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade 5 or above in English and maths | 40% | 45% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 scoreAverage of each pupil's grades across 8 GCSE-level subjects, with English and maths counted twice. Around 50 means grade 5s on average. | 41.5 | 44 | 46.1 |
| EBacc average point scoreAverage points across the English Baccalaureate subjects: English, maths, sciences, a language and history or geography. | 3.6 | 3.9 | 4.1 |
Progress 8 isn't shown. DfE didn't publish it for 2024/25 because this year group's key stage 2 tests in 2020 were cancelled, and older progress scores aren't comparable.
Source: DfE key stage 4 performance tables, 2024/25. England figures are for state-funded schools.
After Year 11
Where pupils went next. DfE measures this for pupils who finished in an earlier year, so these figures describe a previous year group.
215 pupils in this year group.
90% — about the same as the Barnsley average, and 2 points below the England average.
| Measure | This school | Barnsley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or workPupils recorded in sustained education, apprenticeship or employment in the year after finishing Year 11. | 90% | 90% | 92% |
| School sixth form | Not published | 8% | 34% |
| Sixth form college | 5% | 3% | 13% |
| Further education college | 74% | 70% | 37% |
| Apprenticeship | 5% | 5% | 3% |
| Work | 5% | 4% | 3% |
"Not published": Not published (DfE code SP).
Stayed in education, an apprenticeship or work, over time
| 2023/24 | 2024/25 |
|---|---|
| 91% | 90% |
Source: DfE key stage 4 destination measures, 2024/25 performance tables. 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 secondary applications is 31 October, and offers are sent on 1 March.
How hard is it to get in?
For the September 2026 intake there were about one first-choice application for every place.
| Places offered | 209 |
|---|---|
| Families who put it first | 200 |
| Of those, offered a place | 198 (99%) |
| Families who listed it at all | 392 |
First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.2 · 2025: 1.0 · 2026: 1.0
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
Specialist SEND provision: this school has resourced provision with 25 places for specific learning difficulties (such as dyslexia); Visual impairment; Hearing impairment; Speech, language and communication needs; Autism; Social, emotional and mental health needs; Multi-sensory impairment; Physical disability; Moderate learning difficulties; Severe learning difficulties; Profound and multiple learning difficulties. These places are usually allocated through the council's SEND team.
| Pupils | This school | Barnsley | England |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years 2nd highest of 9 state secondary schools in Barnsley. Higher than 74% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 38.4% | 32.1%* | 28.9% |
| With an education, health and care plan 1st highest of 9 state secondary schools in Barnsley. Higher than 96% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 7.3% | 4.1%* | 3.1% |
| Receiving special educational needs support 7th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Barnsley. Higher than 19% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 9.6% | 12.4%* | 13.4% |
| English as an additional language 8th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Barnsley. Higher than 18% of 3,448 state secondary schools in England. | 4.2% | 6.9%* | 19.2% |
| Overall absence (sessions missed) 9th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Barnsley. Lower than 8% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 12.3% | 9.5%* | 8.4% |
| Persistently absent (missed 10% or more) 7th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Barnsley. Lower than 19% of 3,411 state secondary schools in England. | 30.2% | 25.4%* | 23.4% |
| Suspensions per 100 pupils 8th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Barnsley. Lower than 5% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 77.0 | 46.1 | 21.2 |
| Pupils suspended at least once 7th lowest of 9 state secondary schools in Barnsley. Lower than 14% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 13.9% | 10.6% | 7.3% |
| Pupils permanently excluded6 pupils | 0.53% | 0.59% | 0.23% |
| Pupils per teacher 6th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Barnsley. Higher than 87% of 3,442 state secondary schools in England. | 18.9 | 18.3 | 16.7 |
| Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff) Joint 7th highest of 9 state secondary schools in Barnsley. Higher than 35% of 3,445 state secondary schools in England. | 11.2 | 12.0 | 11.8 |
| Teachers who left during the year 1st highest of 9 state secondary schools in Barnsley. Higher than 88% of 3,430 state secondary schools in England. | 23.5% | 15.0%* | 14.2%* |
Comparisons are with secondary 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.
SEND provision: Get Information about Schools (DfE).
Nearby secondary schools
- Holy Trinity Catholic and CofE School 0.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 20% grade 5+ English and maths
- Outwood Academy Shafton 1.8 miles · Ofsted: No overall grade (2025) · 45% grade 5+ English and maths
Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.
Questions parents ask
What is Outwood Academy Carlton's Ofsted rating?
Outwood Academy Carlton was rated Good by Ofsted at its inspection in 16 January 2019. At a shorter ungraded inspection in 16 October 2024, Ofsted found the school had maintained its standards.
How did Outwood Academy Carlton do in its GCSEs?
In 2024/25, 40% of pupils grade 5 or above in English and maths, 6 points below the England average of 45%.
Would parents recommend Outwood Academy Carlton?
60% of the 96 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 3 September 2024 and 1 September 2025 said they would recommend Outwood Academy Carlton to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.
Is Outwood Academy Carlton oversubscribed?
For the September 2026 intake, 200 families put Outwood Academy Carlton as their first choice for 209 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 198 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 139210.
- Inspections: Ofsted management information, data to 31 August 2026.
- Parent views: Ofsted Parent View, 3 September 2024 to 1 September 2025.
- Results: DfE school performance tables, GCSEs 2024/25, After Year 11 2024/25.
Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.
Page updated 26 September 2026.