West Meadows Primary School

Academy · Primary, ages 3 to 11 · Mixed · Nursery class

Part of HCAT

West Street, Hoyland, Barnsley, S74 9ET

01226 749164 · School website · Map and directions

Ofsted report card1 expected, 6 needs attentionSafeguarding met · 6 January 2026
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths55%England 62% · 2024/25
Joint 51st highest of 62 state primary schools in Barnsley.
Higher than 26% of 14,185 state primary schools in England.
Pupils214Room for 210 Pupil numbers in January of each year: 251 in 2019, 238 in 2021, 240 in 2022, 232 in 2023, 230 in 2024, 216 in 2025, 214 in 2026. Across England, primary state school pupil numbers were down 4% from 2019 to 2025.
First-choice applications per place1.021 for 21 places, September 2026
Joint 12th highest of 65 state primary schools in Barnsley.
Higher than 52% of 15,826 state primary schools in England.

Ofsted inspection

Ofsted report card from the inspection that started on 6 January 2026 , published 11 February 2026.

In short: 1 expected, 6 needs attention, and safeguarding met.

Since November 2025 Ofsted grades each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. How report cards work.

AreaGrade
SafeguardingWhether pupils are kept safe. Met or not met. Met
InclusionHow well the school supports disadvantaged pupils and pupils with special educational needs. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Curriculum and teachingWhat pupils are taught and how well they are taught it. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
AchievementHow well pupils learn and the results they get. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Attendance and behaviourWhether pupils come to school and how they behave. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Personal development and wellbeingPupils' wider development, character and wellbeing. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Early yearsNursery and reception classes. Needs attention Fourth of five grades. Below the expected standard; the school needs to improve this.
Leadership and governanceHow well leaders and governors run the school. Expected standard Middle of five grades. Meets the standard Ofsted expects.

Read the full Ofsted reports for this school

Source: Ofsted state-funded schools inspection data.

What parents say

30 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026.

Barnsley comparisons use the 5 of its 64 state primary schools with comparable results. The other 59 have 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.

StatementThis schoolBarnsleyEngland
My child is happy at this school
4th highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Barnsley.
Higher than 11% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
77% 76% 83%
My child feels safe at this school
4th highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Barnsley.
Higher than 13% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
80% 78% 85%
The school makes sure pupils are well behaved
5th highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Barnsley.
Higher than 1% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
33% 64% 78%
Concerns were dealt with properlyOf 28 parents who had raised a concern
4th highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Barnsley.
Higher than 5% of 1,062 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
50% 63% 74%
I would recommend this school to another parent
5th highest of 5 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in Barnsley.
Higher than 2% of 1,091 state primary schools with comparable Parent View results in England.
47%said yes 73% 83%

Parents choose whether to take part, so these answers may not represent all families (Ofsted puts the response rate at 14%). 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. Source: Ofsted Parent View management information.

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Results

Key stage 2 (SATs, age 11), 2024/25

29 pupils in this year group.

55% — 10 points below the Barnsley average, and 7 points below the England average.

MeasureThis schoolBarnsleyEngland
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths 55% 65% 62%
Reached the higher standard in reading, writing and maths 7% 8% 8%
Met the expected standard in reading 69% 76% 75%
Met the expected standard in writing 66% 73% 72%
Met the expected standard in maths 72% 77% 74%
Average reading scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 104 105 106
Average maths scoreScaled score from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard. 104 105 105
Met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, over time
30% 40% 50% 60% 70% England 2022/23: 60%England 2023/24: 61%England 2024/25: 62% This school 2022/23: 42%This school 2023/24: 41%This school 2024/25: 55% This school England 62% 2022/23 42% 2023/24 41% 2024/25 55%

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 about one first-choice application for every place.

Places offered21
Families who put it first21
Of those, offered a place21 (100%)
Families who listed it at all44

First-choice applications per place: 2024: 1.0 · 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.

Admissions dates and schools in Barnsley

Pupils, staff and SEND

PupilsThis schoolBarnsleyEngland
Eligible for free school meals in the last 6 years
11th highest of 64 state primary schools in Barnsley.
Higher than 85% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
44.0% 30.1%* 26.3%
With an education, health and care plan
35th highest of 64 state primary schools in Barnsley.
Higher than 45% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
2.8% 3.6%* 3.5%
Receiving special educational needs support
25th highest of 64 state primary schools in Barnsley.
Higher than 57% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
15.3% 13.8%* 15.0%
English as an additional language
Joint 61st highest of 64 state primary schools in Barnsley.
Higher than 8% of 16,656 state primary schools in England.
0.9% 9.7%* 23.4%
Overall absence (sessions missed)
63rd lowest of 64 state primary schools in Barnsley.
Lower than 7% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
7.4% 5.2%* 5.2%
Persistently absent (missed 10% or more)
61st lowest of 64 state primary schools in Barnsley.
Lower than 10% of 16,640 state primary schools in England.
21.7% 12.1%* 13.0%
Suspensions per 100 pupils
49th lowest of 64 state primary schools in Barnsley.
Lower than 33% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
2.3 2.0 2.5
Pupils suspended at least once
49th lowest of 64 state primary schools in Barnsley.
Lower than 29% of 16,651 state primary schools in England.
1.4% 0.9% 1.1%
Pupils permanently excluded0 pupils 0.00% 0.02% 0.03%
Pupils per teacher
Joint 38th highest of 64 state primary schools in Barnsley.
Higher than 60% of 16,642 state primary schools in England.
21.4 21.8 20.7
Pupils per adult (teachers and support staff)
Joint 21st highest of 64 state primary schools in Barnsley.
Higher than 73% of 16,653 state primary schools in England.
12.1 11.0 10.6
Teachers who left during the year
5th highest of 64 state primary schools in Barnsley.
Higher than 94% of 15,063 state primary schools in England.
36.7% 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

Straight-line distance. Distance isn't the same as a catchment area.

Questions parents ask

What is West Meadows Primary School's Ofsted rating?

West Meadows Primary School was inspected under Ofsted's report card format in 6 January 2026. Report cards grade each area on a five-point scale instead of giving one overall grade. Its grades were 1 expected, 6 needs attention, and safeguarding was met.

How did West Meadows Primary School do in its SATs?

In 2024/25, 55% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths, 7 points below the England average of 62%.

Would parents recommend West Meadows Primary School?

47% of the 30 parents who answered Ofsted's Parent View survey between 10 November 2025 and 6 April 2026 said they would recommend West Meadows Primary School to another parent. Parents choose whether to respond, so this may not represent all families.

Is West Meadows Primary School oversubscribed?

For the September 2026 intake, 21 families put West Meadows Primary School as their first choice for 21 places: about one first-choice application for every place. 21 of those families were offered a place. Whether you get a place depends on the school's admissions rules and where you live.

Sources

Spotted a mistake? Report it and we'll check it against the source.

Page updated 26 September 2026.