Darton Academy
Ballfield Lane, Darton, Barnsley, S75 5EFOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Darton Academy is a secondary school in Barnsley for ages 11 to 16. It is one of the 95 schools in Barnsley. It ranks 1st of 8 secondary schools in Barnsley. Its latest Ofsted rating is Good, from an inspection in February 2023.
Ofsted inspection
Inspected 8 February 2023, report published 28 March 2023
- Overall effectiveness
- Good
- Quality of education
- Good
- Behaviour and attitudes
- Good
- Personal development
- Outstanding
- Leadership and management
- Good
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 8 February 2023
Pupils access a broad range of extra-curricular educational opportunities that enhance their wider development extremely well. Leaders use additional government funding effectively, to ensure that all pupils benefit from these opportunities. For example, through leaders' use of this funding, the number of pupils completing the Duke of Edinburgh's Award is increasing year-on-year. Leaders place pupils' personal development at the centre of their intent for the school. They integrate this within all aspects of staff's work. Leaders have developed a well- designed personal, social and health education curriculum. They adapt its content to respond to local issues and to reflect pupils' needs at different ages. Pupils behave to a high standard. They move around the site in a calm and organised manner. Bullying is infrequent. In a small minority of cases, pupils do not report instances of bullying to staff. This means that some cases are not resolved as quickly as they could be. Pupils are safe in school. They know how to raise concerns with an adult. Leaders have designed a high-quality curriculum for pupils. Teachers use common routines across the school. This means that pupils know what to expect in each subject. Pupils attend well and focus on their learning. Lessons are rarely disrupted by pupils' poor behaviour. Consequently, they achieve well in external examinations.
What the school should improve
- Some members of the wider-school community do not feel listened to. They are not as supportive of the actions of the school as they could be. Leaders should continue to embed and develop the recently improved communication methods to ensure that all stakeholders are aligned in their support for pupils, leaders and the school as a whole.
- A minority of bullying incidents go unreported or are not resolved as quickly as they might be. This causes a minority of pupils to feel less safe than they could. Leaders should continue to promote methods for pupils to report their concerns.
Exam results
GCSE results (key stage 4), 2024/25
206 pupils in the year group
Pupil numbers and mix
1,099 pupils on roll, with places for 1,200
Schools near Darton Academy
| School | Distance | Ofsted | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horizon Community College | 3 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 49.8 |
| Trinity Academy St. Edwards | 3 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding | Not published |
| Holy Trinity Catholic and Church of England School | 4 miles | Ofsted judgements: Requires improvement to good | Attainment 8: 37.5 |
| Outwood Academy Carlton | 4 miles | Ofsted: Good | Attainment 8: 41.5 |
| Shelley College, A Share Academy | 5 miles | Ofsted judgements: Outstanding | Attainment 8: 51.3 |
School details
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
- Sector
- Academy
- Trust
- DELTA ACADEMIES TRUST
- Age range
- 11 to 16
- Gender
- Mixed
- Sixth form
- No
- Headteacher
- Mr Joseph Spencer
- Phone
- 01226232306
- Address
- Ballfield Lane, Darton, Barnsley, S75 5EF
- Local authority
- Barnsley
- URN
- 146320
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Exam results for 2024/25 from the Department for Education. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.