Best schools in Barnsley
Anchor school shortlists to the sector you might buy into, not just borough averages. This ranking covers 87 schools in the Barnsley local authority. Postcode area S72 has the highest average school score (63.4 across 9 schools), while S74 sits at the lower end (35.7). 94% of ranked Barnsley schools hold an Ofsted Outstanding or Good rating.
Top 10 schools in Barnsley on the LocaleIQ model
Ordered by composite score within the Barnsley comparison pool. Rankings reflect published data, not editorial opinion.
More schools in Barnsley
Positions 11–30 in the Barnsley ranking.
| # | School | LocaleIQ | Ofsted | Phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Bank End Primary Academy | 84.3 | Good | Primary |
| 12 | Worsbrough Common Primary School | 82.8 | Good | Primary |
| 13 | Birdwell Primary School | 81.4 | Good | Primary |
| 14 | Penistone St John's Voluntary Aided Primary School | 80.8 | Good | Primary |
| 15 | Churchfield Primary School | 80.3 | Good | Primary |
| 16 | Silkstone Common Junior and Infant School | 79.3 | Good | Primary |
| 17 | Outwood Primary Academy Darfield | 78.4 | Good | Primary |
| 18 | Summerfields Primary Academy | 78 | Good | Primary |
| 19 | Milefield Primary School | 77 | Good | Primary |
| 20 | Lift Meadstead | 76.6 | Good | Primary |
| 21 | Athersley South Primary School | 76.1 | Good | Primary |
| 22 | Brierley Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School | 75.5 | Good | Primary |
| 23 | Wellgate Primary School | 75.3 | Good | Primary |
| 24 | Outwood Primary Academy Littleworth Grange | 74.6 | Good | Primary |
| 25 | Burton Road Primary School | 74.4 | Good | Primary |
| 26 | Mapplewell Primary School | 73.8 | Good | Primary |
| 27 | Tankersley St Peter's CofE (Aided) Primary School | 71.8 | Good | Primary |
| 28 | Penistone Grammar School | 71.7 | Good | Secondary |
| 29 | Oxspring Primary School | 71.3 | Good | Primary |
| 30 | Darton Academy | 70.4 | Good | Secondary |
Keep exploring Barnsley
Questions about schools in Barnsley
What is the best school in Barnsley?
Gawber Primary School is the top-ranked school in Barnsley overall (LocaleIQ score 97.4 out of 100). Ofsted: Outstanding. KS2 expected 80% · higher 27%. Primary and secondary schools are scored on separate metrics and peer pools — use the phase tabs above to compare like for like.
What is the best primary school in Barnsley?
Gawber Primary School leads the Barnsley primary school ranking (LocaleIQ 97.4). Ofsted: Outstanding. KS2 expected 80% · higher 27%. The Primary tab above shows the full ranked list of Barnsley primary schools.
What is the best secondary school in Barnsley?
Penistone Grammar School leads the Barnsley secondary school ranking (LocaleIQ 71.7). Ofsted: Good. Attainment 8 53.6. The Secondary tab above shows the full ranked list of Barnsley secondary schools.
Which schools in Barnsley are rated Outstanding by Ofsted?
4 schools in the Barnsley ranking hold an Outstanding Ofsted rating: Gawber Primary School, Hunningley Primary Academy, The Forest Academy, Kings Oak Primary. Outstanding means Ofsted judged the school exceptional in all inspection areas. LocaleIQ weighs DfE performance data alongside Ofsted, so a Good-rated school can still rank highly.
Which area of Barnsley has the best schools?
By average LocaleIQ score across postcode areas, S72 has the strongest cluster — 63.4 average across 9 ranked schools. S74 sits at the lower end (35.7 average). Anchor school shortlists to the sector you might buy into, not just borough averages. Postcode averages mask individual variation — always review each school's full profile.
How many schools are ranked in Barnsley?
This ranking covers 87 schools (primary and secondary) in the Barnsley comparison pool. Use the Primary or Secondary tabs for phase-specific rankings. Schools without sufficient published data are excluded but may appear in the LocaleIQ directory.
Ranking data last computed 29 March 2026.