Athersley North Primary School, Barnsley
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Location
Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Overall
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Athersley North Primary School excels at including all children and helping them feel safe and valued. The school provides exceptional support for disadvantaged pupils and those with additional needs, with staff who genuinely care about each child's wellbeing. Teachers use creative teaching methods and the school offers enriching experiences that help children develop confidence and important life skills.
Key Strengths
- Strong inclusive culture with excellent support for disadvantaged pupils and those with special educational needs - leaders know pupils well and adapt learning effectively
- Well-planned curriculum with clear knowledge progression, particularly strong in phonics and early reading
- High-quality pastoral support and positive relationships between staff and pupils, creating a safe, nurturing environment
- Ambitious leadership team that invests in staff wellbeing and development
- Effective partnerships with families and external agencies to provide specialist support
Areas for Improvement
- Key stage 2 results in reading, writing and mathematics are below average, particularly for disadvantaged pupils
- Writing skills sometimes weaken as pupils progress through school, with gaps not always addressed quickly
- Attendance continues to decline, with rising persistent absence particularly among pupils with special educational needs
- Early years activities could be more precisely targeted to develop skills and address learning gaps
Safeguarding
Safeguarding standards are met - leaders have created an open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and concerns are actively identified and managed.
Extracurricular Activities
Wildlife park visits, local musical festivals, clubs, breakfast club
Athersley North Primary School is working to improve outcomes for its pupils, particularly disadvantaged students and those with special educational needs. While the school has a strong inclusive culture and well-planned curriculum, key stage 2 results need improvement.
At a Glance
56.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2025/26KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 40% to 54%. Maths has improved from 50% to 59%. Writing has improved from 55% to 63%.
Class Sizes
22.9
Avg class size
20.8
Infant (KS1)
26.5
KS2
12
Total classes
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
104%
Over capacity
290 pupils
280 capacity
10 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Barnsley
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Barnsley
Admissions Demand - Barnsley
Places available
3,009
Applications
2,440
Got 1st preference
96.3%
Got preferred school
99.2%
Primary admissions across Barnsley (2025/26)
Inspection History(107)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
8.25437%
Overall absence
21.70213%
Persistent absence
235
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
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Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Athersley North Primary School
Nearby Schools
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