Barnsley College, Barnsley
Barnsley College is a post-16 school for pupils aged 14 to 99 in Barnsley. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 10th-highest of the 10 schools in Barnsley with published results, and 3,294th of 3,298 across England.
- Progress (2024)
- Well below average
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Barnsley College in detail
Barnsley College in its own words
In its own words: "Our vision at Barnsley College is to transform lives and we achieve this by putting our students at the heart of everything we do. Our exceptional, passionate staff are always striving for excellence and this positive culture has a real impact on the aspirations of our students."
Coming up: an open evening on Tuesday 3 November 2026 at 6pm, an open day on Thursday 26 November 2026 at 4pm and an open day on Saturday 23 January 2027 at 10am. Check the school's website before you go, as dates can change.
All school open days in Barnsley
Vision and values (school website)Open days on the school's site (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2026, pupils at Barnsley College averaged an Attainment 8 score of 6.5, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 41.8 in Barnsley and 47 across England.
2% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Barnsley and 47% in England.
That is in line with 2025, when the score was 6.1.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -3.2: pupils made well below average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 9 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Biology and History.
Where pupils go next
Of the 95 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 61% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 58% to a further education college, 3% to an apprenticeship and 7% into work.
Of the 2472 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 26% went on to university or other higher education, 9% to apprenticeships and 32% into work. 6% went to one of the most selective third of universities.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Barnsley Rail Station, about 440 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
22 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is West Way/Wellington Street (adjacent), 140 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 606 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Barnsley (121), as is usual near a town centre.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE destination measures; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's March 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Barnsley College excels at creating an inclusive, supportive environment where learners of all abilities feel safe and valued. Teachers bring real industry experience into the classroom, helping learners understand how their studies connect to actual careers. The college works closely with major employers to design courses that lead directly to jobs, giving learners clear pathways to their future careers.
Key Strengths
- Exceptionally high standards of behaviour and a highly inclusive environment where all learners thrive
- Outstanding support for learners with high needs, including specialist staff and supported internships in healthcare
- Strong industry links and partnerships that align curriculum with real-world job roles and employer needs
- Expert teachers who maintain current industry knowledge and link theory to practical, real-life examples
- Extensive enrichment programme with competitions, guest speakers, and university visits that inspire learners
Areas for Improvement
- A small number of teachers provide limited feedback that does not clearly identify what learners need to do to improve
- Need to ensure all teachers consistently use effective assessment strategies across all departments
Safeguarding
Learners and apprentices feel safe at college, know how to report concerns, and are provided with helpful information about support available to them.
Extracurricular Activities
World Skills competitions, Nestlé Toque D'Or (catering), employer visits, careers events, university visits, guest speakers, supported internships at local hospital
Barnsley College is a general further education college with eight sites serving 8,048 learners and apprentices across entry level to level 6 courses. The college was rated Good overall, with Outstanding ratings in behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and provision for learners with high needs.
About
Barnsley College is a further education college just outside the town centre of Barnsley, England. It has several campuses, including the SciTech Digital Innovation Centre and The Electric Theatre.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Special Measures
Sixth Form Performance (A-Level)
A-Level Results
C+
Average grade
31.8
Points per entry
C+
Best 3 A-Levels
10%
Achieving AAB+
Below average
Value added
411
A-Level students
85%
Retention rate
2024/25 academic year
A-Level Subjects Offered
+ 4 more subjects
2024/25 academic year - entries by number of students
After A-Levels - Leaver Destinations
After A-Levels (Year 13) - 2,472 students
2023/24 data
University & Higher Education Destinations
6%
Top-third university
42%
Degree course
49%
Any L4+ destination
2%
Apprenticeships
Based on 1,582 students completing 16-18 study
2022/23 cohort - "Top-third" = most selective third of UK universities by student intake
Latest from Barnsley College
Reloved Boutique expands into community with stall in Barnsley Market 24th September 2026
24 Sep 2026
College launches DAS Academy for virtual driver training 18th September 2026
18 Sep 2026
Three Barnsley College students named national award finalists 1st September 2026
1 Sep 2026
Samantha’s journey proves where you start doesn’t define where you finish 26th August 2026
26 Aug 2026
Barnsley College to lead £400,000 programme helping people build careers with AI 25th August 2026
25 Aug 2026
Barnsley College students celebrate T Level success as technical skills take centre stage 14th August 2026
14 Aug 2026
From Barnsley College's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Barnsley College
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 80
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 29
- Children hurt
- 6
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 80 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 29 serious and 50 slight.
6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
11 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Barnsley is 11 (the median across 96 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - Barnsley
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Barnsley
Across Barnsley council
Places available
2,717
Applications
2,653
Got 1st preference
91.0%
Got preferred school
98.2%
All secondary applications across Barnsley council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(11)
Questions parents ask about Barnsley College
What are GCSE results like at Barnsley College?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Barnsley College achieved an Attainment 8 score of 6.5. 2% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is the catchment area for Barnsley College?
No fixed boundary. When Barnsley College is oversubscribed, Barnsley allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How do I apply to Barnsley College?
Apply through Barnsley's coordinated admissions process, naming Barnsley College on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near Barnsley College?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 80 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 29 serious and 50 slight. 6 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 11 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Barnsley is 11 (the median across 96 schools, same distance and years).
Where is Barnsley College?
Barnsley College is at PO Box 266, Church Street, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 2YW.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)