Birdwell Primary School, Barnsley

Good
Primary
Academy converter
Mixed
Ages 411

Data last updated 11 Sept 2026

Location

Very likely (~838m)Possible (~1.2km)Unlikely (~1.6km)Confidence: high

Estimated admission likelihood based on school density and oversubscription data

Key Information

DfE GIAS
Head:Mr Richard Swallow
Pupils:191 / 210 capacity
LA:Barnsley
Phone:01226742957
Address:Sheffield Road, Birdwell, Barnsley, S70 5XB
Trust:HCAT
Admissions:Not applicable
Status:open
Opened:1 April 2023

Ofsted Rating

Ofsted · 8 months ago

Report card - no overall grade (new Ofsted framework from Sep 2024)

Achievement
Strong Standard
Behaviour
Strong Standard
Personal Development
Strong Standard
Leadership
Strong Standard
Early Years
Expected Standard
Inspected 20 January 2026View full report
URN:149455
UKPRN:10091419
Diocese:Not applicable
Constituency:Barnsley South
Urban/Rural:Urban: Nearer to a major town or city

Ofsted Insights

What This School Does Well

Birdwell Primary School is a highly inclusive school where every child, regardless of background or ability, is supported to achieve well and feel safe. The school goes beyond academics to develop confident, well-rounded pupils through a thoughtful curriculum, enrichment activities and strong pastoral care. All staff have high expectations and pupils demonstrate exemplary behaviour in a warm, welcoming environment.

Key Strengths

  • Pupils achieve very well with results above national average across all performance measures
  • Strong, consistent behaviour and high attendance rates with effective pastoral support
  • Well-sequenced, broad curriculum with excellent teaching and regular, rigorous assessments
  • Highly inclusive approach ensuring no barriers to learning - all pupils including those with SEND make impressive progress
  • Strong focus on personal development, cultural capital and pupil voice through trips, leadership roles and character education

Areas for Improvement

  • Early years provision - staff occasionally do not ensure all areas are used effectively, meaning children miss opportunities to deepen their learning

Safeguarding

Safeguarding standards are met - the school has created an open and positive culture of safeguarding where all legal requirements are met and pupils feel safe.

Extracurricular Activities

Sustainability ambassadors, tuck shop monitors, educational trips linked to curriculum (e.g. mosque visits), speaking and presentation opportunities, collaborative projects, sports activities

Birdwell Primary School is a high-achieving primary school where pupils consistently reach above-average results in national tests and develop deep knowledge across all subjects. The school has created a warm, inclusive environment where all pupils, including those with additional needs, flourish and are well-prepared for their next steps.

At a Glance

20.9%

Free School Meals

No

Boarding

No

Nursery

No

Sixth Form

No

Special Measures

Primary Performance (KS2)

Academic year 2025/26

KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)

2024
2025
Reading-2ppMaths+2ppWriting+11pp

Reading has remained stable at around 89%. Maths has remained stable at around 93%. Writing has improved from 82% to 93%.

Class Sizes

27.0

Avg class size

26.0

Infant (KS1)

28.5

KS2

5

Total classes

2024/25 academic year

Getting There

Bus Stops

Sheffield Road/Chapel Street (adj)
126m · 2 min walk
Sheffield Road/Worsbrough Road (opp)
137m · 2 min walk
Chapel Street/Sheffield Road (nr)
227m · 4 min walk
Sheffield Road/Wentworth Street (adj)
353m · 6 min walk
Worsbrough Road/Green Spring Avenue (adj)
369m · 6 min walk
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Capacity & Demand

School Occupancy

91%

Near capacity

191 pupils

210 capacity

19 spare places available

Area Demand Pressure - Barnsley

High pressure
New homes approved:3,063
Projected new pupils:766

Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Barnsley

Admissions Demand - Barnsley

Low demand0.81x oversubscription

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(2)

20 January 2026Report card
Achievement
Behaviour
Personal Development
Leadership
Early Years
5 April 2023

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.

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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.

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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.

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School Funding

Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.

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Pupil Absence
2024/25

3.83682%

Overall absence

8.64198%

Persistent absence

162

Enrolments

Authorised2.25794%
Unauthorised1.57888%
Persistent (10%+)8.64198%
Severe (50%+)0%

Absence trend

4.11906%
23/24
3.83682%
24/25
Overall absence rate

Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.

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