Birdwell Primary School, Barnsley

Ofsted's report card from its 20 January 2026 inspection grades Birdwell Primary School on 7 areas: 6 strong standard and 1 expected standard. Report cards replaced single-word judgements in November 2025, on a five-point scale from exceptional to urgent improvement.

Achievement - Strong standard. "Pupils achieve very well at Birdwell Primary School."

Attendance and behaviour - Strong standard. "Pupils attend school regularly."

Curriculum and teaching - Strong standard. "Leaders have developed a broad and well-considered curriculum offer for pupils, with the support of the wider trust."

Inclusion - Strong standard. "Leaders ensure that there are no barriers to learning or achievement that pupils cannot overcome in this school."

Leadership and governance - Strong standard. "Leaders at all levels demonstrate consistent and effective leadership."

Personal development and wellbeing - Strong standard. "Leaders have prioritised the personal development offer."

Early years - Expected standard. "The curriculum in the early years clearly identifies and sequences what the school wants children to learn."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should support all staff to implement the curriculum in the early years as intended to ensure that children have further opportunities to develop, practise and learn new knowledge across all aspects of the curriculum".

In 2025, 89% of Year 6 pupils at Birdwell Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 93% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 79% in Barnsley and 77% and 75% across England.

Results were similar in 2024 (91% in reading, 91% in maths).

With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.

For September 2026 entry, 30 families put Birdwell Primary School as their first choice and 66 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state primary schools to Birdwell Primary School are Tankersley St Peter's CofE (Aided) Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 96% reading, 81% maths); Hoyland Common Primary School (0.9 miles, Good, 83% reading, 78% maths); West Meadows Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 69% reading, 72% maths); and St Helen's Catholic Primary School (1.5 miles, Good, 73% reading, 82% maths).

Birdwell Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.

Birdwell Primary School is one of 14 schools run by Hcat, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 67% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

46 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Birdwell Primary School (as of April 2026): 100% would recommend the school, 98% say their child is happy there and 83% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.

The strongest agreement was that they would recommend the school (100%); the weakest, that they are kept well informed about progress (80%).

4.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 35 pupils (18.3%) received SEN support and 3 (1.6%) had an education, health and care plan, against 16.2% and 4.6% at the average state school. The most common need among them is speech, language and communication needs.

The nearest railway station is Elsecar Rail Station, about 2.3 miles away in a straight line.

8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Sheffield Road/Chapel Street (adjacent), 130 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 44 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, public order offences and vehicle crime. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Barnsley (121).

Birdwell Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.