Brampton Cortonwood Infant School, Barnsley

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

Achievement - Expected standard. "Pupils generally achieve in line with national expectations in the phonics screening check at the end of Year 1."

Curriculum and teaching - Expected standard. "Pupils enjoy an ambitious, engaging curriculum that promotes active learning."

Early years - Expected standard. "Staff provide nurturing, carefully considered education for early years children to ensure they make a positive, happy start to school life."

Inclusion - Expected standard. "Leaders identify pupils' individual needs and barriers to learning accurately and at an early stage."

Leadership and governance - Expected standard. "Leaders and trustees identify and support continuous improvement across the school effectively."

Personal development and wellbeing - Expected standard. "The curriculum gives pupils a wide range of opportunities to develop personally and support their wellbeing."

Attendance and behaviour - Needs attention. "In recent years, pupils' attendance has been below national averages."

Safeguarding standards were met.

Ofsted's next steps for the school: "• Leaders should ensure that teachers provide effective support for pupils in the early stages of learning to write to develop accurate handwriting skills. • Leaders should ensure that attendance improves for all pupils to be at least in line with national averages".

From the headteacher's welcome: "We are a busy but friendly community school and part of the James Montgomery Academy Trust . We firmly believe our school is as fun as it is educational and are always striving to improve our pupils' stay with us."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include athletics, gymnastics, multi-sports, dance, drama and art.

For September 2026 entry, 29 families put Brampton Cortonwood Infant School as their first choice and 40 named it as one of their preferences, for 29 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 Brampton Cortonwood Infant School are Brampton Ellis CofE Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 73% reading, 71% maths); Highfield Farm Primary School (0.8 miles, 67% reading, 58% maths); Wombwell Park Street Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 73% reading, 84% maths); and Wath Church of England Primary School (1.2 miles, Good, 83% reading, 83% maths).

Brampton Cortonwood Infant School is one of 20 schools run by James Montgomery Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's primary schools, 53% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.

13 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Brampton Cortonwood Infant School (as of April 2026): 92% would recommend the school and 92% say their child is happy there.

The strongest agreement was that they are kept well informed about progress (92%); the weakest, that pupils behave well (69%).

10% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 17 pupils (15.5%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) 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 Wombwell Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.

12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Knollbeck Lane/Garden Drive (adjacent), 110 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Brampton Cortonwood Infant School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

Brampton Cortonwood Infant School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.

The secondary schools closest to Brampton Cortonwood Infant School are Netherwood Academy (1.6 miles) and Wath Academy (1.8 miles).