Cherry Dale Primary School, Barnsley
Cherry Dale Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Barnsley. It was rated Outstanding at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2014. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 47th-highest of the 60 schools in Barnsley with published results, and 9,982nd of 14,452 across England. It was full in 2025, at 103% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Below England average
- Ofsted
- Outstanding (2014)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
Reception applications for September 2027 close in 81 days
Deadline Friday 15 January 2027. Apply to Barnsley (the council where you live). Offers on 16 April.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Cherry Dale Primary School in detail
Results
In 2025, 66% of Year 6 pupils at Cherry Dale Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 76% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 79% in Barnsley and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 69% in reading and 64% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Cherry Dale Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 32 families put Cherry Dale Primary School as their first choice and 87 named it as one of their preferences, for 33 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Admissions history and your chances at Cherry Dale Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Cherry Dale Primary School are Churchfield Primary School (0.5 miles, Good, 83% reading, 83% maths); Lift Shafton (0.6 miles, Good, 72% reading, 66% maths); Birkwood Primary School (1 mile, Outstanding, 75% reading, 73% maths); and Milefield Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 74% reading, 69% maths).
Cherry Dale Primary School's 2025 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.
Churchfield Primary SchoolLift ShaftonBirkwood Primary SchoolMilefield Primary School
What parents say
45 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Cherry Dale Primary School (as of September 2025): 80% would recommend the school, 87% say their child is happy there and 39% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that their child does well at the school (89%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (39%).
Who goes there
35.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 7.7% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Barnsley Rail Station, about 3.3 miles away in a straight line.
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Pontefract Road/Montague Street (adjacent), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Cherry Dale Primary School stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Cherry Dale Primary School issued 3 suspensions, 0.9 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to Cherry Dale Primary School are Outwood Academy Shafton (0.5 miles) and Outwood Academy Carlton (1.5 miles).
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; Ofsted Parent View; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 2 years agoThis judgement is from November 2014, 11 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Cherry Dale excels at teaching children to read with confidence and fluency. The school creates a culture where behaviour is exemplary, pupils are kind to each other, and they develop strong values around equality, respect and community contribution. Teachers are highly skilled and the school genuinely cares about every child's wellbeing and development.
Key Strengths
- Reading is a major strength with highly effective phonics teaching and almost all pupils making excellent progress
- Behaviour and personal development are outstanding with pupils showing maturity, respect, tolerance and strong community engagement
- The curriculum is meticulously designed with excellent teacher expertise, though some recent mathematics changes need embedding
- Pupils with SEND have their needs securely identified and very well met with precise support
- Early years provides thoughtful, purposeful learning that prepares children well for key stage 1
Areas for Improvement
- Some teachers are not yet confident implementing all aspects of the new mathematics curriculum, affecting how pupils build secure understanding of essential knowledge and skills
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with strong culture prioritising pupil safety and wellbeing.
Extracurricular Activities
Clubs and activities, local festivals engagement, breakfast club
Cherry Dale Primary School is a warm and welcoming place where pupils and staff take pride in their learning. The school offers an ambitious, engaging curriculum with excellent relationships and exemplary behaviour.
At a Glance
35.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
45 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has remained stable at around 66% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 64% to 76% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 69% to 74% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
24.3
Avg class size
24.3
Infant (KS1)
28.5
KS2
12
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Cherry Dale Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Cherry Dale Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Cherry Dale Primary School is in Barnsley; for families living there:
Apply to Barnsley for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 11
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 4
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 4 serious and 6 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
4 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
Your chances of a place at Cherry Dale Primary School
Will you get a place at Cherry Dale Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Cherry Dale Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Cherry Dale Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Cherry Dale Primary School.
- Barnsley publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Cherry Dale Primary School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Cherry Dale Primary School for 2014 to 2026 entry.
- How many families in Barnsley got their first choice, and how often appeals there succeed.
- The nearest state schools to your home, with Ofsted rating, demand and last distance offered where published.
- Key dates for September 2027 entry and how to apply.
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
103%
Over capacity
288 pupils
280 places
8 pupils over capacity in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Barnsley
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Barnsley
Across Barnsley council
Places available
2,979
Applications
2,423
Got 1st preference
95.7%
Got preferred school
99.2%
All primary applications across Barnsley council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
54
SEN Support
17
EHC Plans
21.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
326
Total Pupils
180
Boys
146
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
19.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£44,033
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,601
Per pupil
£2128k
Total funding
£136k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.8%
Overall absence
11.6%
Persistent absence
251
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
Cherry Dale Primary School
Questions parents ask about Cherry Dale Primary School
What are SATs results like at Cherry Dale Primary School?
Of the pupils at Cherry Dale Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 66% reached the expected standard in reading and 76% did so in maths.
What is Cherry Dale Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Cherry Dale Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2014, it was rated Outstanding.
What is the catchment area for Cherry Dale Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Cherry Dale Primary School is oversubscribed, Barnsley allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Cherry Dale Primary School?
Cherry Dale Primary School was full in 2025, at 103% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Cherry Dale Primary School?
Classes at Cherry Dale Primary School average 24.3 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Cherry Dale Primary School?
Cherry Dale Primary School has around 326 pupils on roll. 35% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Cherry Dale Primary School?
4.8% of sessions were missed at Cherry Dale Primary School in 2024/25. 11.6% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Cherry Dale Primary School?
Apply through Barnsley's coordinated admissions process, naming Cherry Dale Primary School on your application. Applications for Reception places starting in September 2027 close on Friday 15 January 2027, and offers are made on Friday 16 April 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Cherry Dale Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 11 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 4 serious and 6 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on a bicycle and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 4 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 Cherry Dale Primary School?
Cherry Dale Primary School is at Royston Road, Cudworth, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S72 8AA.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)