Darton Academy, Barnsley

In 2026, pupils at Darton Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 50.7, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 41.8 in Barnsley and 47 across England.

66% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Barnsley and 47% in England.

That is down from 52.1 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.37: pupils made above average progress compared with pupils nationally who started secondary school at the same level. Progress 8 was not published for 2026.

Disadvantaged pupils averaged an Attainment 8 of 40.4, against 54.6 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 14.2 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 26 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Art and Design and History.

For September 2026 entry, 217 families put Darton Academy as their first choice and 373 named it as one of their preferences, for 230 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Darton Academy are Horizon Community College (2.8 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49); Trinity Academy St. Edwards (3.3 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 53.4); Scissett Middle School (3.3 miles, Good); and Holy Trinity Catholic and Church of England School (3.7 miles, Requires improvement, Attainment 8 37.2).

Darton Academy's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

Darton Academy is one of 64 schools run by Delta Academies Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 48.1 in 2024/25.

Of the 251 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 86% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 78% to a further education college, 5% to an apprenticeship and 2% into work.

3.6% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

In 2026, 109 pupils (9.9%) received SEN support and 33 (3%) 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 social, emotional and mental health needs.

Darton Academy had 53 teachers in 2026, one for every 21 pupils: fewer teachers per pupil than a typical secondary school, at about one for every 17.

The nearest railway station is Darton Rail Station, about 0.8 miles away in a straight line.

10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Ballfield Lane/Churchfield Lane (adjacent), 20 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 21 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and public order offences. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Barnsley (121).

In 2024/25, Darton Academy issued 372 suspensions, 33.4 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 10 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Darton Academy are Kexborough Primary School (under 0.1 miles), Darton Primary School (1 mile), Barugh Green Primary School (1.3 miles) and Cawthorne Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School (1.5 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.