Darton Primary School, Barnsley South
Darton Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Barnsley South, part of Hcat. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in October 2016. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2022 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 57th-highest of the 74 schools in Barnsley with published results, and 9,801st of 14,452 across England. It was 95% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2016)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- Better than England average
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
Darton Primary School in detail
Darton Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "At Darton Primary School, we strive to create a nurturing and inspiring learning community where every child is valued, included, has aspirations and feels empowered to succeed."
From the headteacher's welcome: "As Head of Darton Primary School, I am incredibly proud to be part of a community that is committed to nurturing and developing the potential of every child."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 79% of Year 6 pupils at Darton Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 64% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 79% in Barnsley and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 68% in reading and 53% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Darton Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 33 families put Darton Primary School as their first choice and 86 named it as one of their preferences, for 38 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 Darton Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Darton Primary School are Wellgate Primary School (0.8 miles, Good, 79% reading, 81% maths); Kexborough Primary School (1 mile, Good, 79% reading, 68% maths); Mapplewell Primary School (1 mile, Good, 89% reading, 89% maths); and Barugh Green Primary School (1.4 miles, 84% reading, 76% maths).
Each of them had higher 2025 results than Darton Primary School.
Wellgate Primary SchoolKexborough Primary SchoolMapplewell Primary SchoolBarugh Green Primary School
The trust
Darton 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.
Who goes there
2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 40 pupils (13.5%) received SEN support and 4 (1.3%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Darton Rail Station, about 470 metres away (roughly a 6-minute walk).
10 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Darton Lane/Sackup Lane (opposite), 100 metres away.
The area around the school
In August 2026, police recorded 63 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).
Suspensions and exclusions
Darton Primary School recorded no suspensions or permanent exclusions in 2024/25.
Sources: DfE school performance data (averages: state mainstream schools); DfE school-level applications and offers; council admissions booklets; DfE appeals statistics; DfE multi-academy trust performance data; 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 · 4 years agoThis judgement is from October 2016, 10 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its October 2016 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
17.2%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
Primary Performance (KS2)
Academic year 2024/25KS2 Results (% meeting expected standard)
Reading has improved from 68% to 79% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 53% to 64% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 50% to 70% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
29.5
Avg class size
29.7
Infant (KS1)
30.4
KS2
10
Total classes
3 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Latest from Darton Primary School
From Darton Primary School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Social & online
Keep up with Darton Primary School
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Darton Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Darton 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
- 5
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 0
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 5 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot.
1 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 Darton Primary School
Will you get a place at Darton Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Darton Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Darton Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Darton Primary School.
- Barnsley publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Darton Primary School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Darton Primary School for 2015 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
95%
Near capacity
265 pupils
280 places
15 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Barnsley South
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Barnsley South
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(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
40
SEN Support
4
EHC Plans
14.8%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
297
Total Pupils
146
Boys
151
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
12
Teachers
24.8:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£43,728
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,874
Per pupil
£1721k
Total funding
£73k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.2%
Overall absence
7.2%
Persistent absence
236
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
Darton Primary School
Questions parents ask about Darton Primary School
What are SATs results like at Darton Primary School?
Of the pupils at Darton Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 79% reached the expected standard in reading and 64% did so in maths.
What is Darton Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Darton Primary School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in October 2016, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Darton Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Darton 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 Darton Primary School?
Darton Primary School was close to full in 2025, at 95% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Darton Primary School?
Classes at Darton Primary School average 29.5 pupils (2025/26). 3 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Darton Primary School?
Darton Primary School has around 297 pupils on roll. 17% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Darton Primary School?
4.2% of sessions were missed at Darton Primary School in 2024/25. 7.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Darton Primary School?
Apply through Barnsley's coordinated admissions process, naming Darton 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 Darton Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 5 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 0 serious and 5 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot. 1 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 Darton Primary School?
Darton Primary School is at Station Road, Darton, Barnsley South, South Yorkshire, S75 5AD.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)