Highgate Primary Academy, Rotherham
Highgate Primary Academy is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Rotherham, part of Astrea Academy Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2013. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2022 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 15th-highest of the 67 schools in Rotherham with published results, and 5,291st of 14,452 across England. It was 99% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2013)
- 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
Highgate Primary Academy in detail
Highgate Primary Academy in its own words
In its own words: "We are committed to serving the families in our local community to the best of our ability. The current building originally opened in 1913 as two separate schools - Infant and Junior. The two schools were amalgamated in 1969 to serve children from 5-11 years."
Vision and values (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 82% of Year 6 pupils at Highgate Primary Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 80% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 79% in Barnsley and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 75% in reading and 70% in maths in 2024.
Getting a place at Highgate Primary Academy
For September 2026 entry, 29 families put Highgate Primary Academy as their first choice and 77 named it as one of their preferences, for 30 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 Highgate Primary Academy
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Highgate Primary Academy are Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School (0.6 miles, Good, 70% reading, 55% maths); Carrfield Primary Academy (0.6 miles, Good, 77% reading, 83% maths); Goldthorpe Primary Academy (0.7 miles, Good, 76% reading, 76% maths); and Heather Garth Primary School Academy (0.8 miles, Good, 70% reading, 90% maths).
Highgate Primary Academy's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Sacred Heart Catholic Primary SchoolCarrfield Primary AcademyGoldthorpe Primary AcademyHeather Garth Primary School Academy
The trust
Highgate Primary Academy is one of 26 schools run by Astrea Academy Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's primary schools, 54% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in 2024/25.
Who goes there
44.6% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 5.2% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Goldthorpe Rail Station, about 250 metres away (roughly a 3-minute walk).
11 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Nicholas Lane/Barnsley Road (opposite), 60 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Highgate Primary Academy stands in is among the 10% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Highgate Primary Academy issued 4 suspensions, 1.1 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
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 February 2013, 13 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 February 2013 inspection - up from Requires Improvement.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
44.6%
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 75% to 82% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 70% to 80% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 73% to 82% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.0
Avg class size
28.0
Infant (KS1)
29.7
KS2
10
Total classes
2 classes with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with Highgate Primary Academy
Getting There
Train Stations
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Highgate Primary Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Highgate Primary Academy 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
- 15
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 6
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 9 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise.
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 Highgate Primary Academy
Will you get a place at Highgate Primary Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Highgate Primary Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Highgate Primary Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Highgate Primary Academy.
- Barnsley publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Highgate Primary Academy that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Highgate Primary Academy 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.
£9.99 once
One school, inc. VAT. Or £19.99 for up to three schools.
Pro £9 a month, every report included, cancel any time
A report for any school, plus everything else in Pro.
Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
99%
Near capacity
311 pupils
315 places
4 spare places in 2025
2025, DfE school capacity data
Area Demand Pressure - Rotherham
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for Rotherham
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(3)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
59
SEN Support
12
EHC Plans
21.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
327
Total Pupils
171
Boys
156
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
16
Teachers
20.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£50,803
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£5,591
Per pupil
£2032k
Total funding
£177k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.9%
Overall absence
15.9%
Persistent absence
276
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
Highgate Primary Academy
Questions parents ask about Highgate Primary Academy
What are SATs results like at Highgate Primary Academy?
Of the pupils at Highgate Primary Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 82% reached the expected standard in reading and 80% did so in maths.
What is Highgate Primary Academy's Ofsted rating?
Highgate Primary Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in February 2013, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Highgate Primary Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Highgate Primary Academy is oversubscribed, Barnsley allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
Is it hard to get a place at Highgate Primary Academy?
Highgate Primary Academy was close to full in 2025, at 99% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Highgate Primary Academy?
Classes at Highgate Primary Academy average 28 pupils (2025/26). 2 classes have more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Highgate Primary Academy?
Highgate Primary Academy has around 327 pupils on roll. 45% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Highgate Primary Academy?
5.9% of sessions were missed at Highgate Primary Academy in 2024/25. 15.9% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Highgate Primary Academy?
Apply through Barnsley's coordinated admissions process, naming Highgate Primary Academy 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 Highgate Primary Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 15 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 6 serious and 9 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 2 in a vehicle or otherwise. 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 Highgate Primary Academy?
Highgate Primary Academy is at Nicholas Lane, Goldthorpe, Rotherham, South Yorkshire, S63 9AS.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)