Kirk Balk Academy, Barnsley
Kirk Balk Academy is a secondary school for pupils aged 11 to 16 in Barnsley, part of Northern Education Trust. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in January 2020. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in June 2025 did not change this grade. Its 2026 GCSE results were the 4th-highest of the 10 schools in Barnsley with published results, and 1,560th of 3,298 across England. It was 98% full in 2025.
- GCSE results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2020)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- Attendance
- Below England average
- Progress (2024)
- Below average
Year 7 applications for September 2027 close in 4 days
Deadline Saturday 31 October 2026. Apply to Barnsley (the council where you live). Offers on 1 March.
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
Kirk Balk Academy in detail
Results
In 2026, pupils at Kirk Balk Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 46.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 41.8 in Barnsley and 47 across England.
54% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Barnsley and 47% in England.
That is in line with 2025, when the score was 46.
Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.13: pupils made below 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 32.4, against 52.3 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 19.9 points.
Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.
Getting a place at Kirk Balk Academy
For September 2026 entry, 237 families put Kirk Balk Academy as their first choice and 405 named it as one of their preferences, for 254 places offered. It had fewer first-choice applications than places. 4 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state secondary schools to Kirk Balk Academy are Barnsley Academy (2.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.6); Netherwood Academy (2.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41); Ecclesfield School (3.4 miles, Good, Attainment 8 45.3); and Trinity Academy St. Edwards (3.7 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 53.4).
Kirk Balk Academy's 2026 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Barnsley AcademyNetherwood AcademyEcclesfield SchoolTrinity Academy St. Edwards
The trust
Kirk Balk Academy is one of 30 schools run by Northern Education Trust, an academy trust.
Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 47.5 in 2024/25.
What parents say
107 parents answered Ofsted's Parent View survey about Kirk Balk Academy (as of September 2025): 68% would recommend the school, 76% say their child is happy there and 50% of those with a view say bullying is dealt with well.
The strongest agreement was that the school has high expectations for their child (85%); the weakest, that the school deals with bullying well (among parents with a view) (50%).
Where pupils go next
Of the 255 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 79% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 69% to a further education college, 9% to an apprenticeship and 6% into work.
Who goes there
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 Elsecar Rail Station, about 0.9 miles away in a straight line.
8 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Kirk Balk/West Street (adjacent), 60 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, Kirk Balk Academy issued 1413 suspensions, 106.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 12 permanent exclusions.
Primary schools nearby
The primary schools closest to Kirk Balk Academy are St Helen's Catholic Primary School (0.2 miles), West Meadows Primary School (0.3 miles), Hoyland Springwood Primary School (0.4 miles) and Greenfield Primary School (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.
St Helen's Catholic Primary SchoolWest Meadows Primary SchoolHoyland Springwood Primary SchoolGreenfield Primary School
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; Ofsted Parent View; DfE destination measures; DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport); DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Our estimate from how close the nearest similar schools are and how oversubscribed the council's schools are. It is not a published boundary.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoThis judgement is from January 2020, 6 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
Latest (ungraded) inspection: Standards have been maintained.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's June 2025 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Kirk Balk Academy creates a positive, orderly learning environment where pupils feel motivated and happy. The school has an ambitious curriculum and expert teachers who explain concepts clearly, helping pupils learn securely. Beyond academics, the school offers numerous clubs and enrichment activities that develop pupils' talents and leadership skills.
Key Strengths
- Calm, orderly environment where pupils are happy, well-mannered and conduct themselves well
- Ambitious curriculum with clear expectations, supported by detailed 'subject DNA' guidance for teachers
- Excellent support for reading development, with accurate identification of weaker readers and timely intervention
- Strong careers programme ensuring most pupils progress to further education, employment or training
- Comprehensive personal development curriculum covering healthy relationships, online safety and cultural understanding
Areas for Improvement
- Teaching is not always adapted sufficiently to meet the needs of all pupils, particularly those needing to deepen their learning
- Some pupils with special educational needs and disabilities do not receive precisely adapted teaching, limiting their progress
- Behaviour support strategies for a small minority of pupils need further development to reduce disruption
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with leaders ensuring an open and positive culture that puts pupils' interests first.
Extracurricular Activities
Performing arts clubs, equalities clubs, sports clubs, PROUD rewards event, pupil leadership positions (pupil president, sport leaders), residential trips, heritage site visits, places of worship visits
Kirk Balk Academy has successfully maintained the good standards from its previous inspection. The school is committed to being outcomes-focused and child-centred, with high expectations and a relentless drive to help pupils succeed.
About
Kirk Balk Academy is a secondary school located in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England. It is part of the Northern Education Trust.
From Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
At a Glance
29.7%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
107 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View, responses as at September 2025 - % who strongly agree or agree
Secondary Performance (GCSE)
Academic year 2025/26GCSE Results
2025/26 academic year
Progress 8 has declined from 0.17 to -0.13 (2023 to 2024). Attainment 8 has declined from 50.7 to 46.4 (2023 to 2026). GCSE English & Maths 5+ has declined from 59% to 54% (2023 to 2026).
Performance by Group
| Group | Progress 8 | Attainment 8 | Eng+Maths 5+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| All pupils | - | 46.4 | 54% |
| Disadvantaged(74) | - | 32.4 | 23% |
| Not known to be disadvantaged(178) | - | 52.3 | 66.9% |
| Boys(130) | - | 44.8 | 56.2% |
| Girls(122) | - | 48.2 | 51.6% |
Show more breakdowns (1)
| Non mobile(246) | - | 46.9 | 54.9% |
2025/26 academic year - DfE performance tables data
GCSE Subjects Offered
+ 2 more subjects
2025/26 academic year - entries by number of pupils
After GCSEs - Leaver Destinations
After GCSEs (Year 11) - 255 students
2023/24 data
Exclusions & Suspensions
12
Permanent exclusions
0.90%
Exclusion rate
1413
Suspensions
106.48%
Suspension rate
211 pupils received one or more suspensions out of 1,327 pupils
2024/25 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby secondary schools
Keep up with Kirk Balk Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Kirk Balk Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Kirk Balk 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
- 18
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 7
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 11 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot.
3 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 Kirk Balk Academy
Will you get a place at Kirk Balk Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Kirk Balk Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Kirk Balk Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Kirk Balk Academy.
- Barnsley publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Kirk Balk Academy that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Kirk Balk Academy for 2016 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
98%
Near capacity
1,317 pupils
1,350 places
33 spare places 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
2,717
Applications
2,653
Got 1st preference
91.0%
Got preferred school
98.2%
All secondary applications across Barnsley council (2026/27), not just this school.
This school: Oversubscribed
Inspection History(3)
Ungraded inspection: Standards have been maintained.
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
249
SEN Support
58
EHC Plans
23.3%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
1,318
Total Pupils
661
Boys
657
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
65
Teachers
20.3:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£49,196
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£7,549
Per pupil
£10638k
Total funding
£419k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
9.6%
Overall absence
25.2%
Persistent absence
1,367
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Kirk Balk Academy
Showing 10 of 11 linked schools
Questions parents ask about Kirk Balk Academy
What are GCSE results like at Kirk Balk Academy?
In the 2026 results, pupils at Kirk Balk Academy achieved an Attainment 8 score of 46.4. 54% passed GCSE English and maths at grade 5 or above.
What is Kirk Balk Academy's Ofsted rating?
Kirk Balk Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in June 2025, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in January 2020, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for Kirk Balk Academy?
No fixed boundary. When Kirk Balk 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 Kirk Balk Academy?
Kirk Balk Academy was close to full in 2025, at 98% of its capacity.
How big are the classes at Kirk Balk Academy?
Classes at Kirk Balk Academy average 25.4 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to Kirk Balk Academy?
Kirk Balk Academy has around 1318 pupils on roll. 30% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Kirk Balk Academy?
9.6% of sessions were missed at Kirk Balk Academy in 2024/25. 25.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Kirk Balk Academy?
Apply through Barnsley's coordinated admissions process, naming Kirk Balk Academy on your application. Applications for Year 7 places starting in September 2027 close on Saturday 31 October 2026, and offers are made on Monday 1 March 2027.
How many road collisions happen near Kirk Balk Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 18 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 7 serious and 11 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 3 on foot. 3 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 Kirk Balk Academy?
Kirk Balk Academy is at West Street, Hoyland, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S74 9HX.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)