Mapplewell Primary School, Barnsley
Mapplewell Primary School is a primary school for pupils aged 3 to 11 in Barnsley, part of Hcat. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in February 2024. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 8th-highest of the 60 schools in Barnsley with published results, and 1,876th of 14,452 across England. For 2026 entry it had 1.2 first-choice applications for every place. It was full in 2025, at 107% of capacity.
- SATs results
- Above England average
- Ofsted
- Good (2024)
- Demand
- Oversubscribed
- 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
Mapplewell Primary School in detail
Mapplewell Primary School in its own words
In its own words: "At Mapplewell Primary School we are committed to British Values and equipping our pupils with the skills they will need to take their place in a multi-cultural, multi-faith community in today’s Britain. We are keen to promote equal opportunity for all regardless of faith, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, political or financial status."
From the headteacher's welcome: "Welcome to Mapplewell Primary School, a place that I am very proud to support in my role as Executive Headteacher. Our school is a happy, vibrant school where pupils are provided with opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge they require to become life long learners and leave us ready for their next stage in education."
The school runs a breakfast club from 7:45am, from £5.00 per day.
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 89% of Year 6 pupils at Mapplewell Primary School reached the expected standard in reading and 89% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 79% in Barnsley and 77% and 75% across England.
Results were similar in 2024 (90% in reading, 93% in maths).
Getting a place at Mapplewell Primary School
For September 2026 entry, 54 families put Mapplewell Primary School as their first choice and 114 named it as one of their preferences, for 44 places offered. That is 1.2 first choices for every place. 10 families who put it first were not offered a place there.
Admissions history and your chances at Mapplewell Primary School
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to Mapplewell Primary School are Wellgate Primary School (0.3 miles, Good, 79% reading, 81% maths); Athersley North Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 54% reading, 59% maths); Darton Primary School (1 mile, Good, 79% reading, 64% maths); and Laithes Primary School (1.1 miles, Good, 74% reading, 76% maths).
Mapplewell Primary School's 2025 results were higher than all 4 of them.
Wellgate Primary SchoolAthersley North Primary SchoolDarton Primary SchoolLaithes Primary School
The trust
Mapplewell 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
11.7% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 3.8% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 39 pupils (11.4%) received SEN support and 6 (1.7%) 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 a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Darton Rail Station, about 1.3 miles away in a straight line.
14 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Greenside/Greenside Avenue (adjacent), 160 metres away.
Suspensions and exclusions
Mapplewell 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); 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 · 3 years agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Early Years
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its February 2024 inspection.
Rated Outstanding for
Early years.
Rated Good for
Quality of education, Behaviour & attitudes, Personal development, Leadership & management.
At a Glance
11.7%
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 remained stable at around 89% (2024 to 2025). Maths has declined from 93% to 89% (2024 to 2025). Writing has remained stable at around 78% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
28.1
Avg class size
27.0
Infant (KS1)
29.5
KS2
12
Total classes
1 class with more than 30 pupils
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Social & online
Keep up with Mapplewell Primary School
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to Mapplewell Primary School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. Mapplewell 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
- 20
- Fatal
- 1
- Serious
- 8
- Children hurt
- 3
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 8 serious and 11 slight.
3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
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 Mapplewell Primary School
Will you get a place at Mapplewell Primary School? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against Mapplewell Primary School's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for Mapplewell Primary School:
- The straight-line distance from your home to Mapplewell Primary School.
- Barnsley publishes last distance offered figures, but none for Mapplewell Primary School that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at Mapplewell Primary School for 2020 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
107%
Over capacity
311 pupils
290 places
21 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: Oversubscribed
Inspection History
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
39
SEN Support
6
EHC Plans
13.1%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
343
Total Pupils
194
Boys
149
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
17
Teachers
20.2:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£41,304
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£4,955
Per pupil
£1688k
Total funding
£55k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
4.2%
Overall absence
7.2%
Persistent absence
277
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Questions parents ask about Mapplewell Primary School
What are SATs results like at Mapplewell Primary School?
Of the pupils at Mapplewell Primary School who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 89% reached the expected standard in reading and 89% did so in maths.
What is Mapplewell Primary School's Ofsted rating?
Mapplewell Primary School was rated Good at its most recent Ofsted inspection in February 2024.
What is the catchment area for Mapplewell Primary School?
No fixed boundary. When Mapplewell 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 Mapplewell Primary School?
Mapplewell Primary School was full in 2025, at 107% of its capacity, so places are allocated on the oversubscription criteria.
How big are the classes at Mapplewell Primary School?
Classes at Mapplewell Primary School average 28.1 pupils (2025/26). 1 class has more than 30 pupils - infant classes are capped at 30 by law, with limited exceptions.
How many pupils go to Mapplewell Primary School?
Mapplewell Primary School has around 343 pupils on roll. 12% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at Mapplewell Primary School?
4.2% of sessions were missed at Mapplewell Primary School in 2024/25. 7.2% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to Mapplewell Primary School?
Apply through Barnsley's coordinated admissions process, naming Mapplewell 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 Mapplewell Primary School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 20 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: 1 fatal, 8 serious and 11 slight. 3 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 2 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 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 Mapplewell Primary School?
Mapplewell Primary School is at Greenside Avenue, Staincross, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S75 6BB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)