Netherwood Academy, Barnsley

In its own words: "Astrea Academy Netherwood is an 11-16 non-selective, non-denominational secondary school in Wombwell, Barnsley, set in extensive, modern grounds. We have space for 320 new students in Year 7 each year. We are part of Astrea Academy Trust, a family of primary and secondary academies in Cambridgeshire and South Yorkshire."

From the headteacher's welcome: "A huge welcome to our new Year 7 scholars - Class of 2033! We can’t wait for you to join the Astrea Academy Netherwood family and begin your secondary school journey with us."

Clubs and activities named on the school's website include chess and Duke of Edinburgh.

In 2026, pupils at Netherwood Academy averaged an Attainment 8 score of 41, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 41.8 in Barnsley and 47 across England.

38% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Barnsley and 47% in England.

That is down from 42.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was -0.41: 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 31.9, against 45.7 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 13.8 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 22 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 228 families put Netherwood Academy as their first choice and 357 named it as one of their preferences, for 271 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 Netherwood Academy are Barnsley Academy (2.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 41.6); Kirk Balk Academy (2.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 46.4); Wath Academy (3.3 miles, Good, Attainment 8 49.7); and Saint Pius X Catholic High School A Specialist School in Humanities (3.7 miles, Attainment 8 39.7).

Netherwood Academy's 2026 results were higher than 1 of these 4 schools.

Netherwood Academy is one of 26 schools run by Astrea Academy Trust, an academy trust.

Across the trust's secondary schools, pupils averaged an Attainment 8 score of 44.9 in 2024/25.

Of the 233 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 85% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 80% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 3% into work.

37.9% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), and 10.3% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

The largest ethnic groups are White British (84%) and Black (5%).

The nearest railway station is Wombwell Rail Station, about 1.2 miles away in a straight line.

1 bus stop is within a five-minute walk; the closest is Dove Valley Way/Mitchells Way (near), 180 metres away.

In August 2026, police recorded 210 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and criminal damage and arson. That is well above the typical figure around schools in Barnsley (121), as is usual near a town centre.

In 2024/25, Netherwood Academy issued 589 suspensions, 46.3 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and 9 permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Netherwood Academy are St Michael and All Angels Catholic Primary School (0.4 miles), Outwood Primary Academy Darfield (0.5 miles), Upperwood Academy (0.6 miles) and Kings Oak Primary (0.7 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.