Outwood Academy Shafton, Barnsley
Data last updated 11 Sept 2026
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 1 year agoOverall
Quality of Education
Behaviour & Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership & Management
Ofsted Insights
What This School Does Well
Outwood Academy Shafton creates a welcoming environment where pupils feel they belong and are encouraged to achieve. The school excels at supporting all learners, including those who struggle with reading and those with special needs. With an impressive range of daily clubs and activities alongside dedicated careers support, the school helps every young person develop their talents and prepare for their next steps.
Key Strengths
- Ambitious curriculum with clearly identified key knowledge and consistent delivery methods in many lessons
- Strong reading support programme that quickly identifies struggling readers and helps them make good progress
- Excellent personal development offer including wide range of daily extra-curricular activities, pupil leadership roles, and well-considered careers guidance
- Improved behaviour across the school with consistent application of behaviour policy and rare low-level disruption
- Good support for pupils with SEND, allowing most to access the full curriculum
Areas for Improvement
- Teachers sometimes choose activities that don't effectively build knowledge or check understanding, limiting pupil achievement in some areas
- Attendance remains too low, particularly for disadvantaged pupils who miss important learning
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective with leaders putting pupils' interests first and maintaining an open and positive safeguarding culture.
Extracurricular Activities
Table tennis, table football, charity ambassador roles, well-being ambassador roles, school Prime Minister and cabinet roles, careers activities, daily extra-curricular activities
Outwood Academy Shafton is a positive school building a culture of belonging and high aspiration where pupils are safe and keen to learn. The school has maintained its Good rating across all key areas of quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management.
At a Glance
38.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
No
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
What Parents Think
114 responsesSource: Ofsted Parent View - % who strongly agree or agree
Class Sizes
25.1
Avg class size
52
Total classes
10 classes with more than 30 pupils
2024/25 academic year
Getting There
Bus Stops
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Capacity & Demand
School Occupancy
102%
Over capacity
1,377 pupils
1,350 capacity
27 places over capacity
Area Demand Pressure - Barnsley
Based on MHCLG housing supply data for Barnsley
Admissions Demand - Barnsley
Places available
2,720
Applications
2,603
Got 1st preference
88.7%
Got preferred school
98.3%
Secondary admissions across Barnsley (2025/26)
Inspection History(3)
House Prices
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SEN Provision
How many pupils have special educational needs, what types of support the school provides, and how it compares to similar schools.
Pupil Demographics
The school's pupil mix - ethnicity breakdown, free school meals eligibility, and English as an additional language. Useful context when evaluating school fit.
Teachers & Staff
Teacher qualification rates, pupil-to-teacher ratio, staff turnover, and salary data. Shows how well-resourced and stable the school's workforce is.
School Funding
Annual funding per pupil, total budget, pupil premium grants, and how the school's resources compare to similar schools nationally.
Pupil Absence2024/25
11.71978%
Overall absence
29.19255%
Persistent absence
1,449
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Reviews
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Feeder Primary Schools
Primary schools that likely feed into this school, based on proximity
Outwood Academy Shafton
Lift Shafton
Cherry Dale Primary School
Churchfield Primary School
Milefield Primary School
Brierley Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School
Birkwood Primary School
Ladywood Primary School
South Hiendley Primary School
Carlton Primary Academy
Nearby Schools
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