Penistone Grammar School, Sheffield

In 2026, pupils at Penistone Grammar School averaged an Attainment 8 score of 51.4, the average grade across their best eight GCSEs. The average state school scored 41.8 in Barnsley and 47 across England.

59% passed English and maths at grade 5 or above, against 44% in Barnsley and 47% in England.

That is down from 53.6 in 2025.

Its most recent Progress 8 score, for 2024, was 0.33: pupils made above 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 38.2, against 53.8 for other pupils at the school - a gap of 15.6 points.

Pupils sat GCSEs in 27 subjects; after English and maths, the most popular were Combined Science, Geography and History.

For September 2026 entry, 311 families put Penistone Grammar School as their first choice and 472 named it as one of their preferences, for 309 places offered. That is slightly more first choices than places. 4 families who put it first were not offered a place there.

The nearest other state secondary schools to Penistone Grammar School are Scissett Middle School (4 miles, Good); Stocksbridge High School (4.2 miles, Good, Attainment 8 40.3); Shelley College, A Share Academy (4.2 miles, Outstanding, Attainment 8 51.8); and Darton Academy (4.9 miles, Good, Attainment 8 50.7).

Penistone Grammar School's 2026 results were higher than 2 of these 3 schools.

Of the 310 pupils who finished Year 11 in 2023/24, 91% stayed in education or training for at least two terms, including 39% to a further education college, 4% to an apprenticeship and 1% into work.

Of the 147 students who left the sixth form in 2023/24, 69% went on to university or other higher education, 8% to apprenticeships and 14% into work. 31% went to one of the most selective third of universities.

13.4% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well below the average state school (25%), and 1.9% speak English as an additional language, against 18.8% on average, according to the 2026 school census.

Penistone Grammar School has a resourced provision (20 places, 34 pupils on roll) and a SEN unit (6 places, 9 pupils on roll) for specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, visual impairment, other difficulties or disabilities, hearing impairment, speech, language and communication needs, autism, social, emotional and mental health needs, physical disability, moderate learning difficulties and severe learning difficulties.

The nearest railway station is Penistone Rail Station, about 1150 metres away (roughly a 14-minute walk).

3 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Penistone Grammar School Bus Park/Huddersfield R (at), 60 metres away.

Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood Penistone Grammar School stands in is among the 20% least deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.

In August 2026, police recorded 48 crimes within a mile of the school, most often violence and sexual offences, anti-social behaviour and shoplifting. That is well below the typical figure around schools in Barnsley (121).

In 2024/25, Penistone Grammar School issued 80 suspensions, 4.2 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.

The primary schools closest to Penistone Grammar School are Thurlstone Primary School (0.7 miles), Penistone St John's Voluntary Aided Primary School (0.8 miles), Springvale Primary School (1.1 miles) and Hoylandswaine Primary School (1.4 miles). Admission does not depend on which primary a child attends unless the school's policy names feeder schools.