The Mill Academy, Barnsley
The Mill Academy 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 June 2017. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in October 2022 did not change this grade. Its 2025 Key Stage 2 results were the 29th-highest of the 60 schools in Barnsley with published results, and 6,591st of 14,452 across England. It was 92% full in 2025.
- SATs results
- In line with England
- Ofsted
- Good (2017)
- Demand
- Every first choice offered
- Attendance
- In line with England
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
The Mill Academy in detail
The Mill Academy in its own words
In its own words: "Our school is committed to promoting British Values within the learning curriculum, PHSCE and extra-curricular activities in accordance with The Department for Education."
The school runs a breakfast club from 8:00am and after-school care.
Vision and values (school website)Wraparound care (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Results
In 2025, 80% of Year 6 pupils at The Mill Academy reached the expected standard in reading and 77% in maths. At the average state primary the figures were 78% and 79% in Barnsley and 77% and 75% across England.
Results rose from 63% in reading and 57% in maths in 2024.
With small year groups, a few pupils can move these figures by several points.
Getting a place at The Mill Academy
For September 2026 entry, 22 families put The Mill Academy as their first choice and 34 named it as one of their preferences, for 22 places offered. That is one first choice for every place. Every family who put it first was offered a place there for 2026 entry.
Compared with nearby schools
The nearest other state primary schools to The Mill Academy are Bank End Primary Academy (0.4 miles, Good, 92% reading, 96% maths); Ward Green Primary School (0.4 miles, Good, 68% reading, 72% maths); The Forest Academy (0.7 miles, Outstanding, 74% reading, 74% maths); and Worsbrough Common Primary School (0.7 miles, Good, 74% reading, 79% maths).
The Mill Academy's 2025 results were higher than 3 of these 4 schools.
Bank End Primary AcademyWard Green Primary SchoolThe Forest AcademyWorsbrough Common Primary School
The trust
The Mill Academy 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
40.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, well above the average state school (25%), according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 45 pupils (21.3%) received SEN support and 5 (2.4%) 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 speech, language and communication needs.
Getting there
The nearest railway station is Barnsley Rail Station, about 1.6 miles away in a straight line.
12 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Park Road/Bank End Road (near), 180 metres away.
The area around the school
Measured by the 2025 English Indices of Deprivation, the neighbourhood The Mill Academy stands in is among the 20% most deprived neighbourhoods in England. This describes where the school is, not where its pupils live.
In August 2026, police recorded 216 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.
Suspensions and exclusions
In 2024/25, The Mill Academy issued 1 suspension, 0.5 for every 100 pupils (the average state school: 6.3), and no permanent exclusions.
Secondary schools nearby
The secondary schools closest to The Mill Academy are Barnsley Academy (0.5 miles) and Trinity Academy St. Edwards (1.6 miles).
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); English Indices of Deprivation 2025 (MHCLG); data.police.uk street-level crime; DfE exclusions statistics
Location
Every family who put it first was offered a place for 2026 entry, so distance did not limit places that year.
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from June 2017, 9 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
Ofsted rated this school Good at its June 2017 inspection - up from Inadequate.
Rated Good for
Leadership & management.
At a Glance
40.3%
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 improved from 63% to 80% (2024 to 2025). Maths has improved from 57% to 77% (2024 to 2025). Writing has improved from 57% to 83% (2024 to 2025).
Class Sizes
22.1
Avg class size
27.3
Infant (KS1)
26.8
KS2
9
Total classes
2025/26 academic year
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby primary schools
Keep up with The Mill Academy
Getting There
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to The Mill Academy from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. The Mill 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
- 26
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 14
- Children hurt
- 8
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 26 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 14 serious and 12 slight.
8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise.
2 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 The Mill Academy
Will you get a place at The Mill Academy? Get the admissions report
Your home postcode, set against The Mill Academy's admissions figures, in one report saved to your account.
What the report includes for The Mill Academy:
- The straight-line distance from your home to The Mill Academy.
- Barnsley publishes last distance offered figures, but none for The Mill Academy that we hold, so the report covers demand, alternatives and dates.
- Applications, first choices and offers at The Mill Academy for 2015 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
92%
Near capacity
194 pupils
210 places
16 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
2,979
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: Every first choice offered
Inspection History(2)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
45
SEN Support
5
EHC Plans
23.7%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
211
Total Pupils
113
Boys
98
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
9
Teachers
23.4:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£46,046
Mean salary
2026 data
School Funding
£6,085
Per pupil
£1376k
Total funding
£136k
Pupil premium
2025-26 financial year allocations
Pupil Absence2024/25
5.9%
Overall absence
11.8%
Persistent absence
170
Enrolments
Absence trend
Source: DfE pupil absence statistics. Persistent absence = pupils missing 10%+ sessions.
Secondary Schools Nearby
Secondary schools pupils are likely to move to
The Mill Academy
Questions parents ask about The Mill Academy
What are SATs results like at The Mill Academy?
Of the pupils at The Mill Academy who took the 2025 Key Stage 2 assessments, 80% reached the expected standard in reading and 77% did so in maths.
What is The Mill Academy's Ofsted rating?
The Mill Academy's most recent Ofsted inspection, in October 2022, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in June 2017, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for The Mill Academy?
No fixed boundary. When The Mill 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 The Mill Academy?
The Mill Academy was not full in 2025: it ran at 92% of its 210 places.
How big are the classes at The Mill Academy?
Classes at The Mill Academy average 22.1 pupils (2025/26).
How many pupils go to The Mill Academy?
The Mill Academy has around 211 pupils on roll. 40% are eligible for free school meals.
What is attendance like at The Mill Academy?
5.9% of sessions were missed at The Mill Academy in 2024/25. 11.8% of pupils were persistently absent (missing 10% or more of sessions).
How do I apply to The Mill Academy?
Apply through Barnsley's coordinated admissions process, naming The Mill Academy 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 The Mill Academy?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 26 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 14 serious and 12 slight. 8 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 5 on foot and 3 in a vehicle or otherwise. 2 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 The Mill Academy?
The Mill Academy is at Lobwood, Worsbrough Bridge, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S70 5EP.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)