The Forest Academy
Primary · Academy sponsor led · Ages 3–11 · Barnsley
Last distance offered · Reception 2023
0.365 miles
Published by Barnsley Council · offers on 17 April 2023
2021 figure 🔒
Nearby schools' earlier years 🔒
The Forest Academy is a primary school in Barnsley for ages 3–11 (academy sponsor led). Its latest Ofsted outcome is Outstanding, from the inspection on 2 February 2023. Barnsley has published a last distance offered for this school for Reception 2021 to 2023 entry.
The Forest Academy catchment area: last distance offered
Parents often call this the catchment area: it's how far from the school the last child offered a place lived. It changes every year.
| Entry | Last distance offered |
|---|---|
| Reception 2023 | 0.365 mi |
| Reception 2021 | 🔒 With a pass |
What the pass includes · How to read it: one past year, not a catchment
What the figures show
- Ofsted judged it Outstanding on 2 February 2023; of the 8 nearest primary schools in Barnsley, 1 is Outstanding, 4 are Good and 3 have no current grade.
- For Reception 2023 the last distance offered was 0.365 miles, the 3rd shortest of 9 Barnsley primary schools with a published Reception 2023 last distance, and nearer than in 2021.
- Reception 2026 had 33 first-choice applications for 35 offers; every first-choice family was offered a place, and 2 offers went to families who ranked it second or lower.
- In 2024/25, 70% met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (England 62%), 4th highest of 9 schools: this one and the 8 nearest primary schools in Barnsley.
Worked out by Catchmently from the published figures on this page and those for other Barnsley schools. Distances are as published; how they were measured differs between admission authorities.
Key facts
- Address
- Thornton Road, Kendray, Barnsley, S70 3NG
- Type
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase
- Primary
- Ages
- 3–11
- Council
- Barnsley
- Pupils on roll
- 346 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 39.3% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 18.5
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
Outstanding Inspected 2 February 2023
Strengths
- “The ‘Forest Promise’ of ‘Be the best that you can be,’ is lived and breathed by all in this community of excellence and achievement.”
- “An ethos of care and compassion runs through the school.”
- “Staff share a relentless commitment to giving all pupils the very best education and improving their life chances.”
Safeguarding: Effective
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 21 March 2023 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Exam results
| Measure | School | England |
|---|---|---|
| Key stage 2 · reading, writing and maths, expected standard (2024/25) | 70% | 62% |
Department for Education school performance data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Applications and offers
- 2026 Reception entry: 33 first-preference applications, 35 offers in total, 33 offers to first-preference applicants.
Department for Education, school-level applications and offers, figures on national offer day. Earlier years are in the pass.
Nearby primary schools
Straight-line distance, in Barnsley.
- Bank End Primary Academy 0.4 mi No Ofsted grade
- Hunningley Primary Academy 0.5 mi Outstanding
- The Mill Academy 0.7 mi School remains Good
- Oakwell Rise Primary Academy 0.7 mi No Ofsted grade Last distance published
- Worsbrough Common Primary School 0.8 mi Good
- Ward Green Primary School 0.9 mi Not judged
- Oakhill Primary Academy 0.9 mi Standards maintained
- Queens Road Academy 1.1 mi School remains Good