Kirk Balk Academy
Secondary · Academy sponsor led · Ages 11–16 · Barnsley
Kirk Balk Academy is a secondary school in Barnsley for ages 11–16 (academy sponsor led). Its latest Ofsted outcome is Standards maintained, from the inspection on 4 June 2025. Barnsley has published a last distance offered for this school for Year 7 2023 to 2026 entry.
Open on the map Unlock with a pass · £9.99
Key facts
- Address
- West Street, Hoyland, Barnsley, S74 9HX
- Type
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase
- Secondary
- Ages
- 11–16
- Sector
- See recorded establishment type
- Admissions policy
- Non-selective
- Council
- Barnsley
- Pupils on roll
- 1,318 January 2026 school census
- Free school meals
- 29.7% of pupils eligible
- Pupils per teacher
- 21.1
Official record: Get Information about Schools · as at 15 September 2026
Ofsted
Standards maintained Inspected 4 June 2025
Strengths
- “Kirk Balk Academy is successful in its vision to be ‘outcomes focused, child centred’.”
- “There is a deep commitment to improving pupils’ life chances.”
- “The school’s high expectations, relentless drive to help pupils succeed and committed staff ensure that pupils achieve well.”
To improve
- “Although teaching is consistent, at times, it is not adapted sufficiently to meet the needs of all pupils.”
- “For example, occasionally, some pupils are not encouraged to deepen their learning.”
- “In a small number of cases, teaching is not precisely adapted to meet the needs of some pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).”
Safeguarding: Effective
Quoted from the Ofsted report published 14 July 2025 (read the report). Crown copyright, Open Government Licence v3.0.
Exam results
| Measure | School | England |
|---|---|---|
| GCSE English and maths, grade 5 or above (2024/25) | 55% | 45% |
| Attainment 8 score (2024/25) | 46 | 46 |
Department for Education school performance data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Applications and offers
- 2026 Year 7 entry: 237 first-preference applications, 254 offers in total, 233 offers to first-preference applicants.
Department for Education, school-level applications and offers, figures on national offer day. Earlier years are in the pass.
Last distance offered and catchment
A one-off £9.99 pass, no subscription, unlocks for 3 months:
- Last distance offered for Year 7 2023 to 2026, as Barnsley published it, drawn on the map
- Earlier years of applications and offers
- Earlier years of exam results
- Where pupils go after they leave
- Crime, sold prices, broadband and transport around the school
A last distance offered describes one past year and is not a catchment or a promise of a place. Check with the council before you apply.
Nearby secondary schools
Straight-line distance, in Barnsley.
- Barnsley Academy 2.4 mi Standards maintained Last distance published
- Netherwood Academy 2.9 mi Good
- Trinity Academy St. Edwards 3.7 mi Outstanding Last distance published
- Horizon Community College 4.1 mi School remains Good (Improving) - S5 Next Last distance published
- Outwood Academy Carlton 6.0 mi Standards maintained Last distance published
- Outwood Academy Shafton 6.2 mi Not judged Last distance published
- Astrea Academy Dearne 6.2 mi Good
- Darton Academy 6.9 mi Good