Sandhill Primary School

Sandhill Primary School has demonstrated a notable improvement since its last inspection and is currently rated as good in all areas. The school is characterized by a positive atmosphere where pupils feel valued and supported, and teachers are well-regarded by students. Most pupils exhibit calm behavior and engagement during lessons, aided by structured support mechanisms for those needing extra help. The curriculum in core subjects like English and mathematics is well-developed, fostering a conducive learning environment. However, there are still areas where the curriculum needs further strengthening, particularly in certain foundation subjects where gaps in knowledge exist.

Strengths

• Effective curriculum development in English and mathematics.
• Strong support and provision for pupils with special educational needs.
• Positive and respectful relationships between adults and pupils.
• Increased emphasis on personal development and understanding of equality.
• Improvements in attendance due to robust support systems.

Areas for Improvement

• Inconsistent understanding of important learning in some foundation subjects.
• Gaps in knowledge impairing pupils' ability to connect new ideas.

Admissions: local authority offers data from the Department for Education. A school is oversubscribed when at least 5% of the families who put it first were not offered a place, and undersubscribed when everyone who put it first got in but 10% or more of its places were unfilled in the Department's school capacity survey (the latest survey is used for entry years it does not cover). Places: Department for Education, School capacity, from local authorities' annual survey as at 1 May. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024–25); the survey was not run in 2020. Places include sixth form places. Forecasts are the local authority's own for the school's planning area, an area it uses to plan places that is not the school's catchment area. The forecast starts from a head count in 2025; the dashed line is the Department's estimate of places in that area, including those the authority has firm plans for. Planned places are cumulative, and only those with firm plans are counted.

In 2024–25 pupils at Sandhill Primary School attended 93.0% of sessions (the national figure for primary schools was 94.8%). 17.5% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 13.0%).

Sessions missed

Pupils persistently absent

Source: Department for Education, Pupil absence in schools in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Persistent absence means missing 10% or more of sessions; severe absence means 50% or more. No figures were published for 2019/20.

In 2024–25, 0.8% of pupils at Sandhill Primary School were suspended at least once (nationally 1.1%). No pupils were permanently excluded.

Pupils suspended at least once

Source: Department for Education, Suspensions and permanent exclusions in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). A pupil can be suspended more than once, so suspensions per 100 pupils can be higher than the share of pupils suspended. Very small numbers are hidden by the DfE. Exclusion figures dropped in 2020 and 2021 because of school closures.

In 2025–26 Sandhill Primary School had 22.5 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for primary schools was 20.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 9.8% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 15.7%).

Pupils per teacher

Teachers who left the school within a year

Source: Department for Education, School workforce in England. Each year is the one the school year ends in (2025 is 2024/25). Pupils per teacher counts full-time-equivalent pupils and teachers. Turnover is the share of a year's teachers (full-time equivalent) who were not at the school the following year, whether they moved to another school or left state-funded teaching. Turnover and sickness figures run one year behind the ratios. Sick leave is the share of teachers who took at least one day in the year, so it swings widely at small schools, where a few teachers can make it 0% or 100%. The national figures are for all state schools of the same type.

In 2025–26, 18.4% of pupils at Sandhill Primary School were on SEN support (nationally 15.4%) and 6.6% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 4.1%).

Pupils by main type of need

Source: Department for Education, Special educational needs in England (the 2025–26 school census). SEN support is extra help in school without an EHC plan. National figures are for all state-funded primary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Sandhill Primary School received £7,601 and spent £7,762 for each of its 233 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £142,000 (£609 per pupil).

Across all 11 schools of Every Child Matters Academy Trust, income was £7,232 and spending £7,315 per pupil.

Income per pupil

Spending per pupil

Source: Department for Education, Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool. Each year is the one the financial year ends in (2024 is 2023–24). Academy figures include a share of the trust's central services, shared out by pupil numbers, and are rounded to the nearest £1,000. Premises costs were defined differently from 2024, so compare them across that gap with care.

• Primary Schools
• Secondary Schools

All schools in Barnsley · Barnsley local authority: places and applications

Sandhill Primary School is part of Every Child Matters Academy Trust, which runs 11 schools. The nearest others:

• Ladywood Primary School Barnsley
• Wombwell Park Street Primary School Barnsley
• High View Primary Learning Centre Barnsley
• Athersley South Primary School Barnsley
• Hoyland Springwood Primary School Barnsley
• Laithes Primary School Barnsley
• Wilthorpe Primary School Barnsley
• Wellgate Primary School Barnsley
• Barugh Green Primary School Barnsley
• Kexborough Primary School Barnsley

What is Sandhill Primary School's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Sandhill Primary School is Good, from an inspection in April 2024.

When was Sandhill Primary School last inspected by Ofsted?

Sandhill Primary School was last inspected in April 2024.

How many pupils does Sandhill Primary School have?

Sandhill Primary School has 244 pupils on roll.

What age range does Sandhill Primary School cover?

Sandhill Primary School for pupils aged 3 to 11.

What are Sandhill Primary School's SATs (KS2) results?

In 2025, 62% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.

Where is Sandhill Primary School?

Sandhill Primary School is at Dearne Street, Great Houghton, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S72 0EQ.