Netherwood Academy

Netherwood Academy has been rated as 'Good' in its overall effectiveness, reflecting significant progress since its previous inspection which was marked as requiring improvement. The school has established strong relationships between pupils and staff, fostering a supportive environment where pupils feel safe and respected. Recent improvements in behavior policies and a focus on a well-structured curriculum have led to notable advancements in pupil outcomes. However, challenges remain, particularly regarding the attendance of certain groups of pupils, which affects their overall progress.

Strengths

• Strong relationships between pupils and staff
• Well-planned and well-structured lessons
• Consistent application of behavior policies
• Recent improvements in outcomes at key stage 4
• Effective support for weakest readers through interventions
• Pupils have opportunities for leadership and influence in school

Areas for Improvement

• Some pupils do not attend regularly
• High suspension rates for vulnerable pupils
• Teaching not sufficiently adapted for some pupils, particularly the most able and those with SEND

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 Netherwood Academy attended 88.9% of sessions (the national figure for secondary schools was 91.6%). 31.2% of pupils were persistently absent, missing at least one session in ten (nationally 23.4%).

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, 12.3% of pupils at Netherwood Academy were suspended at least once (nationally 7.3%). 9 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 Netherwood Academy had 17.7 pupils for each teacher (the national figure for secondary schools was 16.7). Of its teachers in 2024–25, 17.8% were no longer at the school a year later (nationally 14.1%).

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, 13.8% of pupils at Netherwood Academy were on SEN support (nationally 14.1%) and 3.6% had an education, health and care (EHC) plan (nationally 3.5%).

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 secondary schools. Counts are as published, with small numbers not hidden.

In 2024–25 Netherwood Academy received £8,779 and spent £8,669 for each of its 1,272 pupils. It ended the year with reserves of £445,000 (£350 per pupil).

Across all 26 schools of Astrea Academy Trust, income was £8,290 and spending £8,206 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

Netherwood Academy is part of Astrea Academy Trust, which runs 26 schools. The nearest others:

• Highgate Primary Academy Rotherham
• Carrfield Primary Academy Rotherham
• Gooseacre Primary Academy Rotherham
• Astrea Academy Dearne Rotherham
• The Hill Primary Academy Rotherham
• Greengate Lane Academy Sheffield
• Denaby Main Primary Academy Doncaster
• Hartley Brook Primary School Sheffield
• Castle Academy Doncaster
• Hatfield Academy Sheffield

What is Netherwood Academy's Ofsted rating?

The latest Ofsted rating for Netherwood Academy is Good, from an inspection in May 2024.

When was Netherwood Academy last inspected by Ofsted?

Netherwood Academy was last inspected in May 2024.

How many pupils does Netherwood Academy have?

Netherwood Academy has 1,229 pupils on roll.

What age range does Netherwood Academy cover?

Netherwood Academy for pupils aged 11 to 16.

What are Netherwood Academy's GCSE results?

In 2026 its average Attainment 8 score was 41.0, and 38% of pupils achieved grade 5 or above in both English and maths GCSE.

Where is Netherwood Academy?

Netherwood Academy is at Dove Valley Way, Wombwell, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S73 8FE.