School admission preference statistics

Primary schools

Primary schools 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
Total number of applications at closing date 2665 2554 2577 2610 2616
Pupils offered first preference school 2508
(94.1%)		 2395
(93.8%)		 2428
(94.2%)		 2541
(93.9%)

2545
93.70%
Pupils offered second preference school 106
(3.9%)		 108
(4.2%)		 87
(3.4%)		 117
(4.5%)		 106
4.10%
Pupils offered third preference school 20
(0.75%)		 12
(0.5%)		 18
(0.7%)		 19
(0.7%)		 17
1.60%
Pupils not allocated a place at any of their preferred school(s)* 31
(1.2%)		 39
(1.5%)		 44
(1.7%)		 23
(0.9%)		 41
1.60%
Children given at least one of their choices 2634
(98.8%)		 2515
(98.5%)		 2533
(98.3%)		 2587
(99%)		 2575
98%
Number of suspected fraudulent applications One fraudulent application using false address None found None found None found None found

* Barnsley children aren't left without a school offer. All children who live in Barnsley are given places at alternative schools.

Secondary schools 

Secondary schools 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25 2025-26
Total number of applications at closing date 2690 2871 2909 2768 2701
Pupils offered first preference school 2607
(96.9%)		 2687
(93.6%)		 2616
(89.9%)		 2417
(87.3%)		 2400
(88.9%)
Pupils offered second preference school 40
(1.5%)		 91 
(3.2%)		 159
(5.5%)		 173
(6.3%)		 236
(8.7%)
Pupils offered third preference school 7
(0.3%)		 9
(0.3%)		 37
(1.3%)		 55
(2.0%)		 20
(0.7%)
Pupils not allocated a place at any of their preferred school(s)* 36
(1.3%)		 84
(2.9%)		 97
(3.3%)		 123
(4.4%)		 45
(1.7%)
Children given at least one of their choices 2654
(98.7%)		 2787
(97.1%)		 2812
(96.7%)		 2645
(95.6%)		 2656
(98.3%)
Online applications 2642
(98.2%)		 2862
(99.7%)		 2845
(97.8%)		 2684
(97%)		 2683
(99.3%)
Number of suspected fraudulent applications None identified None identified One incorrect address None identified None identified

* Barnsley children are not left without a school offer. All children who live in Barnsley are given places at alternative schools.