Penistone St John's Voluntary Aided Primary School

Barnsley · S36 6BS

General information Primary School · 3-11 years Who goes here 493 pupils, 14% FSM

Parent score Rate this school No reviews yet - be the first SEN 12.8% on SEN support Behaviour 3.4% absence rate Staff 21.7% turnover Financials £6,527 per pupil Environment Buildings and facilities

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Penistone St John's Voluntary Aided Primary School

General Information

Address: High Street, Penistone, Sheffield, S36 6BS – View on map
Phone: 01226762496
Website: Visit school website
Headteacher: Mrs Susie Arnold
Age range: 3-11 years
Demand for places (Reception, September 2026): 51 families put it first for 51 places – 10 for every 10 places. Every one of them was offered a place. 1 of the 51 places went to families living outside the council area. Children putting it first, for every 10 places: 2023 9 · 2024 10 · 2025 10 · 2026 10
Sixth form: No
Intake: Mixed
Religious character: Church of England
Nursery provision: Yes

Who goes here

493 pupils out of 600 places

Pupils eligible for free school meals: 65
% eligible for free school meals: 14.0%
Pupil mix: 1 in 10 (less mixed than the Barnsley average)
English as an additional language: 2% (England 22%)

Staff

Teachers leaving each year

Teacher turnover: 21.7% a year (Barnsley 16.2%, typical in England 13.9%)
Where they went: about 44% moved to another school, 56% left state schools altogether (retirement, other careers, independent schools, abroad)
Data years: 2022/23 to 2024/25 (average of 3 years, DfE school workforce census)

Teachers who moved school or left state schools in the year after each November, as a share of all the school's teachers. Some turnover is healthy – retirements, promotions, moving house.

Behaviour

Awaiting Data

About this Behaviour status

We've asked this school for real behaviour figures under Freedom of Information and haven't had a response yet.

Across Barnsley: suspensions by reason

Suspensions for sexual misconduct: 6 (0.3 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Permanent exclusions for sexual misconduct: 0
Suspensions for bullying: 3 (0.1 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.2)
Suspensions for abuse against sexual orientation or gender identity: 0 (0.0 per 1,000 pupils; England 0.0)
Data year: 2024/25 (DfE suspensions and exclusions statistics)

These are figures for all state primary schools in Barnsley, not this school's own – the government doesn't publish them school by school. A suspension can have up to three reasons. Most sexual harassment between pupils never leads to a suspension, so these figures show only part of the picture.

Attendance

Overall absence: 3.4%
Persistently absent pupils: 6.1%
Data year: 2024/25

About persistent absence

A pupil is counted as "persistently absent" if they miss 10% or more of their possible school sessions - roughly one day in every two weeks. Schools and Ofsted both pay close attention to this figure specifically, since it can highlight a pattern the overall absence rate alone might hide.

SEN

No dedicated Unit or Resourced Provision

SEN Unit and Resourced Provision

Most mainstream schools don't have a dedicated SEN Unit or Resourced Provision - it isn't a mark against a school that doesn't, just a different kind of setup than one that does.

Pupils on SEN Support: 12.8%
Pupils with an EHC Plan: 4.5%
Data year: 2025/26

Most common needs - SEN Support

Speech, language and communications needs: 40 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 20 pupils
Physical disability: 3 pupils

Most common needs - EHC Plan

Speech, language and communications needs: 15 pupils
Social, emotional and mental health: 5 pupils
Specific learning difficulty: 1 pupil
Severe learning difficulty: 1 pupil

These figures show the makeup of the school.

About these SEND figures

These figures give a sense of the makeup of the school - they aren't a judgement on the quality of support provided.

Parent score - no reviews yet –

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Behaviour

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Openness

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Teaching Quality

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School Ethos

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Ability to Deal with Problems

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Headteacher Approval

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SafeguardingSafeguarding (parent rating)How parents rate the school on keeping children safe - how safe their child feels, and how well concerns are listened to and acted on. It's parents' experience, not an inspection result; Ofsted checks safeguarding separately.

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Wraparound CareWraparound Care (parent rating)How parents rate the school's breakfast and after-school clubs - availability, cost and quality. Only asked for infant, junior and primary schools, where it matters most for working parents.

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Would recommend –

Educational Attainment

Good 2024 report

About this Ofsted rating

Ofsted changed how it rates schools in the last couple of years, so ratings from different years aren't always on the same scale - that's why we show the year alongside every rating.

Year 6 SATs results

Met the expected standard in reading, writing & maths: 74% (England 62%)
Reached the higher standard: 13% (England 8%)
Compared with the area: 9 percentage points above the Barnsley average (65%)
Compared with schools with similar pupils: As expected (3-year average 64% against an expected 64%)
3-year average (expected standard): 64%
Expected standard by subject: Reading 88% · Writing 78% · Maths 92% · Grammar, punctuation & spelling 88%
Average test scores: reading 107, maths 108
Based on: 72 Year 6 pupils, 2024/25

View the School Context Comparator – how this school's SATs results compare with schools teaching similar pupils.

SATs results over time

This schoolBarnsley averageEngland↗ Improving Up 8 percentage points since 2022/23. In 2024/25 this school was 9 percentage points above the Barnsley average (65%).

Year 6 SATs: 22nd of 73 junior and primary schools in the area

=20Highgate Primary Academy75%
=20Joseph Locke Primary School75%
#22Penistone St John's Voluntary Aided Primary School74%
=23Keresforth Primary School73%
=23Millhouse Primary School73%

Click to see the full ranking

Year 6 SATs ranking

Junior and primary schools in this area, ranked by the % of Year 6 pupils meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths (official DfE results, 2024/25). Schools with the same result share a place (shown as =). In small schools one or two children can move a school several places, so treat close positions as roughly equal.

Rank School Score

#1Bank End Primary Academy92%
#2Summerfields Primary Academy88%
=3Hunningley Primary Academy87%
=3Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School87%
#5Brierley Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School86%
=6Birdwell Primary School85%
=6Hoylandswaine Primary School85%
#8Silkstone Common Junior and Infant School84%
=9Cawthorne Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School83%
=9Silkstone Primary School83%
=11Oakwell Rise Primary Academy81%
=11Tankersley St Peter's CofE (Aided) Primary School81%
=13Churchfield Primary School80%
=13Gawber Primary School80%
=13Springvale Primary School80%
#16Oxspring Primary School78%
=17Burton Road Primary School76%
=17Mapplewell Primary School76%
=17Outwood Primary Academy Darfield76%
=20Highgate Primary Academy75%
=20Joseph Locke Primary School75%
#22Penistone St John's Voluntary Aided Primary School74%
=23Keresforth Primary School73%
=23Millhouse Primary School73%
=25Parkside Primary Academy72%
=25Wellgate Primary School72%
#27Wilthorpe Primary School71%
#28The Forest Academy70%
=29Gooseacre Primary Academy69%
=29Oakhill Primary Academy69%
=31Elsecar Holy Trinity CofE Primary Academy68%
=31Goldthorpe Primary Academy68%
=31Laithes Primary School68%
=31Lift Meadstead68%
=35Barugh Green Primary School67%
=35Lacewood Primary School67%
=35Milefield Primary School67%
=38Athersley South Primary School66%
=38Hoyland Common Primary School66%
=38Outwood Primary Academy Littleworth Grange66%
=38Upperwood Academy66%
=38Worsbrough Common Primary School66%
=43Carlton Primary Academy64%
=43High View Primary Learning Centre64%
=43Shawlands Primary School64%
=43The Hill Primary Academy64%
=47Carrfield Primary Academy63%
=47Cherry Dale Primary School63%
=47Heather Garth Primary School Academy63%
=47The Mill Academy63%
=47Ward Green Primary School63%
=52Lift St Helen's62%
=52Sandhill Primary School62%
#54Birkwood Primary School61%
=55Dodworth St John the Baptist CofE Primary Academy59%
=55Lift Shafton59%
#57Darton Primary School58%
=58All Saints Academy Darfield57%
=58Kexborough Primary School57%
=58Wombwell Park Street Primary School57%
=61Royston St John Baptist CE Primary55%
=61West Meadows Primary School55%
#63Queens Road Academy54%
#64Holy Rood Catholic Primary School53%
#65Ladywood Primary School52%
#66St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Barnsley51%
#67St Michael and All Angels Catholic Primary School50%
#68Athersley North Primary School49%
=69Holy Trinity Catholic and Church of England School48%
=69Hoyland Springwood Primary School48%
#71Thurlstone Primary School37%
#72Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School35%
#73St Helen's Catholic Primary School0%

View full Ofsted inspection report

37th of 64 primary schools in Barnsley for Ofsted rating

#35Oxspring Primary SchoolGood
#36Parkside Primary AcademyGood
#37Penistone St John's Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolGood
#38Queens Road AcademyGood
#39Royston St John Baptist CE PrimaryGood

Click to see the full ranking

Ofsted Rating ranking

Based on real Ofsted ratings (via official DfE data) for schools on the same four-word grading scale.

Rank School Score

#1Gawber Primary SchoolOutstanding
#2Hunningley Primary AcademyOutstanding
#3The Forest AcademyOutstanding
#4Barugh Green Primary SchoolGood
#5Brierley Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolGood
#6Burton Road Primary SchoolGood
#7Carlton Primary AcademyGood
#8Carrfield Primary AcademyGood
#9Cawthorne Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary SchoolGood
#10Churchfield Primary SchoolGood
#11Darton Primary SchoolGood
#12Elsecar Holy Trinity CofE Primary AcademyGood
#13Goldthorpe Primary AcademyGood
#14Greenfield Primary SchoolGood
#15Heather Garth Primary School AcademyGood
#16High View Primary Learning CentreGood
#17Highgate Primary AcademyGood
#18Holy Rood Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#19Hoyland Common Primary SchoolGood
#20Hoyland Springwood Primary SchoolGood
#21Joseph Locke Primary SchoolGood
#22Jump Primary AcademyGood
#23Keresforth Primary SchoolGood
#24Kexborough Primary SchoolGood
#25Lacewood Primary SchoolGood
#26Ladywood Primary SchoolGood
#27Lift ShaftonGood
#28Lift St Helen'sGood
#29Mapplewell Primary SchoolGood
#30Milefield Primary SchoolGood
#31Millhouse Primary SchoolGood
#32Oakhill Primary AcademyGood
#33Outwood Primary Academy DarfieldGood
#34Outwood Primary Academy Littleworth GrangeGood
#35Oxspring Primary SchoolGood
#36Parkside Primary AcademyGood
#37Penistone St John's Voluntary Aided Primary SchoolGood
#38Queens Road AcademyGood
#39Royston St John Baptist CE PrimaryGood
#40Sacred Heart Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#41Sandhill Primary SchoolGood
#42Shawlands Primary SchoolGood
#43Silkstone Common Junior and Infant SchoolGood
#44Silkstone Primary SchoolGood
#45Springvale Primary SchoolGood
#46St Helen's Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#47St Mary's Church of England Primary School, BarnsleyGood
#48St Michael and All Angels Catholic Primary SchoolGood
#49Summer Lane PrimaryGood
#50Summerfields Primary AcademyGood
#51Tankersley St Peter's CofE (Aided) Primary SchoolGood
#52The Ellis Church of England Primary SchoolGood
#53The Hill Primary AcademyGood
#54The Mill AcademyGood
#55Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary SchoolGood
#56Thurlstone Primary SchoolGood
#57Upperwood AcademyGood
#58Wellgate Primary SchoolGood
#59Wilthorpe Primary SchoolGood
#60Wombwell Park Street Primary SchoolGood
#61Worsbrough Common Primary SchoolGood
#62All Saints Academy DarfieldRequires improvement
#63Dodworth St John the Baptist CofE Primary AcademyRequires improvement
#64Hoylandswaine Primary SchoolInadequate

Financials

Spending per pupil: £6,527 (2024-25)

About this spending figure

A higher or lower position here isn't a sign of a better or worse school - schools have different needs and circumstances - but it can help reassure you that a school has sufficient funding behind your child's education.

38th of 73 primary schools in Barnsley for spending per pupil

#36West Meadows Primary School£6,537
#37Brierley Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School£6,533
#38Penistone St John's Voluntary Aided Primary School£6,527
#39Birkwood Primary School£6,496
#40Silkstone Common Junior and Infant School£6,495

Click to see the full ranking

Spending Per Pupil ranking

Based on official DfE financial return data (Consistent Financial Reporting / Academies Accounts Return) - not a ranking of school quality.

Rank School Score

#1Hoyland Springwood Primary School£10,966
#2Churchfield Primary School£10,829
#3Dodworth St John the Baptist CofE Primary Academy£9,284
#4Laithes Primary School£8,782
#5Lacewood Primary School£8,768
#6St Helen's Catholic Primary School£8,129
#7Hoylandswaine Primary School£8,092
#8Millhouse Primary School£8,004
#9Cherry Dale Primary School£7,924
#10Lift Meadstead£7,921
#11Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School£7,860
#12St Michael and All Angels Catholic Primary School£7,748
#13Joseph Locke Primary School£7,589
#14Athersley North Primary School£7,576
#15Sandhill Primary School£7,558
#16High View Primary Learning Centre£7,556
#17The Hill Primary Academy£7,542
#18Heather Garth Primary School Academy£7,522
#19The Mill Academy£7,402
#20Worsbrough Common Primary School£7,337
#21Outwood Primary Academy Darfield£7,280
#22Holy Rood Catholic Primary School£7,192
#23Athersley South Primary School£7,125
#24Hoyland Common Primary School£7,059
#25Kexborough Primary School£7,019
#26Springvale Primary School£7,002
#27All Saints Academy Darfield£6,976
#28Outwood Primary Academy Littleworth Grange£6,899
#29Queens Road Academy£6,888
#30Ladywood Primary School£6,825
#31Wombwell Park Street Primary School£6,793
#32Parkside Primary Academy£6,700
#33Oxspring Primary School£6,670
#34Bank End Primary Academy£6,662
#35Royston St John Baptist CE Primary£6,541
#36West Meadows Primary School£6,537
#37Brierley Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School£6,533
#38Penistone St John's Voluntary Aided Primary School£6,527
#39Birkwood Primary School£6,496
#40Silkstone Common Junior and Infant School£6,495
#41Elsecar Holy Trinity CofE Primary Academy£6,446
#42Thurlstone Primary School£6,441
#43Upperwood Academy£6,427
#44Lift St Helen's£6,426
#45Milefield Primary School£6,422
#46Goldthorpe Primary Academy£6,411
#47Birdwell Primary School£6,383
#48Wellgate Primary School£6,364
#49Ward Green Primary School£6,271
#50Tankersley St Peter's CofE (Aided) Primary School£6,268
#51Burton Road Primary School£6,209
#52The Forest Academy£6,180
#53Gooseacre Primary Academy£6,180
#54Shawlands Primary School£6,179
#55Keresforth Primary School£6,163
#56Gawber Primary School£6,161
#57Hunningley Primary Academy£6,147
#58Carrfield Primary Academy£6,112
#59Wilthorpe Primary School£6,063
#60Oakwell Rise Primary Academy£6,021
#61St Mary's Church of England Primary School, Barnsley£5,986
#62Darton Primary School£5,968
#63Highgate Primary Academy£5,949
#64Mapplewell Primary School£5,945
#65Summerfields Primary Academy£5,938
#66Thurgoland Church of England (Voluntary Controlled) Primary School£5,906
#67Carlton Primary Academy£5,870
#68Silkstone Primary School£5,855
#69Cawthorne Church of England Voluntary Controlled Primary School£5,822
#70Lift Shafton£5,621
#71Oakhill Primary Academy£5,485
#72Barugh Green Primary School£5,406
#73Greenfield Primary School£1,154

View on the Financial Benchmarking and Insights Tool (GOV.UK)

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