The Forest Academy Catchment Area
The Forest Academy is an academy sponsor led primary school in Barnsley , serving pupils aged 3-11, with 352 pupils, and a capacity of 253 places. The school is currently at or above capacity, making catchment area proximity important for admissions.
3-11
Age range
352
Pupils
253
Capacity
139%
Fill rate
Outstanding
Ofsted 2023
The Forest Academy Catchment Area Information
What is the catchment area for The Forest Academy?
The catchment area for The Forest Academy is the geographic zone Barnsley uses to prioritise admissions when this primary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Barnsley publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
As an academy, The Forest Academy sets its own admissions criteria, agreed with Barnsley. The catchment area boundary is defined in the school's annual admissions policy, which may differ from the LA's general school admissions arrangements.
Not getting a place? Learn how to appeal a school place →
Want the cut-off distance before you apply? Get an alert when Barnsley publishes the 2027 The Forest Academy numbers →
The official admissions policy, including the catchment boundary map, is published by Barnsley before each admissions cycle. Always verify your address with the council before submitting an application, as boundaries can change year to year.
Find Barnsley catchment area documents →The Forest Academy: heavily oversubscribed at 139% capacity
The Forest Academy has a published admission number of 253 places. 352 pupils were enrolled in the most recent data, giving a fill rate of 139%. At 139% capacity, the school is heavily oversubscribed. Barnsley allocates places using ranked criteria: looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment distance. Living within the catchment area is a strong but not guaranteed advantage, as the last distance offered shrinks each year as applications rise.
The fill-rate figure above reflects overall demand, but the school's intake also varies by community profile. 37.3% of pupils at The Forest Academy are eligible for free school meals, broadly in line with the national average. This reflects a mixed catchment population across Barnsley.
To check whether your home address falls within the historical catchment boundary, use the postcode search tool on this site.
Barnsley publishes its full admissions policy, including oversubscription criteria, the previous year's last-distance figures, and the appeals timetable, on the council's official admissions page. Find Barnsley school admissions →
The Forest Academy: School Information
- Full address
- Thornton Road, Kendray, Barnsley, S70 3NG
- Local authority
- Barnsley
- School type
- Academy sponsor led
- Phase of education
- Primary
- Age range
- 3-11 years
- Free school meals
- 37.3% of pupils
- DfE URN
- 139136
Other Primary Schools in Barnsley
If The Forest Academy is oversubscribed, these primary schools in Barnsley are the next closest alternatives.
Burton Road Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · S71 2AA
Shawlands Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · S70 6JL
Keresforth Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · S75 3NU
Springvale Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · S36 6HJ
Silkstone Common Junior and Infant School Catchment Area
Community school · S75 4QT
Jump Primary School Catchment Area
Community school · S74 0JW
Nearest primary schools by distance
These are the primary schools closest to The Forest Academy by straight-line distance, including ones across a town or council boundary. Distance is not the same as being in catchment: always check each school's own admissions policy for its actual boundary.
Need help understanding catchment areas?
Frequently Asked Questions: The Forest Academy
What is the catchment area for The Forest Academy? ▾
The catchment area for The Forest Academy is the geographic zone Barnsley uses to prioritise admissions when this primary school receives more applications than it has places. Children living inside the boundary are ranked higher under the oversubscription criteria, after looked-after children and siblings. Barnsley publishes the exact boundary and the last distance offered before each admissions cycle, and the boundary can change year to year.
Is The Forest Academy oversubscribed? ▾
Yes, The Forest Academy currently has 352 pupils enrolled against a capacity of 253 places. Catchment area proximity is an important admissions criterion when applying.
What is the admissions policy for The Forest Academy? ▾
Admission to The Forest Academy is managed by Barnsley. When oversubscribed, places go to looked-after children first, then siblings, then catchment area distance. Always verify the current policy with the council before applying.
What age range does The Forest Academy cover? ▾
The Forest Academy is a primary school in Barnsley, serving pupils aged 3-11. For the latest information, visit the school's website or the DfE Get Information About Schools service.
What is the Ofsted rating for The Forest Academy? ▾
The Forest Academy was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2023. Full inspection reports are available at reports.ofsted.gov.uk.