Outwood Academy Shafton is a mainstream secondary school in Barnsley for children and young people aged 11 to 16. In January 2026, 101 of its 1,377 pupils (7.3%) were getting SEN support and 63 (4.6%) had an EHC plan.
- Ages 11–16
- 1,377 pupils
Special educational needs here
From the school census, January 2026. Compared with state secondary schools across England and in Barnsley.
7.3% get SEN support
101 of 1,377 pupils. Help in school without an EHC plan.
Lower than the England average.
4.6% have an EHC plan
63 of 1,377 pupils. A legal plan from the council, for children who need more help.
Higher than the England average.
Most common needs
- Social, emotional and mental health46
- Moderate learning difficulty44
- Speech, language and communication31
- Specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia18
- Autism12
Pupils by their main need, on SEN support or with an EHC plan. Needs with fewer than 5 pupils aren’t shown.
Figures show how many children the school supports, not how well. To see how it would support your child, talk to the SENCO and read its SEN information report on the school’s website.
School details
- Type
- Mainstream secondary school
- Run as
- Academy (sponsored)
- Ages
- 11 to 16
- Boys and girls
- Boys and girls
- Pupils
- 1,377 (places for 1,350)
- Headteacher
- Principal Alison McQueen (Principal)
- Part of
- Outwood Grange Academies Trust
- Free school meals
- 38.3% of pupils eligible
- Council
- Barnsley
- School reference (URN)
- 139211
How SEN support works
4 steps, from a first chat to an EHC plan
- Talk to the class teacher and the SENCO
If you’re worried about your child, ask for a meeting. Every school has a SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Your child doesn’t need a diagnosis to get help.
- SEN support
The school should work out what your child needs, agree a plan with you, put it in place and review it together, usually each term. This is called SEN support.
- An EHC needs assessment
If your child needs more help than the school can usually give, you or the school can ask Barnsley council for an EHC needs assessment. It can lead to an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan, which the council must make sure is delivered.
- Free, independent advice
Your local SENDIASS can help at any stage, and can come to meetings with the school with you.
Questions to ask the SENCO
10 questions to tick off as you go
Ticks stay on this device, so you can use them at the meeting.
Ofsted
Graded by area, May 2025; school remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (September 2023)
Inspected in May 2025. Inspections from September 2024 to November 2025 graded each area but gave no overall grade.
- Quality of educationGood
- Behaviour and attitudesGood
- Personal developmentGood
- Leadership and managementGood
- SafeguardingEffective
Since then: School remains Good (Concerns) - S5 Next (ungraded inspection, September 2023).
Contact and getting there
Engine Lane, Shafton, Barnsley, S72 8RE
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Directions: Walk Public transport Drive
Email me these details
The school’s details, its SEN figures and the questions to ask the SENCO, in your inbox.
Nearby
Specialist schools and SEN units
- Churchfield Primary School Mainstream + base · Ages 5–11 · Ofsted: Good 0.7 miles
- Outwood Academy Carlton Mainstream + base · Ages 11–16 · Ofsted: Good 2.1 miles
- Springwell Special Academy Special school · Ages 5–16 · Ofsted: Good 2.6 miles
- Waterton Newstead Academy Independent · Ages 4–11 · Ofsted: Good 3.4 miles
Other mainstream schools
Questions about Outwood Academy Shafton
How many pupils at Outwood Academy Shafton have special educational needs?
In the January 2026 school census, 101 of the 1,377 pupils (7.3%) were getting SEN support and 63 (4.6%) had an EHC plan. Across England’s state secondary schools it is 14.1% and 3.5%.
What are the most common needs at Outwood Academy Shafton?
Counting pupils on SEN support and with an EHC plan, the most common main needs are social, emotional and mental health (SEMH) needs (46 pupils), moderate learning difficulties (44 pupils) and speech, language and communication needs (31 pupils).
Who do I talk to about my child’s needs at Outwood Academy Shafton?
The SENCO (special educational needs co-ordinator). Every school has one, and every school must publish an SEN information report on its website explaining how it supports pupils with SEND.
How do I apply for a place at Outwood Academy Shafton?
Through Barnsley council’s school admissions, in the normal application round or during the year. If your child has an EHC plan, you don’t apply this way: you ask for the school to be named in the plan instead.
Can my child with an EHC plan go to Outwood Academy Shafton?
You can ask for Outwood Academy Shafton to be named in your child’s EHC plan. The council must consult the school and name it, unless it would be unsuitable for your child’s age, ability or needs, or would affect other children’s education or the efficient use of resources.
Does Outwood Academy Shafton have an SEN unit or resourced provision?
Not according to the Department for Education’s register of schools. The nearest mainstream school with one is Churchfield Primary School, about 0.7 miles away.
Where is Outwood Academy Shafton?
Engine Lane, Shafton, Barnsley, S72 8RE, in Barnsley.
School data: DfE Get Information About Schools, SEN figures from DfE Special educational needs in England (the January school census), under the Open Government Licence. Postcode lookups by postcodes.io: contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right, Royal Mail data © Royal Mail copyright and database right, and National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right. Distances are as the crow flies. Always check details and admissions with the school and your council.