Penistone Grammar School Review 2026: Achievement Across the Pennines

In 1836, a Penistone headmaster named Samuel Sunderland brought a football game from Cambridge University to his pupils. Within decades, one of his students, John Charles Shaw, had carried those rules to Sheffield F.C. and Hallam F.C., helping to shape modern association football. That same school, now 634 years old, sits on a 30-acre site in the foothills of the Pennines, having been founded in 1392 when Thomas Clarel, Lord of the Manor, granted land to establish a free school for local children.

Today, Penistone Grammar School serves nearly 1,900 students aged 11 to 18, maintaining that ancient tradition of ambition while teaching in a state-of-the-art facility completed in 2011. The school is rated Good by Ofsted (February 2023), ranking 845th in England for GCSE results and 574th for A-levels, placing it in the top 25% (FindMySchool ranking). Under the leadership of Principal Paul Crook since 2017, the school has become the strongest-performing school in Barnsley local authority for secondary results, achieving consistent progress and securing university places for the majority of leavers.

Penistone Grammar School in Penistone, Sheffield has a clear sense of identity shaped by its setting and community. The £35 million learning centre, opened in 2011, replaced older buildings with contemporary facilities housed in colour-coded blocks, each named after a traditional house system rooted in the school's history: Fulford, Netherfield, Bowman, Weirfield, and Saunderson. The modern exterior belies the school's remarkable heritage, but throughout the campus, that sense of tradition persists. The house system remains active, with prefects wearing inverted ties in their house colours and student leaders maintaining annual traditions like the formal speech night.

The atmosphere is one of purposeful learning. Ofsted inspectors noted that leaders hold high aspirations for pupils, who study for ambitious qualifications and achieve well in external examinations. Classroom visits reveal pupils who are respectful and focused, with minimal disruption to lessons. Teachers deliver high-quality sessions consistently across subjects, supported by the school's deliberate focus on building fundamental knowledge and ensuring all students can understand how their learning connects. Behaviour is well-managed, with students responding positively to high expectations set by school leaders.

Principal Paul Crook has made visible improvements to the school's inclusive provision, notably the creation of HeartSpace, a dedicated support space that has grown from seven students and three staff to accommodate over fifty students and around thirty staff. This reflects his commitment to inclusion and accessibility, centred on the school's core values: Aim High, Be Determined, Be Kind, Be Supportive, and Be Proud. These values are not merely displayed; they are actively reinforced through teaching, pastoral care, and the way the school community operates. The school describes itself as "thriving" and this sentiment appears genuine, reflected in rising applications, sustained excellent results, and visible investment in staff development and student well-being.

GCSE Performance

At Key Stage 4, Penistone Grammar achieved strong results in 2024. An Attainment 8 score of 55.4 slightly exceeds the England average of 45.9. The Progress 8 measure of +0.33 indicates students make above-average progress from their starting points at secondary entry, positioning pupils well above the national baseline of zero. More specifically, 83% of pupils achieved grade 4 or above (pass) in both English and mathematics. At the higher standard, 66% achieved grade 5 or above in English and mathematics combined, reflecting solid achievement across the core subjects.

The school's GCSE ranking places it 845th in England and 10th in Sheffield (FindMySchool ranking), positioning it within the top 25% and the strongest-performing school in the Barnsley local authority. The curriculum emphasises breadth; 55% of pupils entered the English Baccalaureate, indicating strong take-up of sciences, languages, and humanities alongside core subjects.

A-Level Performance

The sixth form has been within the top 10% of providers in England for over five consecutive years. At A-level, 62% of grades achieved A*-B (FindMySchool data), with the majority of grades at A* or A. The average grade was A- in 2022, and students consistently out-perform national expectations at value-added, suggesting pupils make progress that exceeds what their GCSE grades would predict. The A-level ranking places the school 574th in England and 8th in Sheffield (FindMySchool ranking), again in the top 25%.

Over 70% of A-level grades attain A*-B, demonstrating that the school's A-level cohort achieves at the highest level. The sixth form offers a comprehensive range of 30+ subjects, including traditional facilitating subjects (sciences, mathematics, languages, history, geography) alongside arts, computing, sport, and social sciences. This breadth allows students to pursue diverse pathways while remaining strongly supported for university progression.

Teaching at Penistone is structured around a deliberate curriculum design that builds knowledge progressively and allows students to see how their learning connects across subjects. Lessons follow clear structures, with teachers delivering content consistently and using robust assessment to evaluate understanding. Pupils report clarity on how this approach aids retention, suggesting that the pedagogical model is translating into student understanding.

Professional development is central to the school's approach. The Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning oversees a Continuous Professional Development programme delivered by Teaching and Learning coaches, embedding evidence-informed practices across the staff body. This investment in quality teaching is reflected in Ofsted's assessment that most teaching is good, with some outstanding, though a small proportion of lessons require improvement.

The curriculum is deliberately ambitious. Students are encouraged to pursue challenging subjects, with particular strength in sciences taught separately (chemistry, physics, biology rather than combined science), languages including classical options, and humanities. The school's science facilities have been expanded, with dedicated classrooms in the recently completed £4.3 million two-storey extension opened in September 2020. This building also houses the modern foreign languages department and additional science capacity, linked to the main school through a walkway, demonstrating significant institutional investment in core academic subjects.

For students with special educational needs or disabilities, support is well-structured. The HeartSpace provision offers tailored intervention and a nurturing environment where over fifty students access support within the mainstream setting. Teachers receive detailed information about pupils with SEND, enabling equitable participation in learning alongside their peers.

University Destinations and Progression

In the 2023-24 leavers cohort, 63% of students progressed to university, demonstrating sustained strong progression to higher education. Beyond this headline, the quality of destinations is notable. Approximately 45% of A-level leavers progress to Russell Group universities (from 2024 data), placing Penistone significantly above the England average. These Russell Group destinations include universities such as Durham, Bristol, Exeter, Edinburgh, and Imperial College, reflecting the strength of the sixth form cohort.

Oxbridge representation is modest but present: one student secured an Oxbridge place in 2024 from 13 applications. While these numbers are small in absolute terms, they reflect the pipeline of ambitious students the school develops. Medical school is a notable destination, with 12 students securing places in 2024, suggesting particular strength in supporting students through competitive healthcare applications.

The school works systematically to prepare students for this next step. The Post-16 Centre includes a dedicated team led by Mr L Modiri (Assistant Head of Post-16) who oversees the UCAS process, ensuring students navigate applications successfully. A career advisor works alongside tutors and mentors to guide students through different pathways, including university visits, guest speaker sessions from academics, and taster seminars. This coordinated support contributes to the 95% success rate in securing first-choice university places.

Post-16 Entry and Sixth Form Growth

Penistone is unique in Barnsley as a rare school with both secondary and sixth form provision, creating a significant institutional advantage. The sixth form has seen record applications in recent years, with students choosing subjects across the Arts, Computing, English, Mathematics, Humanities, Languages, Science, Sport, Social Sciences, and Technology. The school offers flexibility in studying 3, 4, or more A-levels, allowing students to tailor their programmes to their strengths and aspirations. Entry requirements to sixth form are rigorous but transparent; students typically require GCSE grade 5s (strong pass) in their intended A-level subjects, though the school considers individual circumstances and prior attainment patterns.

Internal progression from Year 11 to Year 12 is substantial, with the majority of the cohort continuing at the school, though external applicants join from across the region. This mix of continuity and fresh entry creates a vibrant learning community with sufficient scale to support the breadth of subjects offered.

Enrichment is woven throughout the student experience at Penistone, with multiple opportunities designed to develop well-rounded individuals and support UCAS applications. The enrichment timetable is carefully structured, with students encouraged to engage in activities that complement their academic interests and develop leadership, communication, and practical skills.

Sports and Physical Education

The school maintains a 30-acre site with extensive playing fields used predominantly for football, rugby, cricket, and athletics. Facilities include a modern gym, a dedicated dance studio, two 3G floodlit football pitches suitable for evening fixtures, and multiple tennis courts. Sport is compulsory through Key Stage 3, ensuring broad participation before specialisation in Key Stage 4. Elite pathways exist in several sports, with teams competing at district and county level.

Rugby, football, and cricket are the flagship sports, with regular fixture programmes throughout the year. The rugby programme has produced players who have progressed to representative honours. Athletics is strong, supported by excellent field and track facilities. The dance studio offers both recreational and competitive opportunities, with students involved in school productions as well as specialised dance sessions. A strong contingent of students participate in World Challenge expeditions, combining adventure with fundraising and teamwork on international trips.

Music and Performing Arts

Music is central to school life. The school houses music studios where individual lessons are available in a range of instruments. A substantial proportion of the student body learns an instrument, supported by dedicated staff. Ensembles include the school choir, which performs at formal occasions and school events, a symphony orchestra, and smaller chamber groups. Band performances feature prominently in assemblies and concerts.

Drama is equally prominent, with performances held in the school's theatre facility throughout the year. The professional-standard theatre can accommodate full-scale productions with orchestra, lighting, and set design. Student-led productions, directed by sixth-form leaders, have become a tradition, giving young people genuine responsibility and creative ownership of their performances. The Performing Arts block is identifiable by its distinctive purple colour-coding in the modern campus design, signalling the institutional priority given to creative subjects.

Academic Clubs and Societies

Beyond mainstream sport and drama, the school supports a diverse range of clubs. A Combined Cadet Force provides military-style training and discipline, with participants engaging in leadership development, field exercises, and skills training. Approximately 80-100 pupils participate annually. Duke of Edinburgh's Award runs from Bronze through Gold, with increasing numbers of students completing each level, particularly in the sixth form where it is promoted as an enrichment activity that strengthens university applications.

Academic societies exist across multiple subjects. Sixth-form students organise subject-specific clubs, peer-tutoring opportunities, and leadership roles. A student union exists within the sixth form, providing students with a voice in school governance and organisation of social events. Reading is actively promoted during tutor time, with students exposed to texts addressing significant social issues, building literacy and critical thinking. For those struggling with reading fluency, dedicated support sessions led by trained staff aim to improve foundational skills.

The school recognises that some disadvantaged students participate less frequently in enrichment activities and has explicitly committed to improving access through removal of financial barriers, targeted invitations, and integration of activities within the timetabled curriculum where possible.

The school is led by Principal Paul Crook, a PE teacher and former deputy head who has been at the helm since December 2017. His predecessor, Jo Higgins, served for a decade and oversaw the school's comprehensive rebuild in 2011. Under Crook's leadership, the school has stabilised behaviour systems (moving away from the strict zero-tolerance approach of the previous regime), created and expanded HeartSpace, and maintained rigorous academic standards while becoming more inclusive.

The senior leadership team includes Assistant Principals for Teaching and Learning, Inclusion, and Post-16, supported by a wider leadership group responsible for curriculum areas and year groups. Staff turnover is low, with many teachers remaining at the school long-term, building institutional knowledge and relationships with families. The school invests substantially in professional development, employing specialist leaders in education and collaborative partnerships with other schools.

The teaching body numbers approximately 107 full-time equivalents (FTE), complemented by 20+ support staff, yielding a student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 17.9:1. While above the national ideal, this ratio is reasonable for a school of this size and is offset by the availability of teaching assistants and specialist support staff within learning environments.

Penistone is a non-selective state school, meaning all pupils in the catchment area are admitted based on distance and admissions criteria. However, the school is significantly oversubscribed, with applications consistently exceeding places available. In Year 7 admissions, approximately 1.6 applications arrive for every place offered (504 applications for 315 offers in 2024). This reflects the school's strong reputation and the absence of competing secondary provision within the Barnsley local authority.

The Barnsley local authority co-ordinates admissions through the standard process. Families seeking a place must apply through the normal channels by the published deadline (typically October for the following September entry). The school does not select by ability; admission is by distance from the school gates. Whilst the school is now non-selective, it retains the name "Grammar School" and some historical traditions (the house system, speech night), reflecting its long heritage as a grammar institution before converting to comprehensive status in 1969.

For sixth form entry, the school accepts both internal students and external applicants. Entry requirements are clearly communicated: typically grade 5s (strong pass) in GCSE subjects that relate to A-level choices, though individual circumstances are considered. The sixth form is also oversubscribed, with high demand from external applicants across the region.

Families seeking more detail on catchment boundaries and distance-based allocation should contact Barnsley local authority admissions or visit the school website for current guidance.

Pastoral care is built into the structure of the school day. Every student has a personal tutor who meets with them regularly for tutor time (morning briefing sessions) and reviews academic progress and wellbeing. Form groups are small, typically 20-25 students, allowing tutors to build strong relationships and identify concerns early.

The HeartSpace provision is the most visible example of the school's commitment to wellbeing. Staffed by a team of approximately thirty staff and led by an experienced leader, HeartSpace offers a nurturing environment where up to fifty pupils access specialist support. These students typically have complex needs (emotional, behavioural, or related to SEND) and benefit from a smaller, quieter learning environment than the main school whilst remaining integrated into the wider community through shared lessons, assemblies, and social activities.

Mental health support is available through the school's partnership with external services. Ofsted noted that pupils feel safe and speak confidently about managing potential dangers. Bullying is rare, though when it occurs, school leaders address it promptly. A small minority of pupils experience derogatory language from peers; the school has explicitly stated zero tolerance for this and takes action when aware.

The 16-19 Bursary Fund provides financial support to eligible sixth-form students, helping cover costs such as books, stationery, transport, exam fees, and university open day expenses. This removes potential barriers to post-16 participation for disadvantaged families.

School Day

Pupils arrive for 8:50am registration and the school day concludes at 3:20pm for main school.

Sixth Form

Sixth-form timetables are customised around A-level choices, with a common registration time and breakfast club available from 7:45am. The Post-16 Centre includes a dedicated common room, ICT suite with all-day access to computers, and a café serving hot and cold food and beverages throughout the day.

Wraparound Care

The school does not publish formal before and after-school care. Contact the school directly for enquiries.

Transport

Students travel from Penistone and surrounding villages. The site is accessible by car with parking available for staff (visitor parking is limited). Public transport options include local bus services and the nearby Penistone train station (approximately one mile from the school).

Facilities Hire

The sports centre and theatre facilities are available to hire for community use outside school hours, generating additional income for the school and strengthening links with the local community.

Non-selective but oversubscribed. Although the school does not select by ability, it is significantly oversubscribed, particularly at Year 7 entry. Distance from the school is the determining factor, so families outside the immediate catchment may be unlikely to secure a place even if they prefer it.

Behaviour and discipline are rigorously applied. The school maintains high expectations for student conduct. Under the current leadership (from 2017), the strict zero-tolerance approach has been moderated, but discipline remains a priority. Families should understand that the school enforces uniform codes, punctuality requirements, and behaviour standards consistently.

The school is co-educational and comprehensive, not selective by gender. Those seeking single-sex education should look elsewhere. Similarly, the comprehensive intake means a wide range of academic abilities is represented, though the school has consistently excellent results suggesting strong teaching right across the spectrum.

Sixth form students experience an independent, less supervised environment. The transition from main school to sixth form is significant. Students are expected to manage their own timetables, take responsibility for attendance and revision, and engage with university preparation independently. This suits confident, self-directed learners; those requiring high structure may find the shift challenging.

Outstanding remains a theoretical aspiration, not current reality. The school is rated Good by Ofsted, reflecting strong provision but not the highest grading. Families seeking a school at Outstanding level should be aware of this distinction.

Penistone Grammar School is a confident, successful comprehensive secondary school that combines strong academic outcomes with genuine care for student wellbeing and a rich programme of extracurricular opportunities. The school's location in the Pennines foothills, its 634-year heritage, and its modern 2011 rebuild create an enviable setting. Results place it comfortably in the top 25% in England at both GCSE and A-level, with progression to Russell Group and Oxbridge universities, competitive apprenticeships, and skilled employment all evident in leavers' destinations.

Principal Paul Crook has established a learning culture centred on high aspirations, inclusion, and respect. The school is accessible and welcoming to families from across South Yorkshire, though oversubscription means a place is not guaranteed unless you live very close. The sixth form offers a genuine alternative to independent or grammar schools, with rigorous A-level teaching, excellent university progression support, and a breadth of enrichment activities.

Best suited to families seeking a state school with strong academics, inclusive provision, and traditional values in a modern setting. The main barrier to access is oversubscription rather than selection by ability, so proximity to the school is critical. For those able to secure a place, this is a school where children are encouraged to aim high, are supported to achieve ambitious goals, and graduate with the skills and qualifications needed for success at university and beyond.